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A 

POCKET DICTIONARY 

OF THE 

HOLY BIBLE. 

CONTAINING, 

A HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT 

OF THE 

PERSONS AND PLACES MENTIONED IN THE 
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS: 



ADescription of other objects, Natural, Artificial, Civil, Religious 

and Military; together with a copious reference to Texts 

of Scripture under each important word. 

PREFARED FOR THE AMERICAN S. S. UNION, AND 
ADAPTED TO GENERAL USE. 

BY ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, D. D. 

it 
Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology in the Theologi- 
cal Seminary at Princeton, JVeio Jersey. 



REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION, 



AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. 

PHILADELPHIA: 

NO. 146 CHESNUT STREET. 



1831. 

7th Edition. 




Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit; 
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the third day of Deeem- 

ber in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United 
States of America, A. D. 1829, PAUL BECK, Jun. Treasurer 
in trust for the American Sunday School Union, of the said 
District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right 
whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit : — 

" A Pocket Dictionary of the Holy Bible. Containing, a 
historical, and geographical account, of the persons and places 
mentioned in the Old and New Testaments: and also a descrip- 
tion of other objects, Natural, Artificial, Civil, Religious, and 
Military; together with a copious reference to texts of Scripture 
under each important word. Prepared for the American S. S. 
Union, and adapted to general use. By Archibald Alexander, 
D. D. Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology in the Theo- 
ogical Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. Revised by the 
Committee of Publication." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United 
Slates, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, 
by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the 
Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein 
mentioned" — And also to the Act, entitled, "An Act Supple- 
mentary to an Act, entitled, " An Act for the Encouragement 
of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, 
to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies during the times 
therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the 
arts of designing, engraving, and etching Historical and other 
Prints." 

D. CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



Stereotyped by L. Johns on.... Philadelphia. 



> \% HI 



J 



PREFACE. 



The usefulness of a Dictionary of the Bible, judiciously 
compiled, is too evident to need proofs. A work of this 
kind furnishes that facility of information which is adapt- 
ed to the circumstances of most readers who have not 
time to turn over large books ; but by means of a book ot 
this sort, they can obtain the knowledge which they need, 
while the desire of information is felt. 

The American Sunday-School Union, whose great ob- 
ject is to promote an acquaintance with the Bible, have 
desired for sometime to furnish a concise book of refer- 
ence of this description; and a copy of Gurney's Diction- 
ary of the Bible being obtained by the Committee of 
Publication, they requested the subscriber to prepare it 
for this purpose. On examination of the volume, he 
found it to be only an abridgment of Brown's Dictionary 
of the Bible, which has been long in the hands of the 
Christian public. Taking the original work, therefore, as 
his guide, and availing himself of aid from various sources, 
particularly MansforoVs Scripture Gazetteer, and Harris's 
Natural History of the Bible, he has endeavoured to im- 
prove the work, and render it more suitable for the end 
contemplated by the Society. With this view, a large 
number of words, with their explanations, have been 
entirely omitted, while in other cases the article has been 
written over again, or greatly modified by the addition of 
new paragraphs. 

In every instance the expunged matter has been deemed 
superfluous, irrelevant, or erroneous; and it is believed 
that the additions will be found more accordant with the 
present improved state of geographical, philosophical, and 
chemical knowledge than the matter contained in the ori- 
ginal work. 



The theological opinions have been left untouched. — 
The doctrinal sentiments expressed, it is believed, are 
purely evangelical ; and seldom will the humble Christian 
meet with any thing which will not accord with his own 
views and feelings. The characteristic of the style is 
plainness — certainly it has no claim to elegance, which 
our author never studied in any of his writings. But let 
it be remembered that the water of life is not less # sweet 
and vivifying conveyed through an earthen rather than a 
golden conduit; and that glass unpainted and without 
ornament transmits the rays of light most perfectly. 

That this little volume may be extensively useful, espe- 
cially to the rising generation, for whose benefit it is more 
particularly intended, is the earnest wish, and sincere 
prayer of their friend, 

A. ALEXANDER 

Princeton, N. J. Dec. 1829 



DICTIONARY 

OF THE 

HOLY BIBLE. 



AAR 

A ARON, a Levite, the son of 
"**■ Amram, and brother of Mo- 
ses and Miriam. He was born 
in the year of the world 2430, 
about a year before Pharaoh 
ordered the male infants of the 
Hebrews to be slain. When he 
was grown up he married Eli- 
gheba, the daughter of Amini- 
dab, a chief prince of the tribe 
of Judah, and had by her four 
sons, Nadab and Abihu, Elea- 
zar and Ithamar, Exod. vi. 20, 
23. He was a holy and com- 
passionate man, an excellent 
speaker, and appointed of God 
to be spokesman for his brother 
Moses to Pharaoh and the He- 
brews; id. iv. 14 — 16. Along 
with his brother, he intimated 
God's gracious purpose of their 
speedy deliverance to his dis- 
tressed kinsmen : and in the 
name of God, demanded of 
Pharaoh an immediate allow- 
ance for them, to go into the 
wilderness of Arabia, to serve 
the Lord their God. Pharaoh 
ordered Aaron and Moses to be 
gone from his presence, and in- 
creased the Hebrew servitude, 
denying them straw wherewith 
to make their bricks. Aaron 
and Moses were hereupon up- 
braided and cursed by their bre- 
thren, for asking their dismis- 



AAR 

sion, and so occasioning their 
aggravated labour and misery^ 
id. v. 

About two months after ,while 
the Hebrews, newly delivered 
from Egypt, fought with Ama- 
lek in Rephidim, Aaron and 
Hur attended Moses to the top 
of an adjacent hill, and held up 
his hands, while he continued 
encouraging the struggling He- 
brews, and praying for victory 
to them, id. xvii. 10 — 13. At 
Sinai, he, with his two eldest 
sons, and seventy of the elders 
of Israel, accompanied Moses 
part of his way up to the 
mount: and, without receiving 
any hurt, had very near and 
distinct views of the glorious 
symbols of the divine presence, 
when the Lord talked with Mo- 
ses, id. xxiv. 1, 2, 9 — 11. Al- 
most immediately after, he and 
his posterity were divinely cho- 
sen, to execute the office of 
priesthood among the Jews, till 
the coming and death of the 
promised Messiah, id. xxix. 
Scarce was this distinguished 
honour assigned him, when, to 
mark his personal insufficiency 
for recommending others to the 
favour of God, he himself fell 
into the most grievous crime 
The Hebrews solicited him to 



AAR 

make them gods, to be their di- 
rectors, instead of Moses, who 
still tarried in the mount. He 
ordered them to bring him all 
their pendants and ear-rings: 
these were brought, perhaps 
more readily than he expected ; 
having collected them, he caus- 
ed them to be melted down into 
a golden calf, in imitation of the 
ox Apis, which the natives, and 
probably too many of the He- 
brews, had adored in Egypt. 
This idol he ordered them to 
place on a pedestal, to render it 
the more conspicuous : he ap- 
pointed a solemn feast to be ob- 
served to its honour ; and caus- 
ed to proclaim before it, " These 
be thy gods, O Israel, which 
brought thee out of the land of 
Egypt." While he was thus 
occupied, Moses descended from 
mount Sinai, and sharply re- 
proved him for his horrid of- 
fence. Amidst the deepest con- 
fusion he attempted to excuse 
himself, by laying the blame on 
the wickedness of the people : 
and by a false and stupid pre- 
tence, that he had but cast the 
ear-rings into the fire, and the 
golden calf had been formed 
out of them by mere chance, 
id. xxxii. 

Aaron heartily repented of 
this scandalous crime : and, 
with his four sons, was, about 
two months after, solemnly in- 
vested with the sacred robes, 
and consecrated by scfemn 
washing, unction, and sacrifi- 
ces, to his office of priesthood, 
Lev. viii. He immediately of- 
fered sacrifice for the congrega- 
tion of Israel ; and while he and 
his brother Moses blessed the 
' people, the sacred fire descend- 
ed from heaven, and consumed 
what lay on the brazen altar, 
id. ix. His two eldest eons, in- 
stead of taking sacred fire from 
the brazen altar, took strange 
fire, to burn the incense with, 
on the golden altar ; and there 
went out fire from the Lord, and 



AAR 

aevoured them, and they died 
before the Lord. Aaron was 
entirely resigned to this just, but 
awful stroke ; nor did he and 
his surviving sons make any la- 
mentation for them, except for- 
bearing to eat the fleshof the peo- 
ple's sin-offering that day, id. x. 
It was perhaps scarce a year 
after, when Aaron and Miriam, 
envying the authority of Moses, 
rudely upbraided him for his 
marriage with an Ethiopian 
woman. Aaron, whose priestly 
performances were daily neces- 
sary, was spared : but Miriam 
was smitten with an universal 
leprosy. Aaron immediately 
discerned his guilt, acknowledg- 
ed his fault, begged forgiveness 
for himself and his sister, and 
that she might speedily be re- 
stored to health, Numb. xii. It 
was not long after, when Korah 
and his company, envying the 
honours of Aaron, thought to 
thrust themselves into the office 
of priests. These rebels being 
miraculously destroyed by God, 
the Hebrews reviled Moses and 
Aaron as guilty of murdering 
them ; the Lord, provoked here- 
with, sent a destructive plague 
among the people, which threat- 
ened to consume the whole 
congregation. Aaron, who had 
lately by his prayers, prevented 
their being totally ruined along 
with Korah, now generously 
risked his own life for the deli- 
verance of his ungrateful and 
injurious brethren: he ran in 
between the living and the dead, 
and by offering of incense, aton- 
ed for their trespass, and so the 
plague was stayed. To reward 
this benevolent deed, and pre- 
vent future contention about 
the priesthood, God confirmed 
it to Aaron, by making his rod, 
when laid up before the mercy- 
seat, to blossom and bear al- 
monds ; while the rods for the 
other Hebrew tribes continued 
in their withered condition, 
Numb. xvi. xvii. 
6 



AAR 

We hear no more of Aaron 
till at Meribah, he and his bro- 
ther Moses sinned, in not suffi- 
ciently expressing their confi- 
dence in God's providing water 
for the congregation. To punish 
this, and to mark the insufficien- 
cy of the Aaronic priesthood for 
bringing men to the heavenly 
inheritance, Aaron was debar- 
red from entering Canaan. 
About a year before the He- 
brews entered that country, and 
while they encamped at Mose- 
ra, he at the commandment of 
the Lord, went up to mount 
Hor ; and his sacred robes being 
stripped off him by Moses, and 
put on Eleazar his son and suc- 
cessor, he expired in the Lord, 
aged 123 years, A. M 2552. His 
own sons and brother buried 
him in a cave, and all the Is- 
raelites mourned for him thirty 
days, Num. xx. Deut. x. 6. His 
offspring were called Aaronites; 
and were so numerous as to have 
thirteen cities assigned them out 
of the tribes of Judah and Ben- 
jamin, 1 Chron. xii. 27. and vi. 
54--60. Josh. xxi. 13—19. 

The departure of Aaron for 
death, has something in it very 
impressive and singular. In the 
sight of the congregation, he 
quits the camp for the mountain, 
where he is to die: on the way 
thither, Moses, his brother, and 
Eleazer, his son, divest him of 
his pontifical habits ; thither they 
attend him to the last, there they 
bury him, and that so privately, 
that his sepulchre continues un- 
known. We view, in imagina- 
tion, ihis feeble old man ascend- 
ing the mount, to a convenient 
height, there transferring the in- 
signia of his office to his son, then 
proceeding beyond the sight of 
the people, and giving up the 
ghost with that faith, that resig- 
nation, that meekness, which 
became one who had been ho- 
noured with the Holy Spirit, and 
with the typical representation 
of the great High Priest himself. 



ABA 

An attentive examination of 
the events of Aaron's life will 
furnish striking evidence of the 
faithfulness of God to his pro- 
mises and threafeenings, and to 
his patience and long suffering. 

AB, the eleventh month of 
the Jewish civil year, and the 
fifth of their sacred. It answer- 
eth to the moon that begins in 
July, and consists of thirty days. 
On the first day the Jews observe 
a fast for the death of Aaron ; 
on the 9th, a fast for the debar- 
ring of the murmuring Hebrews 
from the promised land, and for 
the burning of the first and se- 
cond temple ; on the 18th, a fast 
for the extinction of the evening 
lamp during the reign of Ahaz ; 
on the 24th, a feast in memory 
of the abolishment of the Sad- 
duceanlaw, which required sons 
and daughters to be equal heirs 
of their parents' estate. 

ABADDON, which signifies 
destruction; and Ap oily on the 
destroyer, is the name of the 
king and head of the apocalyp- 
tic Locusts, under the fifth 
trumpet. His name is marked 
both in Hebrew and Greek, per- 
haps to intimate, that he is a 
destroyer both of Jews and Gen- 
tiles. 

ABANA, and Pharpar, two 
rivers of Syria, which Naaman 
the leper thought more fit to 
cure him of his unclean disease, 
than all the rivers of Israel. 
Abana is probably the same with 
Barrady or Chrysorroas which 
springing from mount Lebanon, 
glides pleasantly towards the 
south ; and, after running some 
leagues, is divided into three 
streams : the middlemost and 
largest runs directly through the 
city of Damascus, and the other 
two run one on each side of the 
city, and fertilize the gardens 
to an uncommon degree. The 
streams uniting to the south- 
ward of the city, are, after a 
course of about five leagues, 
lost in a dry desert. Benjamin 
7 



ABB 

of Tudela will have that part 
of Barrady which runs through 
Damascus, to be Abana, and the 
streams which water the gardens 
without the city, to he Pharpar ; 
but. perhaps the Pharpar is- the 
same with Orontes, the most 
noted river of Syria, which, ta- 
king its rise a little to the north 
ornorth-eastofDamascus,glides 
through a delightful plain, till, 
after passing Antioch, and run- 
ning about 200milesto the north- 
west, it loses itself in the Medi- 
terranean sea, 2 Kings v. 12. 

ABARIM, a general name 
given to a ridge of rugged hills 
on the east of Jordan, on the 
south and north of the river Ar- 
non. They reached into the ter- 
ritories of both the Reubenites 
and Moabites. It is like they had 
this name from the Abarim, or 
passages, between the particular 
hills of Pisgah, Nebo, Peor, Sec. 
all which were part of them. 
Near these mountains the Is- 
raelites had several encamp- 
ments, Numb, xxxiii. 44 — 48. 
and xxvii. 12. 

In Deuteronomy xxxii. 49, Mo- 
ses is directed to go up into this 
mountain Abarim, that is, into 
the range of hills known by that 
name, the word Abarim being 
in the plural. It was on one of 
these hills, viz. Nebo, that Moses 
died ; after viewing the promised 
land from the top of Pisgah,pro- 
bably the highest eminence of 
Mount Nebo. These mountains 
form a chain, and command a 
view of the land of Canaan, 

ABBA. There are certain He- 
brew words, w T hich are retained 
by the inspired penmen of the 
New Testament, though they 
wrote in Greek, such as Abba, 
Hosanna, Jehovah, Sabbath, 
&lc. This evidently imports,that 
there were words implying some 
meaning, not easily infused into 
any other language: thus, abba 
not only signifies father, but 
conveys the idea of the fond, 
endearing, familiar language, in 



ABE 

which a beloved child addresses* 
its parent, expressive of ardent 
love and confidence. It is re- 
markable, that during the extre- 
mity of our Saviour's sufferings 
in the garden, as recorded Mark 
xiv. 36. when suffering under the 
billows of divine wrath, he ad- 
dresses the Father by this name, 
" Abba, Father," &Lc. : again, 
when Paul is setting before the 
Romans (Gentiles) the glorious 
privileges which they now en- 
joyed in the fellowship of the 
Church, he says, Rom. viii. 15 T 
" they ha ve received the spirit of 
adoption, whereby they cry, Ab- 
ba,Father," that is, are brought 
into the nearest connection and 
most intimate fellowship. See 
also, to the same purpose, Gal. 
iv. 6. It has been remarked, 
with seeming justice, that in all 
languages, the first lispings of 
the child to the parent have a 
wonderful similarity to the He- 
brew abba. 

ABDA, a servant, 1 Kings 
iv. 6". 

ABDI, my servant; the father 
of Kish, 2 Chron. xxix. 12. 

ABDIEL, a servant of God, 

1 Chron. v. 15. 

ABDON, servant of judg- 
ment. (1.) The son of Hillel, 
an Ephraimite. He succeeded 
Elon, A. M. 2840; and judged 
the Israelites eight years ; after 
which he died, and was buried 
at Pirathon inthelandofEphra- 
im. He left forty sons, and thirty 
grandsons, who rode on ass- 
colts, according to the manner 
of the great men of that age, 
.Tudg. xii. 13. (2.) The son of 
Micah, one of JosiaKs messen- 
gers sent to consult Huldah, 

2 Chron. xxxiv. 20. (3.) A city, 
which belonged to the tribe of 
Asher ; and was given to the 
Levites of Gershom's family, 
Josh. xxi. 30. 

ABEDNEGO, servant of 

light, is the Chaldee name given 

by the king of Babylon's officer 

to Azariah, Daniel's compa- 

8 



ABE 

nion This name imports the 
servant of Nago or Nego, which 
is the sun or morning star, so 
called for its brightness. Abed- 
nego was thrown into the fiery 
furnace at Babylon, with his 
two companions, Shadrach and 
Meshach, for refusing to adore 
the statue which was erected by 
the command of Nebuchadnez- 
zar. Daniel was in all proba- 
bility at that time absent from 
Babylon, for we do not find that 
lie had the same fate with his 
companions. The condemna- 
tion of Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abednego, by God's appoint- 
ment, redounded to his honour, 
for he did not suffer them to be 
injured by the flames, but sent 
his angel in the midst of them 
to rescue them out of the fur- 
nace, Dan. iii. 

The saying of Nebuchadnez- 
zar, on this occasion, " The form 
of the fourth is like the Son of 
God," is a satisfying evidence, 
that the nations, especially those 
among whom the Jews were 
scattered abroad, were no stran- 
gers to the promise of the com- 
ing of the Messiah. What a 
striking representation does this 
history furnish, of the salvation 
which he finished, who appeared 
in the form of a servant, the son 
of God, walking in the furnace 
of divine wrath, connected with 
his church, yet bringing them 
forth, without so much as the 
smell of fire passing on them. 

ABEL, the second son of the 
first pair, was born in the 2d or 
3d year of the world. Commen- 
tators on Scripture, imitating the 
fancies of profane fabubsts on 
the subject, have laboured deep- 
ly in the unmeaning controver- 
sy, whether Cain and Abel were 
twin-brothers, or whether Abel 
was born with a twin-sister. 
The point, if settled, is of no 
manner of importance. His pa- 
rents named him Abel, or Vani- 
ty oecause, as some suppose, 
they were now sufficiently con- 



ABE 

vinced of the vanity of all cre- 
ated enjoyments. It is, how- 
ever, to be observed, that among 
the divers manners in which. 
God spake unto the fathers by. 
the' prophets, the prophetic in 
spiration by which names were 
conferred was none of the least 
remarkable. Abel, as the first 
on whom the divine curse, dust 
thou art, and unto dust thou 
shalt return, was executed, was 
of course the first instance of the 
Psalmist's averment, surely eve- 
ry man walketh in a vain show 
— every man in his best estate 
is altogether vanity. Abel was 
a keeper of sheep, but Cain was 
a tiller of the ground : in this 
manner did another part of the 
curse appear accomplished, in 
the sweat of thy face shalt thou 
eat. bread. Though heirs of em- 
pire, they must labour for their 
subsistence. The nature of their 
worship is shortly, but strikingly, 
described by the inspired pen- 
man. In process of time, or ra- 
ther at the end of days, that is, 
on the Sabbath, Abel brought of 
the firstlings of his flock, and of 
the fat thereof. This connected 
with Heb. xi. 4, By faith Abe* 
offered, &c. elucidates the man- 
ner and import of early worship ; 
by faith in the promised Messiah, 
the seed of the woman, by the 
bruising of whose heel the works 
of the devil were to be destroyed, 
he brought of the firstlings of 
his flock, and of the fat thereof, 
pointing to the divine dignity and 
infinite perfection of the blessed 
One, to whom his faith had re- 
spect, and offered it in sacrifice 
to God, as a figure or represen- 
tation of the death and suffer- 
ings of Christ, in the stead of the 
guilty. To Abel and his offering 
God had respect. If it is inquired, 
why 1 In place of adopting the 
conjectures of any commenta- 
tor, we answer with Paul in the 
forecited Heb. xi. 4. Abel's of- 
fering was more acceptable than 
Cain's, because offered by faith ■ 
9 



ABE 

Cain, displeased at the prefer- 
ence openly manifested to Abel's 
offering, was filled with that 
hatred to him, which is so forci- 
bly described, 1 John iii. 12. In- 
fluenced by the wicked one, the 
murderer from the beginning, he 
dew his brother, and their his- 
tory remains a striking lesson to 
professors of Christianity in eve- 
ry age of the world. 

Abelfi eing dead,yet speaketh. 
He is ranked among those who 
have obtained a good report 
through faith ; among those 
whose faith and patience we are 
exhorted to follow. In his suf- 
ferings and death, from the in- 
strument of the wicked one, he 
was an eminent type of the great 
Sufferer, and his peace-speaking 
blood. Still farther, the blood 
of Abel cried to God from the 
ground, and was answered by 
seven-fold vengeance on Cain. 
With what oppressive weight 
has the blood of Jesus fallen, and 
etill lies on the heads of them and 
their children, who with wicked 
hands crucified and slew him ! 
If Abel's blood stands foremost 
on the list among those whose 
deaths were avenged on that 
generation who put to death the 
Lord of glory, for on them venge- 
ance was executed to the utter- 
most, what direful wrath will 
be manifested when the blood of 
the Antitype of righteous Abel 
the head of all his martyrs and 
sufferers, shall be avenged on 
them that dwell upon the earth ! 
Compare Mat. xxiii.34 — 38. with 
Rev. xi. 10. 

2. Abel, and which was other- 
wise called the field of Joshua, a 
place near Bethshemesh, so call- 
ed to commemorate the mourn- 
ing of the Hebrews for their 
friends who were struck dead 
for looking into the ark. It seemg 
a great stone was erected in 
memory of that wrathful event. 
1 Sam. vi. 18, 19. 

3. Abel-Misraim, a place o- 
therwise called the threshing- 



ABE 

floor of Atad. It was so called 
from the great mourning vf the 
Egyptians over Jacob's corpse, 
as they carried it to Machpelah. 
It is thought to have lien between 
Jordan and Jericho, where the 
city Beth-hoglah was afterwards 
built ; but we can hardly think it 
was so far east. 

4. Abel-Shittim, a place seven 
or eight miles eastward of Jor- 
dan, over-against Jericho, in the 
country of Moab, and near the 
hill Peor. Here the Hebrews en- 
camped, a little before the death 
of Moses, and fell into idolatry 
and uncleanness, through en- 
ticement of the Moabitish, ana 
chiefly the Midianitish, women ; 
and were punished with the 
death of 24,000 in one day. It 
was probably their mourning 
over this plague that gave the 
name of Abel to the spot. Num. 
xxxiii. 48, 49. 

5. Abel-Meholah, a city or 
place on the west of Jordan, per- 
taining to the half-tribe of Ma- 
nasseh, 1 Kings iv. 12. Jerom 
will have it 10 miles, but others 
think it to have been about 16 
miles south from Bethshean. Not 
far from this city did Gideon mi- 
raculously defeat theMidianites, 
Judg. vii. 22 ; but its chief honour 
was, to be the native place of Eli- 
sha the prophet, 1 Kings xix 16, 

6. Abel, Abel-Bcthmaachah, 
Abel-Maim, a strong city some- 
where about the south frontiers 
of Mount Lebanon. It probably 
belonged to the tribe of Naph- 
tali. Sheba the son of Bichri 
fled here, when pursued by Da- 
vid's troops. To free themselves 
from Joab's furious siege, the 
inhabitants, advised by a pru- 
dent woman, beheaded the re- 
bel, and threw his head over the 
wall, 2 Sam. xx. 14—18. About 
80 years after, Benhadad king 
of Syria took and ravaged it, 
1 Kings xv. 20. About 200 years 
after which, Tiglathpilezer took 
it, and carried the inhabitants 
captive to Assyria, 2 Kings xv. 

10 



ABI 

29. It was afterwards rebuilt, 
and was capital of the canton of 
Abilene. 

ABEZ, an egg; a city of the 
tribe of Issachar, Josh, xix.20. 

To ABHOR, is a word of very 
peculiar import in scripture. It 
may be best understood from its 
counterpart, to have delight in. 
It is, in a particular manner, ap- 
plied to that which is unclean, 
unholy, an abomination, and so 
detested. Job's clothes abhorred 
him, Job is. 31. to point out the 
loathsome disease under which 
he laboured. In the same sense, 
Job, from the discovery of his 
own vileness,says, "Wherefore I 
abhor myself in dust and ashes," 
Job xlii.6. It seems to be pecu- 
liarly applicable to any thing 
which is abominable to God : " 1 
abhor your Sabbaths," Isa. i. 13. 
God abhors idolatry, Lev. xxvi. 

30. When God is said to have 
" cast off, and abhorred" Psalm 
Ixxxix. 38. it evidently respects 
bis Old Testament church, who 
were abhorred, when he broke 
down all their hedges, and the 
heathen profaned his sanctuary. 
The celebrated heigh, in his 
Crilica Sacra, gives the follow- 
ing explication of the word : 
"To hold a thing in such detes- 
tation, that we turn away our 
faces, as from an odious and 
loathsome sight." The final de- 
struction of the enemies of Christ 
is thus expressed, Isa. lxvi. 24. 
" They shall be an abhorring of 
all flesh." It is to be observed, 
however, that the word here 
translated abhorring,is no where 
else met with, but in Dan. xii. 2. 
where it is translated contempt. 
It comes from a word which 
signifies a worm. 

ABI, my father, the daughter 
of Zechariah, and mother of 
Hezekiah king of Judah, 2 Kings 
xviii. 2. 

ABI A. See Abijah: the chief 
man of the eighth course of the 
priests, Luke i. 5. Comp. 1 Chr. 
xxiv. 10, 



AEI 

ABI AH, the Father, Jehovah, 
— second son to Samuel, and 
brother to Joel. Samuel having 
trusted them with the adminis- 
tration of public justice, and ad- 
mitted them to a share of the go- 
vernment, they acquitted them- 
selves so ill, that they obliged the 
people to require a king of him. 
This happened in the year of the 
world 2909, before Christ 1091, 
before the vulgar era 1195. 
1 Sam. viii. 

ABI-ALBON, the father of 
understanding, a native of Ar- 
bath, and one of the gallant men 
of David's army, 2 Sam.xxiii.31. 

ABI-ASAPH, a consuming 
father, one of the sons of Ko- 
rah, Exod. vi. 24. 

ABIATHAR, excellent fa- 
ther, the tenth high-priest of the 
Jews, and fourth in descent from 
Eli. When Saul murdered Ahi- 
melech, his father, and the other 
priests, at Nob, Abiathar escaped 
to David in the wilderness, and 
joined his party ; and by him Dar 
vid consulted the Lord at Keilah 
and Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxii. and 
xxiii. 9. and xxx. 7. Saul had 
placed Zadok, a descendant of 
Eleazar, in the high-priesthood, 
instead of Abiathar ; but when 
David came to the throne, he 
made Abiathar and Zadok, next 
to him, the chief priests : and thug 
matters continued while David 
reigned, 2 Sam. xx. 25. Abia- 
thar and Zadok designed to have 
attended David with the ark, as 
he fled from Absalom; but he 
advised them to return with it, 
and procure him proper informa- 
tion, 2 Sam. xv. 24—29. Just be- 
fore the death of King David, 
Abiathar treasonably conspired 
to render Adonijah his father's 
successor ; and was forbidden 
the execution of his office by 
Solomon, on that account ; and 
confined to his city of Anathoth ; 
and Zadok was put in his room, 
1 Kings i. and ii. Thus was the 
family of Eli for ever put from 
the high priesthood, as had been 



ABI 

predicted, ISam. ii. 30,31,36. It is 
not Abiathar, but bis son, tbat is 
called Ahimelech, or Abimelech. 
Nor is it Abiathar's father, but 
himself, that is mentioned, Mark 
ii. 26 ; for it is certain that he 
then lived, and might have a 
great hand in procuring the 
shew-bread for David : nor does 
that text insinuate, that Abia- 
thar then executed the office of 
high priest. 

ABIB, or Kisan, the name of 
the first sacred, and seventh civil 
month of the Jewish year. It 
contained thirty days ; and an- 
swered to our moon of March. 
This word signifies green ears-, 
ox ripe fruit ; and was given to 
this month, because, in the mid- 
dle thereof, the Jews began their 
harvest. On the tenth day of this 
month the Paschal lamb was ta- 
ken ; on the 14th day they did 
eat the passover; and on the 
seven days following they kept 
the feast of unleavened bread, 
the last of which was held as a 
solemn convocation, Exod. xii. 
xiii. On the 15th day they gath- 
ered their sheaf of the barley first- 
fruits, and on the 16th they of- 
fered it ; after which they might 
begin their harvest, Lev. xxiii, 
14. On the first day of it the mo- 
dern Jews observed a fast for the 
death of Nadab and Abihu ; on 
the 10th a fast for the death of 
Miriam; on the 27th a fast for 
the death of Joshua ; on the 29th 
they prayed for the latter rain. 

The year, among the Jews, 
commenced in September ; and 
therefore their jubilees, and their 
other civil matters, were regu- 
lated in that way, see Lev. xxv. 
8, 9, 10; but their sacred year 
commenced mJlbib. This change 
took place at the redemption of 
Israel from Egypt, Exod. xii. 2. 
"This shall be to you the begin- 
ning of Months." 

ABlDAR,the father of know- 
ledge, one of the sons of Midian, 
Ten. xxv. 4. 

ABIDAN, my father the 



ABI 

judge, a prince of the tribe of 
Benjamin, who offered, Numb, 
i. 11. and vii. 60, 65. 

To ABIDE, signifies to stay 
or tarry, Gen xxii. 5. To dwell 
or live in a place, Gen. xxix. 19. 
To bear, suffer, or endure, Jer. 
x. 10. To be, Gen. xliv. 33. To 
continue, Eccles. viii. 15. John 
xiv. 16. To wait for, Acts xx. 
23. To stand firm, Psal. cxix. 
90. To abide in Christ, John 
xv. 4, signifies continuing in the 
faith of his divine person and 
work ; which is also termed en- 
during to the end. Christ's dis- 
ciples being united to him, "lam 
the vine, and ye are the branch- 
es," they bring forth much fruit ; 
while severed, or cut off from 
him, they can do dothing. Paul 
calls it "rooted and built up in 
him." Holding by the faithful 
word, is said to be abiding in 
the word, John viii. 31 ; 2 John 
9. The comfortable communion 
enjoyed by believing and holding 
by the truth, is a remarkable pro- 
mise of Christ to his disciples ; 
" and my Father wiD love him, 
and we will make our abode 
with him," John xiv. 23. 

ABIEL, or Jehiel, my father 
is God, the father of Kish and 
Ner, and grandfather to Saul, 
the first king of the Jews, 1 Sam. 
ix. 1. 

ABIEZER, my father's help, 
of the tribe of Benjamin, and 
town of Anathoth, was one of 
the thirtygaliantmenof David'i 
army. 

ABIGAIL, my father's joy , 
was the wife of Nabal, 1 Sam. 
xxv. 3. and afterwards married 
to David. She was u a woman 
of a good understanding, and of 
a beautiful countenance," ISam. 
xxv. 3. 

ABIHAIL, my father's 
strength, the son of Huri, and 
father of Michael, Meshullum, 
and some others, 1 Chron. v. 14. 

2. Abihail, the father of Za- 
riel, of the family of Merarij 
Numbers iii. 35. 
12 



ABI 

3. Abihail, the father of Es 
ther, and uncle of Mordecai 
Esth. ii. 15. ix. 29. 

4. Abihail, was the daughter 
of Eliab, David's brother, and 
wife to Rehoboam, king of Ju 
dah : she was the mother of 
Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham, 
2 Chron. xi. 18. 

ABIHU, my father himself, 
the son of Aaron the high-priest, 
and Elisheba, was consumed, 
together with his brother Nadab, 
by fire sent from God, because 
he had offered incense with 
strange fire, instead of taking it 
from the altar of burnt-offerings. 
This misfortune happened with 
in eight days after the consecra- 
tion of Aaron and his sons, and 
the dedication of the tabernacle, 
in the year of the world 2514, 
before Jesus Christ 1486, before 
the vulgar era 1490. Forgetting 
the spiritual import of all the ser- 
vice of the earthly sanctuary, 
one class of commentators have 
supposed, that Nadab and Abihu 
were in liquor,because the priests 
are immediately after prohibited 
the use of wine. Another class 
allege, that there was nothing 
so heinous in their transgression, 
but it was awfully punished, to 
teach ministers fidelity and ex- 
actness in discharging their of- 
fice. It had a vastly more im- 
portant meaning, — this instance 
of vengeance is a standing ex- 
ample of the divine wrath, which 
shall consume all who pretend to 
serve God, but with incense kin- 
dled from the one altar and of- 
fering by which he for ever per- 
fects his sanctified. 

ABIJ AH, the Lord is my fa- 
ther, the chief man of the eighth 
course of the priests, 1 Chr. xxiv. 
10. — Called also Abia, Luke i. 5. 

2. Abijah, the wife of Ahaz, 
and mother of Hezekiah, 2 Chr. 
xxix. 1. 

ABIJAM, (also Abijah) the 
father of the sea, the son and 
successor of Jeroboam, 1 Kings 
xiv. 1. 



ABI 

2. Abijam, the son and suc- 
cessor of Rehoboam, and grand- 
son of Solomon. He was a 
wicked prince, and reigned three 
years in Jerusalem. Asa was- 
his son and successor. 

ABILENE,the father's man- 
sion, a small canton in Hollow 
Syria, between Lebanon and 
Antilibanus. It appears to have 
lien westward of Damascus, 
and took its name from Abila, 
which probably was the same 
with Abel-maim. Lysanius was 
governor here in the fifteenth 
year of Tiberius, Luke hi. 1. 

ABIMAEL, a father from 
God, the son of Joctan, Gen. 
x. 28. 

ABIMELECH, my father the 
king, king of the Philistines,who 
dwelt in Gerar. Captivated with 
the beauty of Sarah, and inform- 
ed by Abraham that she was his 
sister, he took her into his palace, 
intending to make her his wife. 
God permitted him not to take 
her to his bed ; but appeared to 
him in a dream, and threatened 
him with a sudden death, if he 
did not immediately restore her 
to her husband ; nay, already he 
had smitten him, and the women 
of his family, with a distemper. 
Abimelech excused himself to 
his Maker, from Abraham's pre- 
tence, that Sarah was but his 
sister. He nevertheless restored 
her next day,severely chiding the 
patriarch for imposing on him. 
Abraham confessed she was in- 
deed his wife ; but was likewise 
his sister, by a different mother. 
Abimelech gave Abraham a 
number of valuable presents, and 
offered him a sojourning place in 
any part of his kingdom. He too 
begged his prayers for the heal- 
ing of his family; and cautioned 
him to beware of like dissimula- 
tion for the future. He also gave 
Sarah a thousand pieces of sil- 
ver, or about 500 dollars, to pur- 
chase a veil for covering her face, 
which still, at 90 years of age, 
was comely and sparkling ; thu» 



__ 



AB1 

she was publicly instructed and 
reproved. Abraham prayed for 
Abimelech's family, and they 
were cured of their distemper. 
About fourteen years after, Abi- 
melech, dreading danger to him- 
self or posterity from the increase 
of Abraham's power, came, with 
Phichol his chief captain, and 
begged he would enter into a 
covenant of friendship; which 
was readily granted. Gen. xx. 
and xxi. 22—32. 

2. Abimelech, probably the son 
and successor of the former, was 
like to be imposed on by Isaac. 
in the same manner as his father 
had been by Abraham ; but hap- 
pening, from his window, to espy 
some sportive familiarity be- 
tween Isaac and Rebekah, he 
immediately concluded she was 
his wife, not his sister, as both 
Isaac and herself had pretend- 
ed. He immediately sent for 
Isaac, and reproved him, as 
guilty of what tended to involve 
him and his subjects in guilt and 
punishment. Fear of losing his 
life, for the sake of his beautiful 
consort, was the only thing which 
Isaac pleaded in his own excuse. 
Abimelech, therefore, immedi- 
ately issued orders, that none of 
his subjects, under pain of death, 
should, in the least, injure Isaac 
or Rebekah. Abimelech, finding 
that his subjects were terrified at, 
and mightily envied, the great 
prosperity and power of Isaac, 
he politely required him to leave 
his territories, because he was 
become mightier than they ; or 
much increased at their expense. 
Some time after, Abimelech, 
mindful of the league his father 
had made with Abraham, and 
dreading danger from the in- 
crease of Isaac's power and 
wealth, took with him Ahuzzah 
his friend, and Phichol his chief 
captain, and repairing to Isaac, 
•olemnly lenewed the covenant 
with him at Beersheba, and was 
there entertained by him with a 
splendid feast. Gen. xxvi. 



ABI 

3. Abimelech) was the illegiti- 
mate son of Gideon, by his con- 
cubine at Shechem. He was 
a most wicked, aspiring, and 
bloody wretch. He was, how- 
ever, a man of energy and ad- 
dress, and succeeded in all his 
plans of cruelty against his bre- 
thren and the Shechemites. Of 
his seventy brethren, he left none 
alive, except Jolham, the young- 
est; and after a cruel destruc- 
tion of the remnant of the She- 
chemites, by setting tire to the 
temple in which they had taken 
refuge, he marched to Thebez, 
a town situated a few miles to 
the east of Shechem, to which 
he laid siege; and when the in- 
habitants fled to the tower, he 
made an assault on that, and was 
about to set it on fire, when a 
woman cast upon him, from 
above, a piece of a millstone, 
which broke his skull. That it 
might not be said that he died by 
the hands of a woman, he order- 
ed his armour-bearer to thrust 
him through with his sword. 
Judg. ix. 

4. Abimelech. See Achish, 
and Ahimelech. 

ABINADAB, a father of a 
vow, or a free mind. (1.) The 
son of Jesse, 1 Sam. xvi. 8. (2.) 
The son of Saul, ISam. xxxi.2. 
(3.) The son-in-law of Solomon, 
I Kings iv. 11. 

ABIRAM, my high father. 
(1.) The son of Eliab the Reu- 
benite. He, with his brother Da- 
than, and Korah, conspired to 
divest Moses and Aaron of the 
powers conferred on them by 
God; and, on account hereof, 
was, with his whole family and 
substance, swallowed up alive 
by the earth, Num. xvi. (2.) The 
eldest son of Hiel the Bethel- 
ite ; he lost his life as his father 
founded the walls of Jericho. 
1 Kings xvi. 34. 

ABISHAG, the error of my 
father, a young woman, a na- 
tive of Shun am, in the tribe of 
Issachar. David, at the age of 
14 



ABI 
about seventy , fin ding no warmth 
in his bed, was advised by his 
servants to procure some young 
person, who might communicate 
the heat he wanted. To this end 
Abishag was presented to him, 
who was one of the most beau- 
tiful young women in all Israel. 
She cherished the king and mi- 
nistered to him ; but he did not 
know her. After his death Ado- 
nijah demanded her in marriage. 
Solomon believed, with reason, 
that he might affect the regal 
power, when he was married to 
one of the late king's wives; 
therefore he put him to death, in 
the year of the world 2991, before 
Jesus Christ 1009, before the vul- 
gar era 1013. 1 Kings i. and ii. 
ABISHAI, the reward of my 
father, the son of Zeruiah, the 
6ister of David, 1 Chron. ii. 16. 
He was a noted warrior, an early 
assistant, and steady friend to 
his uncle. Entering Saul's tent 
along with him, he insisted for 
leave to kill that tyrant, but was 
not allowed, lSam.xxvi.7 — 11. 
He served in David's wars with 
Ishbosheth, and vigorously pur- 
sued the flying enemy. In the 
war with the Edomites, he cut 
off 18,000 of them in the valley 
of Salt. In the war with the 
Syrians and Ammonites he com- 
manded the troops which en- 
gaged with, and routed the latter. 
In the war with the Philistines he 
killed Ishbibenob. a noted giant, 
who was justgoing to murder his 
uncle and king. At another time 
he alone attacked a body of three 
hundred, and killed them to a 
man. Highly provoked with Shi- 
meVs raillery, he begged his un- 
cle's leave to cut off the insolent 
wretch, but was not permitted. 
He commanded a third part of 
the army which defeated Absa- 
lom, and headed the household 
troops who pursued Sheba the 
son of Bichri, 2 Sam. ii. 18—24. 
and x. 10—14. and xvi. 9—11. 
and xviii. 2. and xx. 6, 7. and 
xxL 17. and xxiii. 18, 19. 1 



ABIS T 

Chron. ii 16. and xi. 20, 21. an! 
xviii. 12. 

ABISHALOM, the father of 
peace ; or, the peace of the fa 
tiler ; from shalom, p#ace, an<? 
ab, a father ; or, the accomplish 
ment, or recompense of the fa 
ther. 

ABISHALOM,father of Maa 
cha, who was mother of Abij ah, 
king of Judah, 1 Kings xv. 2. 

ABISHUA,/ar.Aer of salva- 
tion, or, of magnificence; or, 
the salvation of my father; 
fiom shuah, which also signifies, 
one that cries ; or clamour — the 
father of clamour. 

ABISHUA, son of Phinehas; 
the fourth high-priest of the He- 
brews, (1 Chron. vi. 50.) He 
was succeeded by Bukki. No 
particulars of his life are known. 
The Chronicon of Alexandria 
places Abishua under Ehud, 
judge of Israel, Judges iii. He 
is called Abiezer, in Josephus., 
Antiq. lib. 5. cap. ult. 

ABiSRUR, father of the wall, 
or of the bull; from shur, or sur : 
or, father of uprightness : oi, 
my father is upright, by deriv- 
ing it from jashar, to be upright. 

ABITAL,sixth wife oi David, 
mother of Sheptiah, IChr. iii. 3. 

ABNER, my father's lamp, 
the son of Ner. He was the un- 
cle of king Saul, and the general 
of his army. Being mostly in the 
camp, and in high station, it is 
not surprising he knew not Da- 
vid atEphes-dammim : but it was 
more culpable, that he guarded 
his master so ill in the camp at 
Hachilah, when David and Abi- 
shai entered it, and went off, 
without being perceived, ISam. 
xiv. 50. and xvii. 55 — 58. and 
xx vi. 5 — 14. After Saul's death 
he made Ishbosheth king; and 
for seven years supported the 
family of Saul, in opposition to 
David ; but in the most of his 
skirmishes came off with losa. 
While Ishbosheth and David's 
troops rested near one another, 
hard by Gibeon, Abner barbtt- 
15 



ABO 

rously challenged Joab to ad- 
vance twelve of David's war- 
riors, to fight with an equal num- 
ber of his. Joab consented : the 
twenty-four engaged; and,taking 
each his fellow by the beard, and 
thrusting his sword into his side, 
they together fell down dead on 
the spot : a fierce battle ensued 
Abner and his troops were rout- 
ed : Abner himself was hotly pur- 
sued by Asahel ; he begged him 
to stop his pursuit ; on his refu- 
sal,he killed him by a back-stroke 
of his spear. He was however 
Btill pursued by Joab and Abi- 
shai, till he, who in the morning 
sported with murder, was obliged 
at even to beg that Joab would 
stop his troops from their hostile 
pursuit, 2 Sam. ii. 

Not long after, Abner, taking 
it highly amiss for lshbosheth 
to charge him of lewd behaviour 
with Rizpah, Saul's concubine, 
vowed he would quickly betray 
the whole kingdom into the 
hands of David ; he had scarce 
threatened it, when he commenc 
ed a correspondence with David, 
and had an interview with him 
at Hebron for that effect. Abner 
had just left the feast wherewith 
David had entertained him,when 
Joab, informed of the matter, 
warmly remonstrated to his un 
cle that Abner had comeasaspy. 
At his own hand he sent a mes- 
senger to invite him back, to 
have some further communica- 
tion with the king. Abner was 
just come into Joab's presence, 
when he, partly from jealousy 
that Abner might become his su- 
perior, and partly to revenge his 
brother Asahel's death, mortally 
stabbed him, as he pretended to 
salute him. Informed hereof, 
David heartily detested the fact, 
exclaimed against Joab, and 
honoured Abner with a solemn 
funeral, and a mournful elegy, 
2 Sam. iii. 

ABOARD, into the ship, Acts 
xx i. 2. 

ABOLISH, to make void, or. 



ABO 

do away. Christ abolished the 
law of commandments, or Mo- 
saic Ritual, when he died, as the 
end of the law for righteousness, 
and rent the vail of the temple. 
He abolished death, 2 Tim. i. 10. 
ABOMINABLE, Abomina- 
tion. Things detestable, un- 
clean, filthy, abhorred, idols, &e 
In general abominable'^ opposed 
to that which is holy, in which 
God delighteth. 

Abomination of Desolation. 
This phrase is supposed to de- 
note the Roman army; it was 
abomination on account of its 
ensigns and idols, which the 
soldiers worshipped, and it was 
desolation because it was the 
means of desolating the city, 
temple, and nation of the Jews. 
Our Lord observes, that when 
they should see the Roman ar- 
mies encompassing Jerusalem, 
with ensigns flying, and these 
abominations on them, they 
might conclude its desolation 
was near at hand ; and he does 
not so much mean his apostles, 
who would be most of them 
dead, or in other countries, when 
this would come to pass; but 
any of his disciples and follow- 
ers, or any persons whatever, by 
whom should be seen this deso- 
lating abomination, spoken of 
by Daniel the prophet : not in 
Dan. xi. 31, which is spoken of 
the abomination in the times of 
Antiochus; but either in Dan. 
xii. 11, or rather in Dan. ix. 27, 
since this desolating abomina- 
tion is that which should follow 
the cutting-off of the Messiah, 
and the ceasing of the daily sa- 
crifice. It is to be observed, that 
Daniel is here called a prophet, 
contrary to what the Jewish 
writers say, who deny him to be 
one ; though one of no inconsi- 
derable note among them af- 
firms, that he attained to the end 
of the prophetic border, or the 
ultimate degree of prophecy; 
when therefore this, that Daniel, 
16 



ABO 

under a spirit of prophecy, spoke 
of, should be seen, standing in 
the holy place ; near the walls, 
and round about the holy city 
Jerusalem, so called from the 
sanctuary and worship of God 
in it; and which, in process of 
time, stood in the midst of it, 
and in the holy temple, and des- 
siroyed both ; then whoso read- 
eth, let him understand : that is, 
whoever then reads the prophe- 
cy of Daniel, will easily under- 
stand the meaning of it, and will 
see and know for certain, that 
now it is accomplished ; and 
will consider how to escape the 
desolating judgment, unless he 
is given up to a judicial blind- 
ness and hardness of heart; 
which was the case of the greater 
part of the nation, Mat. xxiv. 15. 
To ABOUND; (1.) To grow 
great or numerous, 2 Pet. i. 8. 
Matt. xxv. 12. (2.) To increase, 
and have plenty of temporal or 
spiritual benefits, Prov. xxviii. 
20. 2 Cor. ix. 8. God abounds 
in grace towards us, in all wis 
dom and prudence, in graciously 
choosing a fit person to be our 
Mediator : in appointing him his 
proper work, in its whole form 
and periods; in ordering the cir 
cumstances of his incarnation, 
abasement, and glory; and of 
all the mercies, afflictions, and 
deliverances of his people, to the 
best advantage. In forming and 
publishing the gospel of our sal- 
vation, and thereby rendering 
men, naturally foolish and rebel- 
lious, wise, circumspect, and pru- 
dent, Eph. i. 7, 8. Men abound 
in the work of the Lord, when, 
with noted and increasing plea- 
sure and activity, they perform a 
multitude of good works, 1 Cor. 
xv. 58. Men abound in trans- 
gression when, with increasing 
activity, they proceed from one 
evil way to another or worse, 
Prov. xxix. 22. Sin abounds 
inwardly, when it renders our 
rational pdwers more vigorous, 
a«tive in, and delighted with sin 
a2 5 



ABR 

it abounds outwardly, when the 
number of sinners or of sinful 
acts, and the number and degree* 
of their aggravations do increase; 
it abounds relatively, when its 
facts, criminal nature, power, 
and pollution, are more fully and 
convincingly manifested, Mat. 
xxiv. 12. Rom. v. 20. Grace in 
God much more abounds insav 
ing the chief of sinners, and for 
giving, conquering, and destroy- 
ing the greatest sins in them that 
believe : grace in us much more 
abounds in resisting and morti- 
fying the strongest corruptions, 
and taking full possession of 
those inward powers where sin 
had been superlatively strong 
and active, Rom. v. 20. The 
truth of God abounds, when his 
revelations are clearly and wide- 
ly displayed ; when his promises 
are eminently fulfilled ; and his 
word rendered effectual for the 
conversion of vast multitudes; 
and is boldly professed by them, 
Rom. iii. 7. 

ABRAM, afterwards called 
Abraham, son of Terah, was 
born at Ur, a city of Chaldea, 
A. M. 2008, ante A. D. 1996, 
Gen. xi. 27 He spent his early 
years i n his father's house, where 
they adored idols. Many have 
supposed, that he himself was at 
first engaged in this error, bul 
that God giving him a better un- 
derstanding, he renounced this 
impure mode of worship: and 
on this account, suffered a se- 
vere persecution from the Chal- 
deans, who threw him into a 
fiery furnace, from which God 
miraculously saved him, while 
Haran, whose faith failed, per- 
ished in it. It is very likely, 
that his father also was convin- 
ced of the vanity of idolatry, 
since he accompanied him from 
Ur, where he was settled, to that 
place whither the Lord had 
called Abraham. They first 
came to Haran, in Mesopota- 
mia, where Terah, Abraham'* 
father, died. From thence Abra- 
17 



ABR 

ham went into Palestine, at 
that time inhabited by Canaan- 
ites. Here God promised to 
bless him, and to give him the 
property of this country. The 
patriarch, however, did not ac- 
quire one inch of ground here, 
but lived here always as a stran- 
ger. Some time after his settle- 
ment in Canaan, a great famine 
obliged him to go into Egypt; 
where being afraid that the 
Egyptians, struck with the 
beauty of Sarah, might notonly 
force her from him, but take 
away his life too, if they knew 
she was Iris wife, he desired her 
that he might call her sister. 
Sarah consented ; and when in 
Egypt, her beauty being report- 
ed to Pharaoh, he took her forci- 
bly away, designing to have 
made her one of his wives; but 
God afflicted him with great 
plagues, and obliged him to re- 
e f ore her. After the famine, 
Abraham returned to Canaan, 
accompanied by his nephew, 
Lot ; there he pitched his tents, 
between Bethel and Hai, where 
some time before he had raised 
an altar. Now, as both Abra- 
ham and Lot had large flocks, 
they could not conveniently 
dwell together, therefore they 
separated; Lot retiring to So- 
dirm, and Abraham to the plain 
of Mamre. near Hebron, A. M. 
2084, ante A. D. 1920. 

Some years afterwards, Lot 
being taken prisoner, in a war 
waged by Chedorlaomer and his 
allies, against the kings of So- 
dom, &c. Abraham, with his 
own household, pursued the 
conquerors, overtook them at 
Dan, near the springs of Jordan, 
defeated them, retook the spoil, i 
together with Lot, and brought 
it baek to Sodom. At his re- 
turn, as he passed near Salem, 
(supposed to be the same city 
afterwards called Jerusalem,) 
JHelchisedeck, king of that city, 
and priestof the most high God, 
met him, and blessed him, and ' 
Id 



ABR 

presented him with bread and 
wine for himself, and for the re- 
freshment of his army ; or, as 
some have thought,offered bread 
and wine to God, as a sacrifice 
of thanksgiving for him. 

After this, the Lord renewed 
his promises to Abraham, and 
gave him fresh assurances that 
he should possess the land of 
Canaan, and that his posterity 
should be as numerous as the 
stars of heaven. 

As Abraham had no children, 
and could no longer expect any 
by his wife Sarah, he complied 
with her solicitations to marry 
her servant Hagar ; imagining, 
that if he should have children 
by her, God might perform the 
promises which he had made to 
him of a numerous posterity; 
Sarah also designed to adopt 
such children, and educate them 
as her own ; which was a com- 
mon custom in those times. Un- 
der these circumstances, Abra- 
ham married Hagar; but she, 
finding she had conceived, as- 
sumed a superiority over her 
mistress, and treated her with 
contempt ; Sarah complained 
to Abraham, who told her Ha- 
gar was still her servant. Ha- 
gar, therefore, being ill-used by 
^Sarah, fled ; but an angel ap- 
pearing to her in the wilderness, 
commanded her to return to 
Abraham and Sarah, and to 
submit to her mistress ; she re- 
turned, and was delivered of 
Ishmael, A. M. 2094, ante A. D. 
1910. 

Thirteen years after the birth 
of Ishmael, the Lord renewed 
his covenant and promises with 
Abraham. He changed his 
name from Abram, or an eleva- 
ted father, to Abraham, or the 
father of a multitude ; and that 
of Sarai, my princess, into Sa- 
rah, the princess. As a mark 
and confirmation of the cove- 
nant now entered into, he en- 
joined him to be himself cir- 
cumcised, and to circumcise all 



ABR 

the males of his family ; he also 
promised him expressly a son by 
Sarah, his wife, and that within 
a year. 

Shortly after, the enormous 
sins of Sodom, Gomorrah, and 
the neighbouring cities, deter- 
mined God to destroy them. 
Abrafiam sitting at the door of 
his tent, in the heat of the day, 
paw three persons walking by ; 
directly he ran to them, invited 
them to eat, washed their feet, 
and hasted to prepare meat for 
them, while Sarah made cakes. 
When they had eaten, they 
asked Abraham " Where is Sa- 
rah, thy wife 1" Abraham an- 
swered, in the tent. Then said 
one of them, I will certainly re- 
turn unto thee, according to the 
time of life; and lo, Sarah thy 
wife, shall have a son. Sarah, 
hearing this, laughed. Where- 
upon, he said to Abraham, 
Wherefore did Sarah laugh? 
Is any thing too hard for the 
Lord? In a year I will return, 
as I promised, and Sarah shall 
have a son. 

When they resumed their 
journey, Abraham attended 
them, going towards Sodom, 
whither two of them (who 
proved to be divine messengers) 
advancing with haste, the third 
remained with Abraham, and 
discoursing with him, said, the 
cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is 
great, and their sin is very 
grievous ; I will therefore go 
down thither, and see whether 
tliey have done altogether ac- 
cording to the cry of it, which 
is come up to me. Abraham, 
fearing lest his nephew, Lot, 
should be involved in the mis- 
fortune of this city, said, Lord, 
wilt thou destroy the righteous 
with the wicked? If there be 
found fifty righteous in the 
city, wilt thou destroy them with 
the others, and not spare this 
city for the fifty righteous that 
are therein ? The Lord answer- 
ed, / will spare it for their 
19 



ABR 

sakes. Abraham added, if there 
shall lack five of this number, 
wilt thou destroy all this num- 
ber for lack of five? JVo, said 
the Lord. Abraham continuing 
to speak, reduced the number, 
by degrees, to ten righteous per- 
sons, and God promised not to 
destroy the city for ten's sake ; 
but there were not ten to bo 
found! Nevertheless,/^*, Abra- 
ham's nephew, was preserved 
from the calamity of Sodom. 

Sarah having conceived, ac- 
cording to God's promise, Abra- 
ham left the plain of Jilamre, 
and went farther south, dwelling 
as a stranger at Oerar, tvhere 
Abimelech reigned. Abraham, 
who again feared lest Sarah 
should be forced from him, and 
himself be put to death, called 
her here, as he had done in 
Egypt, sister. Abimelech took 
her to his house, designing to 
marry her; but God having, in 
a dream, informed him she was 
Abraham's wife, he returned 
her to him with great presents. 
This year Sarah was delivered 
of Isaac; Abraham circumcised 
him, according to God's order ; 
and when he was weaned, made 
a great entertainment. Sarah, 
having observed Ishmael, the 
son of Hagar, teasing her son 
Isaac, said to Abraham, Cast 
out this bond-woman and her 
son, for Ishmael shall not be 
heir with Isaac. Abraham had 
very great reluctance to do this, 
but he complied directly, as God 
had declared to him that it was 
his will. 

About the same time Abime- 
lech, king of Oerar, came with 
Phicol, his general, to visit 
Abraham, and make an alliance 
with him. Abraham made him 
a present of seven ewe-lambs 
out of his flock, in consideration 
that a well he had opened should 
be his own property, and they 
called the place Beer-sheba, or 
the well of swearing, because 
of the covenant there ratified 



ABR 

with oaths. Here Abraham 
planted a grove, built an altar, 
and continued some time. More 
than twenty years after this (A. 
M 2133) God directed Abra- 
ham to sacrifice his son Isaac, 
on a mountain which he would 
show him ; Abraham took his 
son, and two servants, and went 
towards mount Moriah. On 
their journey, Behold the fire 
and the wood, says Isaac to his 
father, but where is the victim 
for a burnt- offering? Abraham 
answered, My son, Ood will 
provide one. When within 
sight of the mountain, Abraham 
left his servants, and ascended it 
with his son, only ; and there 
having bound him, he prepared 
to sacrifice him ; but when he 
was about to give the blow, an 
angel from heaven cried out to 
him, Lay not thine hand upon 
the lad, neither do thou any 
thing to him. Now I know 
that thou fear est God, since to 
obey him thou hast not spared 
thine only son. Abraham, 
turning to look around him, saw 
a ram entangled in a bush by his 
horns, him he offered up as a 
burnt-offering, instead of his son 
Isaac. This place is called 
Jehovah-jireh, or the Lord will 
see, — or provide. 

Twelve years afterwards, Sa- 
rah, the wife of Abraham, died, 
in the city of Hebron. Abra- 
ham came to mourn, and to per- 
form the last offices for her. He 
presented himself before the 
people at the city gates, entreat- 
ing them to allow him to bury 
his wife among them ; for, being 
a stranger, and having no land 
of his own, he could claim no 
right of interment in the sepul- 
chresof thatcountry. He there- 
fore, bought of Ephron, one of 
the inhabitants, the field of Mac 
phelah, with the cave and sepul- 
chre in it, at the price of four 
hundred shekels of silver (about 
165 dollars.) And here Abra- 
ham buried Sarah, after ho had 
20 



ABR 

mourned for her, according to 
the custom of the country. 

Abraham perceiving himself 
to be grown old, sent Eliezer, 
the steward of his house, into 
Mesopotamia, with directions to 
bring a young woman of his own 
family, for his son Isaac. Elie- 
zer executed his commission 
very prudently, and brought Re- 
becca, daughter of Bethuel, 
grand-daughter to Nahor, and, 
consequently, Abraham's niece, 
whom Isaac married. Abra- 
ham afterwards married Ketu- 
rah; by whom he had six sons, 
Zimram, Jocksham, Medan, 
Median, Ishbock, and Shuah ; 
who became heads of different 
people, who dwelt in Arabia^ 
and around it. He died, aged 
an hundred and seventy-five 
years, and was buried with Sa- 
rah, his wife, in the cave of 
Macphelah, which he had pur- 
chased of Ephron, A. M. 2183, 
ante A. D. 1821. 

Remarks on the History of 
Abraham. — I. Abraham, is in- 
troduced somewhat suddenly in 
the sacred Scriptures: — "And 
Jehovah said to Abram" (Gen. 
xii. 1;) but it may rationally be 
concluded, that before a man 
would undertake a long, fatigu- 
ing, and uncertain journey at the 
command of another, he would 
be well assured of the authority 
which commanded him. We 
may infer, that God had pre- 
viously spoken to Abraham ; 
perhaps often, though by what 
means we know not. However, 
in addition to what the Scrip- 
tures have recorded, we know 
from other information, that 
about this time Chaldea became 
polluted with idolatry, (and this 
we know, independent of any 
reference to Terah, as a maker 
of idols, which some have sup- 
posed from the name Tcraphim, 
as related to Terah.) It ap- 
pears, therefore, to be very credi- 
ble, that a principal reason of 
Abram' s quitting his own coua- 



ABR 

try, was his dread of this evil. 
Now this evil was at this time 
not equally prevalent in Egypt; 
and the countries which were 
distant from the great cities, 
were but little infected with it. 
This also accounts for Jibram 
going northward, instead of the 
direct road, which communica- 
ted through Canaan, between 
Babylon and Egypt. 

II. jibram, previous to his 
journey, was a man of sub- 
stance. " He took Sarah his 
wife, Lot his nephew, and all 
his property;" so that he was 
no adventurer fo r a fortune, but 
was already rich in worldly 
wealth ; and had many people 
his dependants, most of whom, 
it is likely, accompanied him to 
this new residence, and many of 
whom were among the M ser- 
vants born in his house." 

III. The next circumstance 
deserving notice, is, his calling 
Sarai, his wife, " sister," 
(Gen. xii. 13, &e.) instead of 
" wife," and as this incident is 
liable to ambiguity, and has suf 
fered by being placed in false 
lights, to the greater discredit of 
Abraham than is just or neces- 
sary ; — we shall bestow a few 
thoughts upon it. 

It deserves consideration how 
far this might be a primitive cus- 
tom : for, as in the first, so also 
in the second infancy of the 
human race, the relations of life 
were so very few, and so very 
intimate, that it was little short 
of inevitable for the nearest in 
blood to intermarry ; and it is by 
no means incredible, that some 
families had made a point of 
maintaining themselves distinct 
from others by this custom ; and 
that they chose to be thus re- 
stricted to the branches of their 
own family, (cousins, &c.) as 
afterwards among the Jews, the 
restriction was enlarged to their 
own tribe. 

But independent of this consi- 
deration, we should observe, that 



ABR 

every nation, and oftentimes 
every family, has its own man* 
ners; which appear odd to those 
not accustomed to them, and 
which, occasionally, are mistak- 
en by casual observers. It is 
not the custom in England (as 
it also appears not to have been 
in Egypt, or in Canaan) for a 
husband to call his wife — sister ; 
but it seems to have been the 
custom of the Hebrew families 
to use this term, and others of 
near consanguinity, for a more 
general relation than they strict- 
ly import, and also for a wife, or 
a companion. 

IV. The dignity and power of 
Abraham is incidentally stated 
in the story of his rescuing Lot. 
He must have been a man of 
no trifling possessions, who had 
three hundred and eighteen ser- 
vants born in his house, whom 
he could entrust with arms; it 
implies, that he had many not 
born in his house ; some also 
who must have been old ; some 
were women, and some children. 
V. The sacred historian informs 
us that Sarah gave Hagar, her 
handmaid, to Abraham. What- 
ever may be the feelings with 
which we regard such a trans- 
action at the present time, (when 
the institution of marriage is jusb- 
ly considered the most sacred 
earthly relation into which we 
can enter,) it is obvious that such 
a course was very differently re- 
garded then. At any rate every 
attempt to show that Abraham'' s 
course was not a voluntary one — 
that Sarah proposed it, and that 
he rather yielded to her wishes, 
implies a criminality in his cor>- 
duct which the Scriptures do 
not authorize us to impute to 
him. 

As to his treatment of Ha- 
gar, perhaps, after she was his 
wife, he ought not to have left 
her so entirely under the power 
of Sarah; but we observe, that 
the sending away Ishmael and 
his mother appeared hard to 
21 



ABR 

Abraham himself, and he was 
very reluctant, till God had pro- 
mised his protection to Iskmael. 
In his manner of sending them 
away, there is much caution and 
management ; for we find that it 
was very early in the morning, 
i. e. before Sarah, perhaps, or 
many of his family, could be 
spectators ; also, before the heat 
of the day, at the very best time 
for travelling, that he sent away 
Hagar and Ishmael; Ishmael 
being about thirteen years old, 
and well able to carry either the 
loaves or the skin of water. (See 
Bottle.) By this privacy, he 
avoided all farther harshness and 
bickerings between Sarah and 
her servant ; and did all he could 
to insure the safety of Hagar 
and her son. 

VI. The covenant made with 
Abraham is a subject well wor- 
thy consideration, whether we 
regard the solemnity, the occa- 
sion, or the contents of it. Its 
history is related in two parts ; 
the first is previous to the birth 
of Ishmael ; the second previous 
to the birth of Isaac. The first 
foretels, that he should have a 
numerous posterity, and that he 
need not to make a stranger his 
heir: — the second promises a 
son, by Sarah; a son with whom 
the covenant was to be estab- 
lished. For the contents of the 
covenant, (1,) as they relate to 
his posterity: — the family of 
this patriarch has long been ex- 
tremely numerous ; from him are 
derived many tribes of Arabs, 
descending by Ishmael, and by 
Keturah: to say nothing of the 
Jews, there is not on the face of 
the earth, any man to whom so 
many nations refer their origin. 
Others may have begotten fami- 
lies, but Abraham is the father 
of nations. (2.) The change of 
name, Abram into Abraham; 
and of Sarai into Sarah. (3.) 
The sign of the covenant, cir- 
cumcision. 

VII. Abraham's faith, respect- 



ABR 

ing his son Isaac, when called 
out to offer him for a burnt sa- 
crifice, has been so often urged 
and illustrated, as to need no 
enlargement here. — I shall, how- 
ever, remark, that under the 
circumstances of Abraham, as 
having a son in his old age, born 
after the covenant, on whose 
issue depended valuable pro- 
mises, who was now arrived at 
man's estate, who was his heir, 
who was his mother's darling : 
he must have been well con- 
vinced, that he followed no idle 
phantasy of his own brain, in 
proposing to slay him : the com- 
mon feelings of human nature, 
the uncommon feelings of the 
aged patriarch, all protested 
against such a deed. The length 
of the journey, the interval of 
time, the discourse of Isaac, all 
augmented the anguish of the 
parent; unless that parent was 
well satisfied in his own mind, 
that he acted under direction uo 
less than divine. We may here 
remark, that neither the prophets 
nor the apostles, the patriarchs 
nor the saints, have left us any 
description of what was the im- 
pulse they felt, or what the in- 
fluence they experienced ; — but 
they have left us in their actions 
sufficient proof, that they be- 
lieved it to be real, and divine. 
Had they described it, fancy 
might have counterfeited it; but 
as they show their sense and 
conviction of it by their actions 
only, they evidently decline to 
occasion any mistakes in others, 
from whatever cause arising: 
they did not esteem themselves 
examples to following ages, 
though following ages have thus 
esteemed them. 

Josephus tells us, lib. 1. chap, 
xiii. that Abraham greatly loved 
Isaac, as being his only begotten, 
given to him at the borders of 
old age, by the favour of God. 
The child also endeared himself 
to his parents still more by the 
exercise of every virtue, and ad- 



ABR 

hering to his duty to his parents, 
and being zealous in ttie wor- 
ship of God. Abraham also 
placed his own happiness in this 
prospect, that when he should 
die, he should leave this son in 
a safe and secure condition ; 
which accordingly he obtained 
by the will of God; who being 
desirous to make an experiment 
of Abraham's religious disposi- 
tion towards himself, appeared 
to him, and enumerated all the 
blessings he had bestowed on 
him ; how he had made him su- 
perior to his enemies, and that 
his son Isaac, who was the prin- 
cipal part of his present happi- 
ness, was derived from Him ; 
and he said, that he required this 
eon of his as a sacrifice and holy 
oblation. Accordingly he com- 
manded him to carry him to the 
mountain Moriah, and to build 
an altar, and offer him for a 
burnt-offering upon it; for that 
this would best manifest his reli- 
gious disposition towards him, 
it" he preferred what was pleas- 
ing to God before the preserva- 
tion of his own son. 

Th£ circumstances attending 
this transaction are so numerous 
and at the same time important, 
that it would require much more 
extensive limits than ours, to in- 
vestigate them, even though very 
slightly. 

" Of the seed of Abraham," 
was to be One in whom " all the 
families of the earth should be 
blessed." And, henceforward, 
we have prediction upon pre- 
diction, ordinance upon ordi- 
nance, promise upon promise, 
event upon event, leading to, 
rising above, improving, enlarg- 
ing upon one another, like the 
light of the ascending sun, gra- 
dually increasing from the early 
dawn to the present day. We 
observe types, shadows, and sa- 
crifices disappearing; patriarchs, 
priests, prophets,and kings, retir- 
ing aad giving place to "the 



ABR 

Lord, our Judge, our Lawgiver, 
our King, to save us." 

We have been led to see the 
faith of Abraham remarkably 
tried, in the promise of the birth 
of Isaac, and called to believe 
in hope against hope ; but having 
received this son beyond the 
course of nature, and led to con- 
sider him as having all the pro- 
mises centering in the seed to be 
born of him, even this son he is 
called to sacrifice. This trial of 
his natural affections all ac- 
knowledge ; but the Christian is 
still farther called to consider 
what is vastly more important, 
the trial of his faith; for if Isaac 
dies, where are all the promises 
of God 1 and this, as Paul says, 
he could only offer him, by ac- 
counting that God was able to 
raise hiai from the dead. 

There is something very elo- 
quent and touching in the ac- 
count we have of the Patriarch's 
death, that though it requires us 
to go back to that event, we do 
not feel as if any apology would 
be asked. " When Abraham gave. 
up the ghost, and died in a good 
old age, an old man, and full 
of years, and was gathered to 
his people, and his sons Isaac 
and fshmael buried him." Gen. 
xxv. 8, 9. During the thirty-five 
years of his life, we hear no 
more of God's extraordinary ap- 
pearances to him, or trials of 
him ; for all the days, even of 
the best and greatest saints, are 
not eminent days ; some slide on 
silently, and neither come nor 
go with observation ; such wero 
the last days of Abraham.—^ 
He lived 175 years; just 100 
years after he came to Canaan- 
Though he lived long, and lived 
well, did much good, and could 
be ill-spared, yet he died at last. 
Observe how his death is here 
described : 1. He gave up ths 
ghost. His life was not extorted 
from him, but he cheerfully re- 
signed it: into the hands of the 
23 



ABR 
Father of spirits he committed 
his spirit. 2. He died in a good 
old age, an old man; so God 
had promised him. His death 
was his discharge from the bur- 
thens of his age. 3. He was full 
of years. 4. He was gathered 
to his people. His body was 
gathered to the congregation of 
the dead, and his soul to the 
congregation of the blessed. — 
Here is nothing recorded of the 
pomp or ceremony of his fune- 
ral; only we are told, His sons 
Isaac and Ishmael buried him. 
It was their last office of respect 
to their good father. 

The Arabians, who are de- 
scended from this patriarch, re- 
late that Abraham was a de- 
scendant of Terah. All their 
historians agree in this. Indeed 
a history of the life of Abraham 
might be extracted from the tra- 
ditions of the East. 

Abraham's bosom, Luke xvi. 
22. This phrase is supposed to 
denote heaven, or a place of 
blessed rest. The Jews ex- 
pressed the happiness of the 
righteous at death, three ways: 
they go to the garden of Eden, 
they go to be under the throne 
of glory, and they go to the 
bosom of Abraham. Abraham 
was the father of the faithful ; 
and whither should the souls of 
the faithful be gathered but to 
him, who, as a tender father, 
lays them in his bosom, espe- 
cially at their first coming to bid 
them welcome — to refresh them 
when newly come, through much 
tribulation, to the kingdom of 
God 1 He was carried to his bo- 
som, that is, to feast with him ; 
for at feasts the guests are said 
to lean on one another's breast, 
and the saints in heaven sit 
down with Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob. 

As to the other particulars of 
Abraham's life, which seem ca- 
pable of further illustration ; see 
the articles of the several per- 
sons to whom they refer. 



ABS 

ABSALOM, the father of 
peace, the third son of King Da- 
vid: his mother was Maacah, 
the daughter of Talmai king of 
Geshur. He was a most come- 
ly man : every year he cut the 
hair of his head, and it weighed 
two hundred shekels, or about 6ix 
pounds. He had three eons, 
who all died in their childhood, 
and a beautiful daughter called 
Tamar, 2 Sam. iii. 3. and xiv. 
25—27. 

When Tamar his sister was 
ravished by Amnon, Absalom 
resolved on a thorough revenge. 
After two years, he invited his 
brethren to a shearing feast at 
Baalhazor. When Amnon had 
drunk hard, Absalom ordered 
his servants to kill him ; and 
then fled to his grandfather at 
Geshur in Syria. He had con- 
tinued three years in exile, when 
Joab, observing David's desire 
of a reconciliation, prompted an 
artful widow of Tekoah, by a 
feigned speech concerning the 
danger of her son, who, she pre- 
tended, had in a passion killed 
his brother, to solicit it. Absa- 
lom was recalled, but lived two 
years at Jerusalem without en- 
tering Iiis father's presence. 
Stung with grief and indignation, 
he sent for Joab, with a view to 
engage him to be his advocate 
with the king. Joab at first re- 
fused to go; but Absalom, by 
burning his grain, obliged him to 
it. On coming, Joab under- 
stood his intent, and went di- 
rectly to king David, and pro- 
cured his admission to court 
Scarce was this reconciliation 
effected, when Absalom prepar- 
ed to usurp his father's throne. 
He got himself a number of 
horses and chariots, and fifty 
men to run before him. By kind 
usage of those who came to his 
father for judgment, by indirect 
hints that their causes were 
good, but his father neglected to 
do them justice, and by wishes 
that it were in his power to do 
24 



ABS 
them right, he won the hearts of 
the people. 

A. M. 2980, in the 40th year 
after David's unction by Samuel, 
and the 4th after Absalom's re- 
turn from Syria, he, under pre- 
tence of fulfilling a vow, solicit- 
ed his father's permission to 
repair to Hebron, a city south- 
ward of Jerusalem. Two hun- 
dred persons of note attended 
him thither, without suspecting 
his designs. He immediately 
opened his mind to them; and 
caused it to be proclaimed in all 
the cities of Israel, that he reign- 
ed in Hebron. Ahithophel, Da- 
vid's principal counsellor, upon 
invitation, revolted to him with 
the first : the body of the Israel- 
ites followed his example. Da- 
vid, with a handful of such 
friends as he could depend on, 
fled from Jerusalem. Ahitho- 
phel, after making him publicly 
defile ten of his father's concu- 
bines, advised Absalom, without 
delay, to give him the command 
of 12,000 chosen troops, and he 
would directly pursue his father, 
and apprehend him, before he 
had time to recover from his 
fright. This advice was extreme- 
ly proper to answer his end. But 
Hushai was also consulted : he 
pretended Ahithophel's counsel 
was not seasonable, as David 
and his friends were brave and 
desperate fellows, and would 
readily spring forth from pits, or 
like hiding-places, and all of a 
sudden cut off some of Absa- 
lom's forces ; and so dispirit the 
whole party before it was firmly 
established. To flatter Absa- 
lom's vanity, and give David 
time to put himself in a posture 
of defence, he advised to assem- 
ble every man of Israel capable 
to bear arms ; and that Absalom 
should command them in person; 
and that with this huge host they 
should, without fail, ruin David 
and his party, whether they 
found him in city or field. 
Hushai's advice was approved 
B 



ABS 

and followed. Absalom collect- 
ed his troops; marched over 
Jordan to attack his father; a 
battle was fought in the wood 
of Ephraim: his raw undisci- 
plined host was easily defeated 
by the providence of God, and 
his father's veteran troops ; and 
there was a great slaughter of 
20,000 men ; and the wood de- 
voured more people that day 
than the sword. David had or- 
dered his warriors to spare the 
life of his rebellious son; but 
riding through the wood, his head 
was caught in an oak — probably 
by his much-cherished hair, and 
he remained suspended between 
the heaven and the earth, and 
his mule went away. Informed 
hereof, Joab hastened to the 
place, and put an end to his life. 
He had erected a proud monu- 
ment to perpetuate his fame ; but 
had not the honour to be buried 
therein. His corpse was cast 
into a pit, as the carcase of an 
ass, and a great heap of stones 
thrown over him. Whether his 
father, who so lamented his 
death, removed it to a more ho- 
nourable sepulchre, we know not, 
2 Sam. xiii. xiv. xv. xvi. and xvii. 
Josephussays, that Absalom's 
monument was a marble pillar 
300 paces from Jerusalem. The 
spot is still shown. It stands in 
the valley of Jehoshaphat. 2 
Sam. xviii. 17. 

ABSTAIN, to forbear using. 
Abstinence is strictly a forbear- 
ing of the use of food, Acts xxvii. 
22. During their sacred ministra- 
tions the Jewish priests were to 
abstain from wine and grapes, or 
any thing produced by the vine, 
Lev. x. 9. So were the Naza- 
rites during the term of their 
vow, Numb. vi. 3. The whola 
Hebrew nation were to abstain 
from the flesh of animals declared 
unclean by tho law; and from 
the fat of such as were sacrificed 
to the Lord ; and from the blood 
of all, Lev. xi. and iii. 17. and 
vii. 23. To avoid giving offeoce 
25 



ABY 

to Jewish or weak Christians, 
the apostles enjoined the Gentile 
converts to retrain eating of 
things sacrificed to idols, 1 Cor. 
viii. 7 — 10. hut Paul declares it 
the doctrine of devils to abstain 
from any wholesome food, under 
pretence of intrinsic holiness and 
devotion, 1 Tim. iv. 3. 4. 

Some have supposed that the 
Antediluvians abstained from 
wine, and flesh as food, because 
it is said that Noah began to 
plant a vineyard, and that God 
permitted him to eat flesh ; but 
at first herbs and fruit only are 
mentioned as food. 

ABYSS, or deep. Hell is call- 
ed by this name in Scripture ; as 
are likewise the deepest parts of 
the sea, and the chaos, which in 
the beginning of the world was 
covered with darkness, and upon 
which the spirit of God moved, 
Gen. i. 2. 

Fountains and rivers, in the 
opinion of the Hebrews, are de- 
rived from the abyss or sea. 
They issue from thence through 
invisible channels, and return 
through others of their own form- 
ing upon the earth. At the time 
of the deluge, the deeps below, 
or the waters of the sea, broke 
down their banks, the fountains 
forced their springs, and spread 
over the earth, while at the same 
time the cataracts of heaven 
were opened, and overflowed the 
whole world. 

The abyss which covered the 
earf.ii in the beginning of the 
world, and was put in agitation 
by the Spirit of God, or by an 
impetuous wind ; this abyss was 
so called by way of anticipation, 
because it afterwards composed 
the sea, and the waters of the 
abyss issued from it, and were 
formed by the flowing of it ; or 
rather, the earth sprung up out 
of the midst of this abyss, like an 
island rising out of the sea, and 
appearing suddenly to our eyes, 
after having been for a long time 
concealed under water. 



ACC 

ACAD, one of the cities 
founded by Nimrod in Shinar, 
Gen. x. 10. 

ACCEPT, or Acceptance, to 
be received favourably. This 
word is of the most significant 
meaning in the original. It im- 
plies that divine regard which is 
opposed to " hiding of the face." 
It particularly refers to the divine 
favour through the atonement by 
the blood of Christ: this is what 
Paul calls acceptance in the be- 
loved, Eph. i. 6. This is the 
prayer of the church, Psal. xx. 3. 
"The Lord accept thy burnt- 
offerings. " The divine accept- 
ance of the offerings under the 
law was expressed by fire ; there- 
fore Elijah said, " The Lord that 
auswereth by fire, he is God." 
In like manner, when God ac- 
cepted Gideon's and Manoah's 
offerings, he did it by fire, Judges 
vi. 21 . and xiii. 20. A fter Christ, 
the great sacrifice for sin, was 
offered, the divine acceptance 
was declared, in raising him from 
the dead. Thus, this is called 
the accepted time, the day of sal- 
vation. There is a sinful ac- 
ceptance of persons, in showing 
partial respect in judgment or 
otherwise ; see Prov. xviii. 5. 

ACCESS, free admission, 
open entrance. Our access to 
God is by Jesus Christ, the way, 
the truth, and the life, Rom. v. 
2. Eph. ii. 18. The ground of 
this access was pointed out un- 
der the law. The high priest 
alone had access into the holiest 
of all ; hut when the vail of the 
temple was rent in twain at the 
death of Christ, a new and living 
way of access was laid open, 
through the vail, that is to say, 
his flesh. By his death, also, the 
middle wall of partition wai 
broken down, and Jew and Gen- 
tile had both free and unlimited 
access: whereas, before, the Gen- 
tiles had no nearer access in the 
temple-worship but to the gate. 

ACCHO was a city of Galilee, 
on the coast of the Mediterranean 
26 



ACC 

sea, about 32 miles south of 
Tyre. It was built on a plain 
but had mountains surrounding 
it on all sides, except towards the 
eea; on the south was Carmel ; 
on the east the mountains of 
Galilee ; and on the north the 
ladder of Tyre, about 12 milei 
distant. It had a fine harbour, 
and on the north of it the river 
Belus ; and the sea-shore afford- 
ed great quantities of sand for 
making of glass. It was given to 
the tribe of Asher ; but they 
Buffered the Canaanites to con- 
tinue in it, Judg. i. 31. It made 
no great figure till Ptolemy Phi- 
ladelphus king of Egypt rebuilt 
it, and called it Ptolemais: after 
which it often shared in the dis- 
tress of the Syrian war. The 
Christian religion was early esta- 
blished here ; and here Paul 
visited the saints in his way to 
Jerusalem, Acts xxi. 7. Church 
history informs us, that here 
were bishops in the 2d, 3d, 4th, 
5th, and 6th centuries of the 
Christian era. In the 12th and 
13th centuries it was a place of 
great strength, and was the ob- 
ject of no small contention be- 
tween the Mahometans and the 
Europeans in the sacred wars. 
It began about that time to be 
called St. John de Acra; and 
here the knights of St. John of 
Jerusalem fortified themselves a 
long time. This place is dis- 
tinguished in modern history as 
the scene of contest between the 
French and English in 1799. 

ACCORD : of its, or his own 
accord, freely, without pains or 
constraint, Lev. xxv. 5. 2 Cor. 
viii. 17. With one accord, with 
universal harmony and agree- 
ment, Acts i. 14. and iL 46. and 
v. 12. 

ACCORDING,(l.) Agreeably 
to, 2 Tim. i. 9. (2.) Even as ; in 
proportion to, Acts iv. 35. God 
rewards all men according to 
their works ; that is, agreeably 
to the nature of their works, 2 
Cor. v. 10. Rev. xxii. 12. Tit. iii. 5. 



ACC 

To ACCOUNT, to reckon, 
judge, value, Deut. ii. 11. The 
Hebrews made account for the 
paschal lamb ; every eater paid 
his share of the price, Exod. xiL 
4. To put a thing to one's ac- 
count, is to charge it on him as 
his debt ; to reckon it to him as 
his good deed, Philem. 18. Phil, 
iv. 17. To take account, is to 
search into and judge a matter, 
Mat. xviii. 23. To give account, 
is to have our conduct tried, 
whether it be reasonable and 
lawful or not, Rom. xiv. 12. Heb. 
xiii. 17. 1 Pet. iv. 5. God givetk 
not account of his matters: he 
does not ordinarily inform ins 
creatures of the reasons and cir- 
cumstances of his conduct ; nor 
is he under obligation to do it, 
Job xxxiii. 13. 

The word account is generally 
used in scripture in a synonymous 
sense with imputation : thus, 
" The Lord shall count, when he 
writeth up the people, that this 
man was born there," Psal. 
Ixxxvii. 6. that is, he shall ac- 
count strangers from Ethiopia 
and Tyre as citizens of Zion 
Abraham believed God, and it 
was counted, or reckoned, or im- 
puted, to him for righteousness. 

ACCURSED. The Hebrew 
word Hherom, and the Greek 
Jlnathema, which our version 
often renders accursed, signify 
things set apart or devoted ; and 
with Jews and Christians marked 
the highest degree of excon> 
munication. The cities of king 
Arad, the seven nations of Ca- 
naan, the sacrifices of false gods, 
were accursed, or devoted to de- 
struction, Num. xxi. 2, 3. Deut. 
vii. 2. 25. Nothing devoted to 
the Lord, under the form of a 
curse, could be redeemed, Lev. 
xxvii. 28, 29. The wealth of 
Jericho was accursed : the gold, 
silver, brass, and iron, were, unr 
der the form of a curse, set apart 
to the service of God, and the 
rest devoted to ruin, Josh. vi. 19. 
and vii. 1. The hanged male- 
27 



ACH 

factors were accursed of God, 
Deut. xxi. 23. Haters of Christ, 
and preachers of righteousness 
by the works of the law, are ac- 
cursed, Isa. lxv. 29. Gal. i. 8, 9. 
To be Anathema Maranatha, 
is to be finally separated from 
Christ and the saints, and de- 
voted to everlasting punishment 
by him at his second coming: 
the one word is Greek, and the 
other Syriac, to import, that nei- 
ther Jews nor Gentiles shall be 
excepted, 1 Cor. xvi. 22. To call 
Jesus accursed, is to account 
him a deceiver, and act towards 
him as such in our profession 
and practice, 1 Cor. xii. 3. 

To ACCUSE, to charge with 
a crime, Dan. iii. 8. Accusation 
is the act of charging one with a 
fault ; or the charge itself, Luke 
xix. 8. ITim. v. 19. Men T 
thoughts accuse them, when 
their conscience charges their 
sins on them, Rom. ii. 15. Mo- 
ses accused the Jews, in Christ's 
time ; his law pointed out and 
condemned them for their hatred 
of Christ, who was prefigured in 
it, John v. 45. Satan is the ac 
cuser of the brethren before 
God, daij and night. 

ACELDAMA, a field on the 
south of Jerusalem. It is said 
to have been the same with the 
fullers' field, where they whiten- 
ed their cloth, Isa. vii. 3. It is 
certain it was the potters' 1 field, 
whence they digged their mate- 
rials ; its soil being quite ex- 
hausted by them, it was of very 
small value. When Judas 
brought back the thirty pieces 
of silver, which he had got for 
betraying his Master, the high 
priest and rulers pretended it was 
not lawful to cast it into the trea- 
sury, as it was the price of blood, 
and purchased with it this field 
to bury strangers in ; and so it 
came to be called Aceldama, or 
Hackeldama, the field of blood, 
Zech. xi. 12, 13. Acts i. 18. 

ACHAIA, a country of the 
Greeks in Europe. Sometimes it 



ACH 

was taken largely, and answered 
to Grecia Proper, now called Li- 
vadia : but Achaia Proper was 
a very small canton on the south 
of Greece, and north of the Pe- 
loponnesus or Morea. Its capi- 
tal, and only city of note, was 
Corinth. Gallio was the Roman 
deputy here when Paul preached 
the gospel, and founded various 
Christian congregations, Acts 
xviii. 1—12. 2 Cor. i. 1. 

ACHAN, or Achar, trouble-, 
or the troubler, a descendant of 
Judah by Zerah, Zabdi, Carmi. 
At the taking of Jericho, he, con- 
trary to the express charge of 
Joshua, coveted part of the ac- 
cursed spoil; having seized a 
Babylonish garment, a wedge of 
gold, and two hundred shekels 
of silver, he concealed them in 
his tent. Offended with his 
crime, God marked his indigna- 
tion hereat, in the defeat of three 
thousand Hebrews before Ai, 
and the slaughter of thirty-six* 
Pained with grief, Joshua and the 
elders of Israel rent their clothes, 
and cried to the Lord for help* 
The Lord informed Joshua, that 
one of the people had taken of 
the accursed spoil, and hid il 
among his stuff; till the disco- 
very and punishment of which, 
they should have no assistance 
from him. By the direction of 
God,the whole assembly of Israel 
sanctified themselves,, and pre- 
pared for a solemn search on the 
morrow : the search was referred 
to the determination of the lot: 
First, the tribe of Judah ; next 
the family of Zerah ; next the fa- 
mily of Zabdi; and lastly, Achan 
himself was taken : admonished 
of Joshua, he confessed his o£ 
fence. The stolen goods were 
brought, and publicly exposed to 
the view of the assembly : then 
he, and his children, and all his 
cattle, were publicly stoned to 
death ; and the dead bodies, with 
his household furniture, burnt to 
ashes in the valley of Gilgal,calV 
ed from that event Achor, that 



ACH 

is, trouble ; and a great heap of 
stones cast on them. 1 Chr. ii. 
7. Josh. vii. 

ACHIM, rising again. A son 
ofZadok, Mat. i. 14. 

ACHISH, it is so, or sure it is, 
the king of Gath, to whom David 
fled, 1 Sam. xxi. 10. Also, ano- 
ther king of Gath, in the days of 
Solomon, 1 Kings ii. 39, 40. 

ACHMETHA, In a box or 
coffer. Some think it signifies 
Ecbatana, the capital or chief 
city of Media, built by Dejoces 
or Phraortes, and surrounded 
with a sevenfold wall of different 
colours and unequal height. But, 
perhaps, it signifies but a strong 
box or press, in which the old 
rolls of the Medo-Persian court 
were deposited, Ezra vi. 2. 

ACHOR. Not far from Gilgal, 
where the children of Israel first 
encamped, when they entered 
Canaan, lay the valley of Achor 
or Tribulation, so called from 
the calamities occasioned by the 
theft of Achan, who was stoned 
here, Josh. vii. 24—26. This 
valley was a part of the northern 
boundary of the tribe of Judah, 
Josh. xv. 7. The prophet Ho- 
eea, in predicting the return of 
the Hebrews from captivity, de- 
clares that God would give them 
the valley of Achor for a door of 
Hope ; in other words, that the 
same spot which was a place of 
distress and tribulation, when 
Israel first entered Canaan, 
should be a place of joyful ex- 
pectation to those who returned 
from exile. The name is also 
mentioned in another prophecy, 
Isa. Ixv. 10. 

ACHSAH, neat, adorned, the 
daughter of Caleb, see Josh. xv. 
16—19. Judg. i. 12—15. 

ACHSHAPH, a prisoner, a 
city near mount Tabor. Mr. 
Buckingham, who visited that 
place in January, 1816, speaks 
of it as being at that time a small 
town near the Mediterranean 
sea, between Tyre and Ptole 



mias, called Eedippa. Joshua P orts excessive barrenness ; thai 
' l * n* 29 



ACR 

conquered the king of it, and 
gave it to the tribe of Asher. In 
Jerome's time, about 400 yeara 
after Christ, it seems to have 
been a small village called Chas- 
salus, Josh. xii. 20. and xix. 25. 

ACHZIB, a liar, a city per 
taining to the tribe of Asher. It 
is thought to have been the samf 
with Eedippa, now Zib, whic> 
stands on the shore of the Medi 
terranean sea, about half way 
between Tyre and Ptolemaia 
Josh. xix. 29. There was an 
other city of this name in the 
tribe of Judah, Josh. xv. 44. Tht 
houses, forts, or families of Ach 
zib, were a lie to the kings of 
Israel; disappointed them, oi 
proved unfaithful to their alle- 
giance, during the Assyrian in- 
vasion, Mic. i. 14. 

To ACKNOWLEDGE ; (1.) 
To own or confess, Gen. xxxviii. 
26. (2.) To observe ; take notice 
of, Isa. xxxiii. 13. (3.) To es- 
teem and respect, Isa. lxi. 9. 
1 Cor. xvi. 18. (4.) To approve 
of, 2 Cor. i. 13. Philem. 6. (5.) 
To worship, profess, and own as 
a God, Dan. xi. 39. We acknow- 
ledge the Lord in all our ways, 
when in every matter we request 
his direction and assistance; 
when we observe what direction 
or encouragement his word and 
providence afford us in our af- 
fairs, temporal or spiritual, Prov. 
iii. 6. 

To ACQU AINT ; to get a fa- 
miliar knowledge and intimacy, 
Psal. cxxxix. 3. Acquaintance, 
persons to whom one is familiarly 
known and intimate, Job xix. 13. 

ACQ,UIT,to clear from charge 
of guilt, Nah. i. 3. 

ACRE. The English acre is 
4840 square yards, the Scotch 
6150 2-5ths, the Roman 3200,and 
the Egyptian aroura 3698 7-9ths; 
but the Hebrew Tiemea appears 
to mean what one plough tilled 
at one time. Ten acres of vine- 
yard yielding one bath, and the 
seed of a homer or ephah, im- 



ACT 

the best ground should scarce 
produce the tenth part of the 
seed, Isa. v. 10. 

ACTS, or the Actions of the 
Apostles.— The title of the fifth 
book of the New Testament.and 
next in order to the gospel of St. 
John. It contains an inspired 
history of what the apostles of 
our Lord did and suffered at or 
after his ascension. It is full of 
interesting narrative, and sub- 
lime evidence of the power and 
grace of God. It chiefly relates 
those of Peter, John, Paul, and 
Barnabas. It gives us a particu 
lar account ofChrist's ascension. 
of the choice of Matthias in place 
of Judas; of the effusion of the 
Holy Ghost at the feast of Pen 
tecost; of the miraculous preach 
ing of the gospel by the apostles, 
and the success thereof, and their 
persecutions on that account, 
chap. i. to v.; of the choice of the 
deacons, the prosecution and 
murder of Stephen, one of them, 
chap. vi. and vii. of a more ge- 
neral persecution, and a disper- 
sion of the Christian preachers 
into Samaria and places adja- 
cent; of the baptism and base- 
ness of Simon the sorcerer ; and 
of the conversion and baptism of 
the Ethiopian eunuch, chap. viii. 
of Peter's raising Dorcas to life, 
preaching to and baptizing the 
Gentiles of Cornelius' family, and 
vindication of his conduct here- 
in, chap. ix. 32—43. and x. and 
xi. 1 — 18. of the spreading of the 
gospel among the Gentiles by the 
dispersed preachers; and the con- 
:ribution for the saints at Jerusa- 
lem, in the time of a dearth, chap. 
li. 19 — 39. of Herod's murder of 
James; imprisonment of Peter, 
and fearful death, chap. xii. of 
the decrees of the church at Je- 
rusalem, which condemned the 
imposition of Jewish ceremonies, 
and enjoined to forbear eating of 
meats offered to idols, or of things 
strangled, or blood, chap. xv. 
The rest of the book relates the 
conversion, labours, and suflfer- 



ADA 

ings of Paul, chap. ix. 1 — 31. and 

xiii. and xiv. and xvi. to the end. 
It contains the history of the 
planting and regulation of tha 
Christian church for about thir- 
ty years. 

Luke the evangelist was the 
penman of this history : he wrote 
it as a continuation of his histo 
ry of Christ. The Marcionite 
and Manichean heretics of the 
early ages of Christianity utterly 
rejected it. The Ebionites trans- 
lated it. into Hebrew, grossly cor- 
rupting it. Other heretics at- 
tempted to obtrude on the church 
a variety of forged imitations of 
it : as Abdias's Acts of the Apos- 
tles, the Acts of Peter, Paul, 
John, Andrew, Thomas, Philip, 
Matthias, &c. 

ADAM. God created man. 
upon the earth male and female ; 
and he blessed them, and called 
their name Adam. It is a name 
truly descriptive of man ; it sig- 
nifies Earth, and the Lord God 
formed man of the dust of the 
ground. This name is, however, 
generally confined to the first 
man, our common parent. When 
the Almighty Creator had fitted 
up this vast fabric, when he had 
formed, arranged, and fructified 
the innumerable and various ve- 
getable and animal tribes, he 
completed his work, the master- 
piece of Creation, by creating 
man in his own image, and in 
his own likeness. God made man 
upright; and, without doubt, 
Adam came from his Maker's 
hands, not only perfect as to his 
body, but likewise in his mind; 
the spotless image of his Crea- 
tor in knowledge, righteousness, 
and true holiness: admirably 
fitted for the rule and dominion 
of his vast empire, then in all iis 
parts very good ; one universal 
scene of harmony and bliss; the 
Supreme Ruler put all things 
under his feet. The Scriptures, 
in their usual simple, yet striking 
manner, record one remarkable 
instance of the exercise of 
30 



ADA 

Adam's sovereignty. His nu- 
merous vassals of the brute cre- 
ation are brought to attend their 
lord, " to see what he would call 
them; and whatever Adam call- 
ed every living creature,that was 
the name thereof." But yet he 
is alone ; created for this world, 
and its enjoyments, in a manner 
ki which the most sagacious of 
his subject tribes could not par- 
ticipate with him: " For Adam," 
in the wide splendid creation, 
" there was not found a help 
meet for him." Paradise was 
completed, for " the Lord God 
caused a deep sleep to fall upon 
Adam, and he slept ; and he took 
one of his ribs, and closed up the 
flesh in the stead thereof. And 
the rib which the Lord God had 
taken from man, made he a 
woman, and brought her unto 
Adam," Gen. ii. 21, 22. He is 
represented as receiving her in a 
manner, expressive at once of his 
affection, and of the sense he en- 
tertained of the intimacy of their 
union. Marriage was now insti- 
tuted by God himself. And as 
there was no inclemency in the 
air, no shame, — because guilt, 
the parent of shame, was un- 
known, — they went both naked. 
Before we proceed to take no- 
tice of that awful revolution 
which seems to have speedily 
followed this completion of bliss, 
it may be necessary to inquire a 
little more particularly, 1st, into 
the original constitution of the 
first man, as the image of God; 
and, 2dly, into the nature of his 
situation in paradise ; because 
these two points misunderstood, 
have, on the one hand, opened a 
door for the ridicule of the infi- 
del, and on the other hand, to 
those who retain a regard for re- 
velation, have cast a veil on the 
important subject of the entrance 
of sin. In Gen. ii. 7. we are in- 
formed that God breathed into 
man the breath of lives, (as the 
original text is,) by which he be- 
came a living- soul. Man ap- 



ADA 

pears possessed of physical or 
animal life, in common with 
other animals, but he is a living 
soul, in a distinguished point of 
view ; he possesses a life breath- 
ed into him by the God of the 
spirits of all flesh, in which none 
of the vegetable or animal world 
partake with him. The power 
of reason is but a very lame ac- 
count of this distinguishing prin- 
ciple .in man above the brutes 
that perish. When the Prince of 
Life himself died on the cross, his 
physical or animal life in 
which he had been partaker with 
his children, by which he grew 
in stature, &c. was undoubted- 
ly terminated. Pilate wondered 
that he was dead already. Yet 
we find him saying to his father, 
" Into thy hands I commend my 
spirit :" This is evidently that 
" Spirit which returns to God 
who gave it." This chief seat of 
life in man, is most strikingly dis- 
tinguished from the other facul- 
ties of the human mind, by the 
term conscience. Now, as Adam 
came upright, (the original word 
signifies straight, direct,) from 
his Maker's hands, he became a 
living soul, in an eminent de- 
gree; because his conscience, 
which afterwards accused and 
condemned him as a transgres- 
sor, was now spotless ; and he 
shone, the image of his Maker, 
in spotless righteousness ; and 
lived in his smiles, that true life 
of which the Psalmist says, 
" In his favour is life ;" he 
lived that true life, to which the 
second Adam renews his sons; 
for, said he, in the days of his 
flesh, '•' Verily, verily, I say unto 
you, the hour is coming, and noto 
is, when the dead shall hear the 
voice of the Son of God; and 
they that hear shall live," John 
v. 25 — 27. We find Adam placed 
in the garden of Eden to keep it; 
the fullest liberty granted him to 
eat of and enjoy all its fruits, 
" but of the Tree of Knowledge 
of Good and Evil, thou ah alt 
31 



ABA 

not eat of it; for in the day that 
thou eatest thereof thou shalt 
surelj die. 1 ' This precept has 
by some been considered as a 
precept of no moment or conse- 
quence in itself, but that Adam 
might be taught the perfect obe- 
dience due to his Maker. He 
was now placed in Eden, under 
a covenant of works, importing, 
tli at, upon condition of his per- 
fect obedience to every precept 
of the divine law, he and all his 
posterity should be rewarded 
with happiness and life, natural, 
spiritual, and eternal ; but in 
case of failure, should be sub- 
jected to the contrary, death; 
to which he consented. The de- 
vil observed the serpent to be an 
animal of peculiar subtlety ; by 
his means, probably assuming hi: 
form, he beguiled Eve, by entic- 
ing insinuations, so as to corrupt 
her mind from simplicity in be- 
lieving the truth she had heard 
from God. Thus, deceived her 
self, she enticed her husband 
as he was induced by his love to 
her, to partake of her lot, rather 
than be separated from her ; and 
thus both were subjected to the 
threatened curse. It is wonder- 
fully remarkable, that the old 
serpent has in all ages, but never 
more strikingly than in the pre- 
sent day, employed the same 
meansof corrupting men's minds, 
as to the certainty of that word 
of God, on which the life de- 
pends. It matters not, whether 
the doctrine reaches our ears 
from the mouth of a serpent, a 
jKjlished philosopher, or an athe- 
istical reasoner ; every insinua- 
tion, as to the truth of divine 
Revelation, proceeds from the 
same teacher, and will assured- 
ly, if hearkened to, produce the 
same consequences, as in Eden. 
In this manner was the Image of 
God defaced in man. Guilt seiz- 
ed their consciences. In that very 
day they died. Proclaiming their 
own shame, and their inability to 
cover their own nakedness, they 



ADA 

sewed fig-leaves for aprons. In 
the cool of the day, they heard 
the voice, the Word, Jehovah, 
walking in the garden, and fled 
to hide themselves. God called 
for Adam : inquired into his and 
Eve's guilt, and fully convicted 
them at the bar of their own con- 
sciences. He then graciously 
proceeds to preach the gospel, 
and opens before the condemned 
pair a door of mercy in the com- 
fortable promise, that the seed 
of the woman should bruise the 
head of the serpent ; he then de- 
nounces those parts of the curse, 
which were still to be executed 
against Adam and all his guilty 
race, those not excepted who 
were to share in the great deli- 
verance. Sorrow, painful child- 
bearing, and humbling subjec- 
tion of the woman and her fe- 
male offspring. Labour and toi^ 
scanty crops, hardly wroughtfor, 
and other afflictions to Adam; 
but chiefly to both, and on their 
posterity till the end of time, 
Death! Dust thou art, and to 
dust thou shalt return; a merci- 
ful sentence indeed, when com- 
pared with that eternal death to 
which they had subjected them- 
selves ! Their divine benefactor 
then proceeded to teach them, 
that although they had not only 
exposed themselves to everlast- 
ing shame and contempt, but 
were totally unfit to prepare 
themselves a covering, that office 
he would take as his : he clothed 
them with skins, probably of sa- 
crificed animals; an earnest of the 
clean linen,the white robes wash- 
ed in his blood, with which the 
Redeemed spirits should be eter- 
nally clothed. As the earthly 
paradise was now forfeited, they 
were driven from that garden of 
God, into this world, in which i 
sin and death have ever since 
reigned with sovereign sway. 
Soon after this, Cain and Abel 
were born in the image of their 
father. Their histories will be 
found under their respective* 
32 



ADA 

names. After the death of Abel, 
Adam, in the 130th year of his 
age, had Seth born to him ; and 
afterwards a number of other 
children. He lived 930 years, 
and died. 

Agreeably to our plan,we shall 
mention, as concisely as possible, 
a few of the more striking linea- 
ments of " the first Adam, of the 
earth, earthy," in which we may 
trace tbe features of" the second 
Adam, the Lord from heaven." 
In every part of the history we 
have been faintly sketching, 
much important instruction is to 
be found. Concerning the simili- 
tude, in some respects, and the 
strong contrast in others be- 
tween the first man and our 
blessed Saviour, the apostle 
Paul has forcibly remarked in 
illustrating the glorious work 
of redemption. The persons 
exhibited, the events recorded, 
the scenes described, the institu- 
tions ordained in one age, which 
were the shadows of good things 
to come, are not only instructive 
and interesting in themselves, 
but acquire a weight and impor- 
tance which they possessed not 
before,when viewed in their rela- 
tion to him, to whom all the pro- 
phets gave witness ; and whose 
person, character, and work, are 
the fulfilling of that which was 
written of old time. Adam was 
created in the image of God, in 
righteousness and in true holiness 
— but Christ is the express image 
of his person, as well as the 
brightness of the Father's glory. 
The first Adam was made a liv- 
ing soul, the second, a quicken- 
ingspirit. 

We have room but for a few 
remarks on the history of Adam. 
And (1.) As to his name. This 
has been clearly interpreted to 
mean earth. Vegetable earth 
or mould is one of the chief com- 
ponents of all things, and is won- 
derfully varied in the formation 
of vegetables and animals. It 
is their primary and original 



ADA 

principle. The word has been 
supposed to mean, also, first 
made. It has also been suggest- 
ed that the word may be the 
same with Adim, which in San- 
scrit means the first, or that it 
may be derived from a Hebrew 
word, signifying likeness — the 
likeness of God. 

(2.) The formation of Adam 
is introduced with circumstances 
of dignity superior to any with 
which the creation of animals 
was attended God said, "Let 
lis create man" (1.) " in our im- 
age," and (2.) " after our like- 
ness." 

(3.) " Man became a living" 
soul." It seems as if the most 
proper idea resulting from these 
words is, that Adam became a 
living person : (1.) Because such 
is the import of the original, 
simply taken : (2.) It having 
been mentioned that Adam was 
made of the dust of the earth, 
this is a reason why his anima- 
tion should be mentioned : so 
that if the word Adam be de- 
rived from Admah, earth, it 
might have been simply said, 
according to this idea, " the 
earth (Adam) became alive." 
But (3.) It perhaps implies some 
real distinction between the na- 
ture of the living principle, or 
soul (not spirit) in Adam, and 
that of the animals: may we 
suppose that this principle, thus 
specially imparted by God, was 
capable of immortality'? that, 
however the beasts might have 
died by nature, man would have 
survived by nature 1 that he had 
no inherent seeds of dissolution 
in him, but that his dissolution 
was the consequence of his sin, 
and the execution of the threat- 
ening, dying thou shalt die ? 

(4.) The character, endow- 
ments, and history of Adam, are 
very interesting subjects of re- 
flection to the whole human 
race: and the rather, because 
the memorials respecting him, 
are but brief, and consequently 
33 



ADA 

obscure. Some have supposed. 
that Adam had imparted to him, 
from his very creation, that 
knowledge which not only raised 
him above all men, but also ren 
dered him a little, and bat a little, 
lower than angels. This may 
be admitted in some respects, 
and under certain restrictions; 
while, in other respects, it may 
be strongly doubted. The men- 
tal powers of Adam enabled 
him to comprehend with great 
accuracy, and with little effort, 
whatever was submitted to his 
observation. And, indeed, I 
think we may well suppose, that 
to a mind so capable as Adam's, 
his Maker would continually 
furnish occasion for increase 
both of piety and knowledge. 

Whoever has seen a beautiful 
vase fall, and break in pieces,may 
form some idea of Adam after 
his sin : the integrity of his mind 
was gone ; the first compliance 
with sin opened the way to fu- 
ture compliances ; other tempta- 
tions, from different quarters, 
might now also expect success ; 
and thus spotless purity becom- 
ing impure, perfect uprightness 
becoming warped, lost that en- 
tirety which had been its glory. 
Hereby Adam was deprived of 
that distinction, that character, 
which had fitted him for con- 
verse with his Maker, for imme- 
diate communion with supreme 
holiness ; and now he was re* 
duced to the necessity of accept- 
ing, of soliciting, such commu- 
nion, mediately,not immediately; 
by another, not by himself; in 
time future, not in time present; 
in another, not in this world. 
Blessed be God we have a per- 
fect mediator in his Son. 

Adam, A damah, A dami,R city 
pertaining to the tribe of Naph- 
tali. It was situated near the 
south end of the sea of Tiberias; 
just by it the waters of Jordan 
stood as a heap, till the Hebrews 
passed over, Josh. iii. 16, and 
xix. 33, 36. Perhaps Adami 



ADD 

was a different city from Ada 
mah. 

ADAMAH, or Admak, earth- 
ly, the most easterly of the four 
cities destroyed by fire and brim- 
stone from heaven Some think 
the Moabites built a city of that 
name near to where the other 
had stood, Gen. xiv. 2. Deut. 
xxix. 23. To be made as Ad- 
mah, and set as Zeboim, is to be 
made a distinguished monument 
of the fearful vengeance of God, 
Hos. xi. 8. 

ADAMANT, a stone imagin- 
ed by writers to be of impenetra- 
ble hardness. Sometimes the 
same as the diamond, the hard- 
est and most precious of gems.-— 
See Diamond. 

ADAR, high, or eminent, the 
12th month of the Jewish eccle- 
siastic year, and the 6th of their 
civil. It had 29 days, and an- 
swered to our February and part 
of March. On the third day of it, 
the second temple was finished 
and dedicated, Ezra vi. 15. On 
the seventh, the Jews fast for the 
death of Moses : on the 13th, they 
commemorate the fast of Esther 
and Mordecai : on the 14th, they 
observe the feast of Purim,Esth. 
iv. and ix. 17. On the 25th, they 
commemorate the release of Je- 
hoiachin, Jer. Iii. 31. Every third 
year there was a second Adar 
added, consisting of thirty days. 
See Hadar. 

ADDER, a venomous animal, 
brought forth alive,without eggs. 
It is considerably smaller and 
shorter than the snake, and has 
black spots on its back ; its belly 
is quite blackish : it is often call- 
ed a viper. We find the word 
adder five times in our transla- 
tion, but I suppose always with- 
out warrant from the original. 
Shepiphon, Gen. xlix. 17. is pro- 
bably the blood-snake, a serpent 
of the colour of sand, and which 
ies among it, and, especially if 
trampled upon, gives a sudden 
and dangerous bite. Pethen, Ps, 
lviii. 4. and xci. 13. and cxl. 3. 
34 



ADO 

signifies an asp. Tziphovi, Prov. 
xxiii. 32. signifies that dreadful 
serpent called the basilisk. 

To ADJURE, (1.) To bind 
one by oath, as under the pe- 
nalty of a fearful curse, Josh. vi. 
26. Mark v. 7. (2.) To charge 
solemnly, as by the authority, 
and under pain of the displeasure 
of God, Acts xix. 13. Mat. xxvi. 
63. In this latter place it is used 
in administering a judicial oath 
to our Saviour upon trial. The 
form of the oath was repeated, 
and an assent or dissent given to 
its import. — But the form of ad- 
juring is not the same, with that 
of administering an oath ; and 
often implied only protestation. 

To ADMONISH, to instruct, 
warn, reprove, 1 Thess. v. 14. 
The admonition of the Lord is 
instruction, warning, and re- 
proof, given in the Lord's name 
from his word, in a way becom- 
ing his perfections, and intended 
for his honour, Eph. vi. 4. 

ADONA1 is one of the names 
of God, and signifies properly my 
lords, in the plural number, as 
Adoni signifies my lord in the sin- 
gular number. The Jews, who, 
either out of respect or supersti- 
tion, do not pronounce the name 
of Jehovah, read Adonai in the 
room of it, as often as they meet ■ 
with Jehovah in the Hebrew 
text. The ancient Jews, how- 
ever, were not so scrupulous : 
there is no law which forbids 
them to pronounce this name. 

ADONIBEZEK, the king of 
Bezek. Just before Joshua en- 
tered the land of Canaan, Ado- 
nibezek had waged a furious 
war with the neighbouring kings: 
seventy of them he had taken 
captives ; and, cutting off their 
thumbs and great toes, had cau- 
sed them, like dogs, to feed on 
the crumbs that fell from his ta- 
ble. After Joshua's death, the 
tribes of Judah and Simeon, 
finding themselves pent up by the 
Canaanites, resolved fo clear 
their cantons of these accursed 



ADO 

nations : among others, they felt 
upon Adonibezek; took his ca- 
pitol, and made him prisoner; 
and cut ofThis thumbs and great 
toes: he thereupon acknowledg- 
ed the just vengeance upon him. 
foi his cruelty toward his fellow 
princes. They brought him 
along with them to Jerusalem, 
where he died, about A. M. 257(K 
Judg. i. 4—7. 

ADON1JAH, was the fourth 
son of king David, born at He- 
bron. When his two elder bro- 
thers, Amnon and Absalom, 
were dead, andChileab perhaps 
weak and inactive, and his fa- 
ther languishing under the in- 
firmities of old age, Adonijah 
attempted to seize the kingdom 
of Israel for himself. He pre- 
pared himself a magnificent 
equipage of horses and horse- 
men, and fifty men to run before 
him : this displeased not his fa- 
ther. His interest at court wax- 
ed powerful : Joab the general 
of the forces, Abiathar the high- 
priest, and others, were of his 
party; though Benaiah, Zadok, 
and Nathan the prophet, and the 
most of the mighty men, were 
not. To introduce himself to 
the throne, he prepared a splen- 
did entertainment at Enrogel, 
and invited all his brethren ex- 
cept Solomon, whom he knew 
his father had designed for his 
successor on the throne ; as well 
as all the great men of Judah, 
except such as were in Solo- 
mon's interest. 

While they caroused at their 
cups, and wished Adonijah a 
happy reign, Nathan the prophet 
got intelligence of their designs. 
He and Bathsheba immediately 
informed King David, and ap- 
plied in favour of Solomon. 
Adoni iah's opposers were or- 
dered directly to anoint Solomon 
with the utmost solemnity. Ado- 
nijah's party were alarmed with 
the shouts of applause : being 
fully informed by Jonathan, the 
son of Abiathar, they dispersed 
35 



ADO 

5n great terror and amazement. 
Inserted by his friends, and sen- 
ile of his crime, Adonijah fled 
%t protection to the horns of the 
iltar, probably that in the tbresh- 
eg-floor of Araunah. Solomon 
*ent him word tbathis life should 
be safe, providing he behaved 
himself circumspectly for the fu- 
ture. He came and presented 
himself on his knees before Solo- 
mon, and then, at his orders, re- 
turned to his own house. Soon 
after his father's death, he made 
Bathsheba his agent, to request 
for his wife Abishag the Shu- 
namite, who had been his fa- 
ther's concubine. Solomon sus- 
pected this as a project to ob- 
tain the kingdom, and being 
perhaps informed otherwise of 
his treacherous designs, ordered 
Benaiah his general to kill him. 
His death happened about a year 
ifter his attempt to usurp the 
kingdom. 1 Kings i. 5. 53. ii. 
13.25. 

ADONIKAM, is mentioned 
tmong those who returned from 
the captivity. Ezra ii. 13. 

ADONUL^M, the principal 
receiver of Solomon's tribute, 
ind director of the 30,000 sent to 
cut timber in Lebanon, for 
tuilding the temple, and other 
magnificent structures, 1 Kings 

' ADONIZEDEK, king of Je- 
rusalem, A. J&/.2554. Being in- 
formed that Joshua had taken 
Jericho and Ai, and that the 
Gibeonites had submitted to Is- 
rael, he entered into an alliance 
with Hoham king of Hebron, 
Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia 
King of Lachish, and Debir king 
•f Eglon, to attack and punish 
the Gibeonites; and so deter 
others from submission to the 
Hebrew invaders. The Gibeon- 
ites begged the protection of Is- 
rael, and quickly obtained it. 
Joshua encountered the allied 
troops of the five Canaanitish 
kings, and easily routed them: 
hailstones of a prodigious weight 



ADO 

killed even more of the flying re- 
mains, than were slain by the 
sword. The sun stood still a 
whole day, till Joshua entirely 
cut off these desperate opposem 
of Heaven. The five kings hid 
themselves in a cave near Mak 
kedah. Its mouth was stopped 
with large stones, till the He 
brews had leisure to execute 
them. In the afternoon, Joshua 
returning from the pursuit, had 
them brought out. After mak 
ing his principal officers trample 
on their necks, he slew and 
hanged them on five trees : at 
the setting of the sun, he order- 
ed their carcases to be thrown 
into the cave where they had 
lain hid. Quickly after, the ci- 
ties belonging to them, Jerusa- 
lem excepted, were taken, and 
the inhabitants slain. Josh. x. 
ADOPTION, is either, (1.) 
Natural, whereby one takes a 
stranger into his family, and 
deals with him as his own child : 
thus the daughter of Pharaoh 
adopted Moses ; and Mordecai, 
Esther. In this sense the word 
is never used in scripture. (2.) 
National, whereby God takes a 
whole people to be his peculiar 
and visible church, exercises his 
special care and government 
over them, and bestows a multi 
tude of ordinances, and other 
privileges, on them. This adop- 
tion, for 1500 years, pertained to 
the Jews ; they being the only 
visible church of God on earth, 
Rom. ix. 4. (3.) Spiritual, in 
which sinful men, by nature 
children of Satan and wrath, are, 
upon their union with Christ, 
graciously taken by God into his 
church. (4.) Glorious, in which 
the saints, being raised from the 
dead, are at the last day solemnly 
owned to be the children of God, 
and have the blissful inheritance 
publicly adjudged to them ; and 
enter, soul and body, into the 
full possession of it. Thig the 
saints now wait for^ Rom* viii 
23. 

36 



ADR 

ADORAIM, the strength of 
the sea, a city, 2 Chron. xi. 9. 

ADORAM, their praise, (1.) 
King David's general receiver of 
the tribute, 2 Sam. xx. 24. Whe- 
ther he was the same with Ado- 
niram, we know not. (2.) Ado- 
ram, or Hadoram, king Rehobo- 
am'schieftreasurer,and overseer 
of his works. His master sent 
him to deal with the ten revolt- 
ing tribes, to reduce them to 
their allegiance. Suspecting him 
to have been the encourager of 
their oppressive taxes, or from 
fury at his master, they stoned 
him to death on the spot, 1 Kings 
xii. 18. 2 Chron. x. 18. 

ADORATION, act of wor- 
ship due to God only ; per- 
formance, (1.) Standing, 1 Kings 
viii. 22. (2.) Bending, used 
at the present day in the East. 
(3.) Kneeling, Luke xxii. 41. 
(4.) Sitting, 2 Sam. vii. 18. (4.) 
Prostration, the mark of deep- 
est humiliation. 

ADRAMMELECH and A- 
nammelechwere two idols of the 
men of Sepharvaim. In the He- 
brew language, and probably in 
the Assyrian, the first signified 
magnificent king, and the last 
gentle king. In the Persian, the 
first signifies king of flocks ; and 
the last in the Arabic signifies 
much the same. Possibly both 
were worshipped as the preserv- 
ers of cattle. 

ADRAMMELECH and Sha- 
rezer were sons of Sennacherib. 
It is possible the former had been 
named after the above-mention- 
ed idol. Dreading their father's 
intention to sacrifice them, or 
conceiving some furious preju- 
dice against him, they murdered 
him as he worshipped Nisroch 
his idol, and then fled to the 
countrv of Armenia, Isa. xxxvii. 
38. 2 Kings xix. 37. 

ADRAMYTTIUM, (l.j A 
city on the north coast of Africa, 
westward of Egypt. (2.) A city 
on the west coast of Mysia, in 
Lesser Asia, over-against the 



ADU 

isle of Lesbos. It was in a ship 
belonging to this place that Paul 
sailed from Cesarea to Myra, 
Acts xxvii. 2. 

ADRIA. At present the Adria, 
or Adriatic sea, comprehends 
only that sea on the east of Italy, 
and which is otherwise called the 
Gulf of Venice ; and seems to 
have taken its name from Adria, 
an ancient city, which stood 
somewhere in the territory of 
Venice, on the north-east of Ita- 
ly : but from Ptolemy and Strabo 
it appears, that the whole sea ad- 
jacent to the Isle of Sicily, and 
even the Ionian or Tuscan sea 
on the south-west of Italy, was 
anciently called Adria. Some- 
where in this sea, the ship that 
transported Paul to Rome was 
terribly tossed, Acts xxvii. 27. 

ADRIAN, a Roman emperor, 
supposed to be meantRev.viii.10. 

ADRIEL, the flock of God, 
2 Sam. xxi. 8. Adriel, the son 
of Barzilla, married Merab the 
daughter of Saul, who had been 
promised to David, 1 Sam. xviiL 
19. Adriel had five sons by her, 
who were delivered to the Gi- 
beonites to be put to death to 
avenge the cruelty of Saul, then? 
grandfather, against the Gibeon- 
ites. 2 Sam. xxi. 8, imports, 
that these five were the sons of 
Michal and Adriel; but either 
the name of Michal is put for 
Merab, the sister of Michal ; or, 
Michal had adopted the sons of 
her sister Merab : according to 
the sense of our translation, 
which says — Michal brought 
them up/or Adriel — whose wife, 
Merab. perhaps, was dead, or 
personally incapable of that 
duty. 

ADULLAM, a most beautiful 
city: and hence called the glory 
of Israel. Some will have it to 
have been situated in the south- 
east of the territory of Judah, 
near the Dead sea ; but it rather 
appears to have stood in the 
plain, south-west of Jerusalem, 
near Jarmuth and Azekah, Josh. 
I 37 



ADU 

xv. 35. It had anciently a king 
of its own, whom Joshua killed, 
chap. xii. 15. Near to it, David 
concealed himself from Saul in 
a cave; and hither his parents, 
and a number of valiant men re- 
sorted to him, I Sam. xxii. 1, 2. 
&c. Rehoboam rebuilt and for- 
tified it, 2 Chr. xi. 7, 8. Senna- 
cherib's army took and plunder- 
ed it under Hezekiah, Mic. i. 15. 
Judas Maccabeus and his army 
solemnly observed the Sabbath 
in the plain adjacent to it. It 
was a place of some note about 
400 years after Christ; but is 
long a<io reduced to ruins. 

ADULTERER,Jdullerij,&c. 
Adultery is that crime, which is 
the highest act of fornication or 
uncleaniiess. Connection be 
tween two persons, one or both 
of whom are married, constitutes 
adultery, although this was not 
the case by the Jewish law ; po- 
lygamy being lawful, adultery 
consisted in connection with a 
married or betrothed woman. 
Marriage is thusheld honourable, 
while whoremongers and adul- 
terers God will judge. In Scrip- 
ture, adultery is frequently taken 
in a spiritual sense, and implies 
a departure from the purity of 
the gospel, either in its doctrines 
or practices. The prophets re- 
proved the OldTestament church 
for her adultery, in forsaking the 
God of her covenant, and going 
after the idolatry of the natiuns. 
Jesus Christ considered the Jews 
"as born of fornication, "because 
of their enmity to him ; and in 
this view he often calls them " an 
adulterous generation." The 
trial of adultery in the law of Mo- 
ses, as recorded, Num. v. 12 — 31, 
was a most remarkable institu- 
tion, and tvpical in its nature. 

ADUMMIM, a mountain and 
city naar Jericho, and in the lot 
of the tribe of Benjamin. It lay 
in the way from Jerusalem to 
Jericho, and is said to have been 
much infested with robbers ; and 
hence perhaps it received its] 



AFF 

name, which signifies the red or 
bloody ones, Josh. xv. 7. and 
xviii. 17. Here Jesus lays the 
scene of his history or parable of 
the man that feli among thieves, 
Luke x. 30—36. 

ADVOCATE. By this name 
Jesus Christ is distinguished. 
His work is to plead and inter- 
cede for the guilty, at his Fa- 
ther's right hand. He pleads in 
behalf of them, agreeably to the 
specimen we have in what is 
called his intercessory prayer, 
John xvii. 1 John ii. 1. In this 
iew he tells Peter, 1 have pray- 
ed for thee. 

JERA, a point of time fixed 
by chronologeis ; such are the 
foundation of Rome, and the 
birih of Jesus Christ, or the 
Christian era. It is supposed 
that the exact, period of Christ's 
birth is four years later than we 
call it. 

iELIA, a name given to Jeru- 
salem by Adrian, A. D. 134, 
when he settled a colony of Ro- 
mans in that guilty city, and 
banished the Jews from it on 
pain of death. St. Jerome says, 
that in his time the Jews bought 
permission of the Roman soK 
diers to look on Jerusalem, and 
shed tears over it. Thus they 
who bought Jesus Christ with 
money, were obliged to pay a 
price even for the indulgence of 
their own tears: old men, and 
women, loaded with rags and 
years, were observed to go weef> 
ingupthe Mount of Olives, (vide 
Mark xiii. 3,) from thence to 
lament the ruin of the temple. 
They purchased this sight very 
dearly, together with the liberty 
of spreading perfumes on astone 
which was there. The name 
cElia became so common, that 
Jerusalem' was preserved only 
among the Jews, and such Chris- 
tians as were better informed 
than others. It went by the 
name iElia till the emperor Corv- 
stantine's time, when it resumed 
that of Jerusalem 
38 



AGA 

AFRICA, one of the four 
parts of the world, peopled prin- 
cipally by Flam and his descen 
dants. It is thought that many 
of the Canaanites, when driven 
out of their country by Joshua, 
retired into Africa. The gospel 
was certainly carried to Africa 
by the eunuch of Candace, 
whom Philip baptised, and pro- 
bably also by some who attended 
the feast of Pentcost, Acts ii. 10. 

AGABUS, a prophet who 
foretold the famine that happen- 
ed in the days of Claudius Cae- 
sar, A. D. 44. Acts xi. 28. About 
A.D. 60 he visited Paul at Cesa- 
rea, and foretold his being bound 
at Jerusalem, Acts xxi. 10. It 
is said he suffered martyrdom 
at Antioch. 

AGAG. It seems to have been 
a common name of the kings of 
Amalek. It appears they had a 
mighty king of this name as early 
as the timesof Moses, Num. xxiv. 
7. One of the name governed 
them in the days of Saul, who 
made him prisoner after having 
invaded his country, and in obe- 
dience to the command of God, 
Agag was slain by the hand of 
Samuel. As to the manner of 
his death an account is given in 
1 Sam. xv. 32. 

AGATE, a hard precious 
stone, variegated with veins and 
clouds ; its composition is simi- 
lar to that of flint or chalcedone. 
It is not made up of plates; but 
seemingly the effect of one con- 
cretion, and variegated merely 
by the disposition which the flu- 
ids in which they were formed, 
gave their differently-coloured 
matter. The agate was the se- 
cond stone in the third row of 
the high-priest's breast-plate, 
Exod. xxviii. 19. The Syrians 
traded with agates in theTyrian 
fairs, Ezek. xxvii. 16. Thewin- 
dows of the gospel-church are of 
agates ; her ministers and ordi- 
nances which enlighten her, are 
pure, precious, and diversified in 
form aud gifts, Isa. liv. 12. 



AGR 

The variegations of the agate 
are sometimes very beautifully 
arranged ; often representing 
plants, trees, rivers, clouds, &c. 
It is thought by some that the 
word translated agate in Isaiah 
liv. 12. and Ezek. xxvii. 16, real- 
ly means the ruby. 

AGE, (1.) The whole continu- 
jance of one's life, Gen. xlvii.28. 
(2.) The time when men's na- 
tural powers and faculties are 
at their perfection, or near it, 
John ix. 21. 23. (3.) Long con- 
tinuance of life, Job v. 26. Zech. 
viii. 4. (4.) A period of time, 
past, present, or future, Eph. iii. 
5. ii. 7. (5.) The people living 
in such periods, Col. i. 26. 

AGONY, trouble, in soul or 
bodv, fee. Luke xxii. 44. 

AGRIPPA, the son of Herod 
Agrippa. He was at Rome with 
the Emperor Claudius when his 
father died, A. D. 44. The em- 
peror inclined to bestow on him 
the whole dominions possessed 
by his father, but his courtiers dis- 
suaded him from it. Next year, 
the governor of Syria thought 
to compel the Jews to lodge the 
ornaments of their high-priest 
in the tower of Antcnia, under 
the custody of the Roman guard ; 
j but, by the influence of Agrij>- 
pa, they were allowed by the em- 
peror to keep them themselves. 
A. D. 49, Herod king of Chalcis, 
his uncle, died, and he was by 
the emperor constituted his suc- 
cessor: but, four years after, thai 
kingdom was taken from him, 
and the provinces of Gaulonites, 
Trachonites, Batanea, Pancas, 
and Abilene, were given him in 
its stead. To these, soon after, 
Nero added Julias in Perea, and 
a part of Galilee on the west of 
the sea of Tiberias. WhenFes- 
tus was made governor of Ju- 
dea, A. D. 60, Agrippa and his 
sister Bernice came to Cesarea to 
congratulate him. In the course 
of their conversation, Festus 
mentioned the affair of Paul's 
trial and appeal to Caesar. Agrip 
39 



AHA 

pa was extremely curious to 
near what Paul had to say for 
himself. On the morrow, Fes- 
tus gratified him and his sister 
with a hearing of him in the 
public hall. Paul being desired 
by Agrippa to say what he could 
in his own defence, rehearsed 
how he was converted from a 
furious persecutor into a zealous 
preacher; and how he had, ac- 
cording to the ancient prophets, 
preached up the resurrection of 
the dead. Agrippa was so 
charmed with the good sense 
and majesty of the discourse, 
that he declared he was almost 
persuaded to be a Christian. 
After the destruction of Jerusa- 
lem, he and his sister Bernice 
retired to Rome, where he died, 
aged 70, A. D. 90. 

AGUE, a periodical disease 
of the fever kind, consisting of a 
cold shivering fit, succeeded by 
a hot one. 

AGUR, the son of Jakeh, is 
imagined by some to be Solo- 
mon : but Solomon had no rea- 
son thus to disguise his name ; 
nor could he pray against riches ; 
nor is his style and manner of 
writing similar to Agur's, who, 
under inspiration, uttered the 
30th chapter of the Proverbs to 
his two friends Ithiel and Ucal. 
In it he professeth his great igno- 
rance of the unsearchable great- 
ness and marvellous works of 
God, his esteem of God's word, 
and desire of a moderate share 
of worldly things. 

AH, alas. It generally ex- 
presses great distress and sorrow, 
Jer. xxii. 18. but in Ps. xxxv. 25. 
and Isa. i. 24. it signifies the 
same as 

AHA,which denotes contempt, 
derision, insult, Psal. xxxv. 21. 

AHAB, the son and successor 
of Omri. He began his reign 
over Israel, A. M. 3086, and 
reigned 22 years. In impiety he 
far exceeded all the kings of Is- 
rael. He married Jezebel, the 
daughter of Ethbaal, king of Zi- 



AHA 

don, who introduced the whole 
abominations and idols of her 
country, Baal and Athtaroth. 

2. Ahab, the son of Kolaiah, 
and Zcdekiah, the son of Maa- 
seiah, were two false prophets, 
who, about A. M. 3406, seduced 
the Jewish captives at Babylon 
with hopes of a speedy deliver- 
ance, and stirred them up against 
Jeremiah. The Lord threatened 
them with a public and ignomi- 
nious death, before such as they 
had deceived; and that their 
names should become a curse ; 
men wishing that their foes 
might be made like Ahab and 
Zedekiah, whom Nebuchadnez- 
zar king of Babylon roasted in 
the fire, Jer. xxix. 21, 22. 

AHASUERUS, or Astyages, 
the Mede, Dan. ix. 1. He was 
the son of the brave Cyaxares, 
who assisted Nebuchadnezzar 
to overturn the Assyrian empire, 
and ruin the city of Nineveh. 

2. Ahasuerus, or Cambyses, 
king of Persia. He succeeded 
his father Cyrus, A. M. 3475, 
and reigned seven years and five 
months. He had scarcely mount- 
ed the throne, when the Sama- 
ritans requested him to put a 
stop to the re-building of the 
temple at Jerusalem. He did 
not, and perhaps could not for- 
mally revoke the decree of his 
father. The building, however, 
was stopped during his reign. 
He was notable for nothing but 
violence, foolishness, and cruel- 
ty. His fits of passion often 
hurried him into downright mad- 
ness. In the second year of his 
reign, he entered Egypt, reduced 
the revolters, wasted their coun- 
try, killed their sacred ox, and 
carried off thousands of their 
idols. Here he continued five 
years, and ruined a great part 
of his army, in the dry deserts 
of Lybia, in his mad attempt to 
invade Ethiopia; and daily sa- 
crificed some principal Persians 
to his fury, his own brother and 
sister not excepted. Informed 
40 



AHA 

that Patizithes the Magus, whom 
he had left to govern Persia in 
his absence, had placed his own 
brother Smerdis on the throne, 
pretending that he was Smerdis 
the brother of Cambyses, he 
hastened to his kingdom. It is 
F.aid he wrecked his fury on the 
Jewish nation, as he passed 
their territories. Near Mount 
Carmel, he mounted his horse 
with such precipitant rage, that 
his sword dropped from its 
scabbard and desperately wound- 
ed his thigh. The wound ap- 
pearing to be mortal, Cambyses 
convened his principal nobles, 
and informed them, that his bro- 
ther Smerdis had been murdered 
by his orders; and begged, that 
they would not suffer the Magian 
impostor to translate the govern- 
ment to the Medes; and quickly 
after expired. That Cambyses 
ie the Ahasuerus, and Smerdis 
Magus the Artaxerxes of scrip- 
ture, who hindered the rebuild- 
ing of the temple, is sufficiently 
plain. None but these ruled in 
Persia, betwixt Cyrus, who gave 
the edict for building, and Da- 
rius who renewed it. Ezra iv. 6, 7. 
3. Ahasuerus^ the husband of 
Esther. We accede to the senti- 
ment of the great Usher, Calmet, 
&c. that this Ahasuerus was Da- 
rius Hystaspes. He, first of the 
Persian kings, reigned from India 
to Ethiopia above Egypt; and 
was noted for his imposition of 
tributes, and hoarding of monev, 
Esth. i. 1. and x. 1. We should 
even reckon him too late, could 
we possibly fix upon any before 
him. Atossa, the name of his be- 
loved wife, is easily formed from 
Hadassah, the Hebrew designa- 
tion of Esther. Herodotus might 
very easily be mistaken concern- 
ing her lineage, when she long 
concealed it herself; and the 
Persians could hardly fail to 
cha^enge her as one of their 
royal blood, rather than assign 
her to the contemptible Jews. 
Jahn, in his history of the He- 
b2 4* 



AHA 

brew commonwealth, and many 
others, maintain, that Xerxes 
was the Ahasuerus of the book 
of Esther. 

Ahasuerus, (if he was the 
same with Darius Hystaspes,) 
was a Persian of royal blood, a 
descendant of Achaemenes, and 
an attendant of Cyrus. Soon af- 
ter Mordecai became his chief 
minister, Ahasuerus laid a tax on 
his inland territories, and on that 
part of Lesser Asia and the isl- 
ands which belonged to him. 
About A. M. 3495, he invaded 
India, and obliged the inha- 
bitants to pay him yearly 365 
talents of silver. He had fre- 
quent wars with the Greeks in 
Lesser Asia, and with the Athe- 
nians and others in Europe, 
which generally issued to his 
loss and disgrace. A little be- 
fore his death, the Egyptians re- 
volted from his voke. He died 
A. M. 3519, after a reign of 38 
years, and was succeeded by 
Xerxes, his son. 

AHAVA, a petty river of 
Chaldea, or rather Assyria, Ezra 
viii. 21. 

AHAZ, the son of Jotham, 
king of Judah. About the 10th 
year of his age, he espoused 
Abijah the daughter of Zecha- 
riah, by whom he had his son 
Hezekiah, about a year after. 
At 20 years of age, Ahaz becamo 
heir to the crown, A. M. 3265, 
and reigned 16 years. In imita- 
tion of the kings of Israel, he 
abandoned himself to the most 
bominable idolatries. 

AHAZIAH, the son of Ahab* 
He was made his father's asso- 
ciate in power, when he went to 
the war at Ramoth Gilead ; and 
reigned about a year after his 
death. He imitated his parents, 
in the worship of Baal and Asbr 
taroth, and every other crime* 
He and Jehoshaphat fitted out a 
fleet at Ezion-geber, to trade to 
Ophir for gold: a storm dashed 
their ships to pieces, almost in 
their going out from the haibou*. 



AHI 

Ahaziah intended to fit out a se- 
cond fleet ; but Jehoshaphat re- 
fused to have any concern 
therein. 

Ahaziah, Azariah, or Jehoaz, 
the grandson of Jehoshaphat, and 
eon of Jehoram, and Athaliah 
the daughter of Ahab. In the 
22d year of his age, and the 42d 
of the royalty of his mother's fa- 
mily, he succeeded his father on 
the throne of Judah. 

AHIJAH, a prophet of the 
Lord, who dwelt at Shiloh. 
Perhaps it was he who en- 
couraged Solomon while build- 
ing the temple, and who threa- 
tened him with the rent of his 
kingdom after his shameful fall, 

1 Kings xi. 9, 13. Meeting with 
Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, in 
a field, he rent his garment into 
twelve pieces, and gave him ten 
of them, as a token that he 
should be king over ten tribes of 
Israel. 1 Kings xi. 29, 30. 

AHIKAM, the son of Sha- 
phan, and father of Gedaliah. 
He was one of the princes of Ju- 
dah. 2 Kings xxii. 12. 

AE1MAAZ, the son and suc- 
cessor of Zadok the high-priest. 

2 Sam. xvii. 17. 
AHIMELECK, the son of 

Ahitub, great-grandson of Eli, 
and brother of Ahiah, whom lie 
succeeded in the office of high- 
priest. During the government 
of Saul, he, with a number of 
other priests, along with the ta- 
bernacle, resided at Nob. To 
him David repaired in his flight 
from Saul's court, and represent- 
ing that Saul had sent him and 
his attendants on a most press- 
ing errandjwhich required the ut- 
most despatch, begged he would 
grant them some food. Ahime- 
lech gave them some loaves of 
the shew-bread. David further 
asked of him a sword or spear. 
Ahimelech gave him the sword 
of Goliath, which had been hung 
up in the tabernacle for a trophy. 
Ahimelech or Ahimelech, the 
eon of Abiathar. He and Za- 



AHU 

dok, whom Saul had made high 
priest after the murder of the 
former Ahimelech, were second 
priests or sagans, about the lat- 
ter end of the reign of King Da 
vid. Before him and many 
other persons of note, Shemaiah 
the scribe wrote down the orders 
and divisions of the priests, 
singers, and Levites, and they 
cast their lots for their turns of 
service in the temple of God, 1 
Sam. xxi. 1. 2 Sam. viii. 17. 2 
Chron. xxiv. 3, 6, 31. xviii. 16. 

AHITHOPHEL, a native of 
Giloh in the tribe of Judah. He 
was so renowned a statesman 
and counsellor, that his advice 
was ordinarily received as an 
oracle of God. Disgusted with 
David, he, to the no small vexa- 
tion of David, early revolted to 
Absalom's party. 2 Sam. xv. 
xvi. xvii. 

AHITUB, the son of Phineas, 
and brother of Ichabod. His far 
ther being slain in that unhappy 
engagemeut in which the ark of 
God was taken by the Philis- 
tines, he succeeded Eli his grand- 
father in the high-priesthood, 
executed that office under Sa- 
muel, and was succeeded by his 
sons, first Ahiah, and then Ahi- 
melech, 1 Sam. xiv. 3. There 
were besides two Ahitubs, both 
fathers of Zadoks, and descend- 
ed of Eleazar. But it does not 
appear that the first of them 
could execute the office of high- 
priest, 1 Chron. vi. 8, 11. 

AHOL AH and Aholibah, two 
feigned names, whereby the pro- 
phet Ezekiel represents the king- 
doms of Israel and Judah : the 
first signifying a tent, denotes 
Samaria, and the ten tribes : the 
second signifying my tent is in 
her, denotes Jerusalem and her 
subjects. Ezek. xxiii. xxiv. 

AHUZZATH, a friend of the 
second Ahimelech, who reigned 
at Gerar, and who with Phicol 
attended him, when he came to 
establish an alliance with Isaac 
The Chaldaic Targum, and such 
42 



AJA 

versions as follow it, render this 
name a company of friends , 
Gen. xxvi. 26. 

AI, Jliath, Aija, Hai, a city 
about nine miles north-east of 
Jerusalem, and one eastward of 
Bethel. Near it Abraham some- 
time sojourned, and built an al- 
tar, Gen. xii. 8. xiii. 3. After 
the taking of Jericho, Joshua 
sent spies to view Ai: they re- 
presented it as improper to send 
above 3000 chosen men to at- 
tack so small a place, and no 
more were sent, Josh. vii. viii. 

2. Ai, a city of the country of 
Moab, taken and pillaged by the 
Chaldeans, Jer. xlix. 3. 

AJALON, (1.) A city of the 
tribe of Dan, assigned to the Le- 
vites descended of Kohath, but 
the Amorites kept possession of 
it. It stood between Timnah 
and Bethshemesh. It appears 
to have been taken by Uzziah, 
or some other potent king of Ju- 
dah : it was wrested from them 
by the Philistines under Ahaz, 
Josh. xix. 42. xxi. 24. Judg. i. 35. 
2 Chron. xxviii. 18. Perhaps it 
was here that Saul's army stop- 
ped their pursuit of the routed 
Philistines, 1 Sam. xiv. 31. (2.) 
A city in the tribe of Benjamin, 
about three miles eastward of 
Bethel. It was fortified by Re- 
hoboam, 2 Chron. xi. 10. (3.) 
A city in the tribe of Ephraim, 
about two miles south of She- 
chem, and assigned to the Ko 
hathites, is marked by some au- 
thors : but I doubt of the exis- 
tence of this place, and suppose 
it no other than that in the tribe 
of Dan, which might come into 
the hands of the Ephraimites ; 
compare Josh. xxi. 24. with 1 
Chron. vi. 69. (4.) Another in 
the tribe of Zebulun, where 
Elon the judge of Israel was bu- 
ried, Judg. xii. 12. It is not cer- 
tain over which of these Ajalons 
Joshua desired the moon to ho- 
ver. The first lay south-west, 
the second north-east, the fourth 
north-west of him, Josh. x. 12. 



ALA 

Also a valley near Gibeon, over 
which Joshua commanded tha 
moon to stand still, Josh. x. 12. 
See Sac. Geography published 
by A.S.S. Union. Word Ajalon. 

A IN, a city, first given to the 
tribe of Judah, and then dispos- 
ed of to the Simeonites, Josh, 
xv. 32. 1 Chron. iv. 32. As Mn 
signifies a fountain, it is oft a 
part of the compounded names 
of places, and pronounced En. 

AIR, a thin, fluid, transparent, 
compressible, and dilatable body 
surrounding our earth to a con- 
siderable height, perhaps to the 
extent of 50 miles. Our atmos- 
phere consists of two kinds ol 
airs or gases ; the one of which 
is called oxygen, the other azote, 
or nitrogen. By the most ac- 
curate experiments it has been 
ascertained, that the parts ol 
oxygen in a hundred are 21, and 
of azote 78, with one part ol 
carbonic acid. The pressure ol 
a column of air on any given 
surface, is equal to 32 or 33 feet 
of water on the same surface, or 
to a column of quicksilver 29 or 
30 inches in height. The weight 
of air which presses on a man 
of common size, is above 33,000 
pounds ; but, on account of the 
reaction of the fluids within the 
body, it is not felt. Air is an 
elastic body, and the degree to 
which it may be compressed or 
dilated, is indefinite. Heat ha3 
the effect of expanding, and cold 
of condensing it. 

Air is necessary to animal 
life, and to combustion ; but this 
is only true of oxygen, for azote 
unmingled, immediately destroys 
animal fife, and extinguishes 
flame. Air is also necessary to 
the life and growth of vegeta- 
bles. In scripture air or wind is 
the emblem of the Holy Spirit; 
the word signifying air or wind 
is, in Hebrew and Greek, and 
most ancient languages, the same 
as that which signifies Spirit. 

ALABASTER, a species of 
carbonate of lime, or marble, 
43 



ALE 

such as is formed on the sides of ! 
caves, as stalactites. The more 
common substance known by 
this name is a sulphate of lime, 
or fine gypsum. Both kinds 
are softer than marble, gene- 
rally white, or slightly colour- 
ed, and easily cut into delicate 
forms, such as are now received 
from Italy : many are now found 
in the museums of ancient curi- 
osities. The ancients called box- 
es that contained precious oint- 
ment alabaster boxes, though 
not made of that stone: and in 
relation hereto, a measure con- 
taining ten ounces of wine, and 
nine of oil, was called alabaster. 
In which of these three senses the 
box of ointment, wherewith Ma- 
ry anointed Jesus, is called ala- 
baster, we cannot determine ; 
though we incline to think the 
box was an alabaster stone, 
Mat. xxvi. 6, 7. 

ALARM, (1.) A broken qui- 
vering sound of the Hebrews' 
silver trumpets. It warned them 
to take their journey in the wil- 
derness ; and to attack their ene- 
mies in battle, Num. x. 5 — 9. 
(2.) A noise or bustle, importing 
the near approach of danger and 
war, Joel ii. 1. 

ALEMETH, or Almon, a city 
pertaining to the tribe of Benja- 
min, and given to the priests. It 
stood near Anathoth, and possi- 
bly had its name from Alemeth. 
the son of Becher, or the son of 
Jehoadah. It was one of the 
cities of the tribe of Benjamin. 
Josh. xxi. 18. 1 Chron. vi. 60. 
vii. 8. viii. 36. 

ALEPH, the first letter in the 
Hebrew alphabet. 

ALEXANDER and Rufus 
were the sons of Simon the Cy- 
renian, who assisted our Saviour 
in bearing his cross, Mark xv. 21. 
they seem to have been well 
known among the primitive 
Christians, and were probably, 
therefore,members of the church. 
Paul salutes a man by the name 
of Rufus, in his epistle to the 



ALE 

Romans; but whether the same, 
cannot now be ascertained,Rom. 
xvi. 13. (2.) Alexander Lysima- 
chus, the brother of the famed 
Philo. He was Alabarch of A- 
lexandria, and reckoned the rich- 
est Jew of his time, and made 
valuable presents to the temple. 
He was cast into prison by Ca- 
ligula, probably for refusing to 
worship that mad monarch ; and 
continued so till the Emperor 
Claudius set him at liberty. He 
is thought to be the Alexander 
who was in company with the 
chief priests and elders, when 
they imprisoned the apostles for 
healing the impotent man, Acts 
iv. 6. (3.) Alexander the cop- 
persmith. For a time he espous- 
ed the Christian faith ; but, com- 
mencing blasphemer, Paul deli- 
vered him over to Satan. This 
enraged him more and more ; he 
did the apostle all the hurt that 
lay in his power, 1 Tim. i. 20. 
2 Tim. iv. 14, 15. It is uncertain 
whether it was he who ran some 
danger of his life, by attempting 
to quell the mob which Demetri- 
us the silversmith raised atEphe- 
sus : nor is it so much as certain 
whether that Alexander was a 
Christian, Acts xix. 33. 

ALEX ANDRIA,a celebrated 
city in Lower Egypt. It was situ- 
ate between the lake Mareotis 
and the Canopic or western 
branch of the Nile, at a small 
distance from the Mediterranean 
sea. Alexander the Great was 
its founder; and a few years af- 
ter was there interred in a coffin 
of gold. It was built in the form 
of a Macedonian cloak; and took 
up about fifteen miles. The pa- 
lace, which was a fifth part of 
the city, stood by the sea, and 
contained the royal residence, 
the museum, and sepulchres. 
The principal street, which ex- 
tended the whole length of the 
city, was a hundred feet wide. 
The Ptolemies, who succeeded 
Alexander the Great in Egypt, 
made it their residence for more 
44 



ALI 

than 200 years ; by which means 
it became the metropolis of E- 
gypt. Its nearness to the Red 
and Mediterranean seas, drew to 
it the trade of both the east and 
west, and rendered it for many 
ages the mart of commerce to 
most of the known world, and 
one of the most flourishing cities, 
second to none but Rome. It was 
famed for a library of 700,000 
volumes, which for the last time 
was madly burnt by the Arabs or 
Saracens, ji. D. 642. To relate 
its various sieges and captures, 
by the Syrians, Greeks, Romans, 
Persians, Saracens, Turks, and 
others, would be improper for 
this work. When the Arabs took 
it, it contained 4000 palaces and 
400 squares, and 12,000 persons 
that sold herbs and fruits. It is 
now dwindled to a large village, 
with nothing remarkable, but 
ruinous reliques of ancient gran- 
deur, and some considerable 
trade. Prodigious numbers of 
Jews dwelt here, all along from 
the time of Alexander, some- 
times near or above 100,000 at a 
time : part of these being at Je- 
rusalem, raised a furious perse- 
cution against Stephen, Acts vi. 
9. Here Apollos was born, Acts 
xviii. 24. Fifty thousand Jews 
were murdered here under the 
Emperor Nero. When the Arabs 
took it as above, they found 
40,000 Jews who paid tribute. 
In a ship belonging to Alexan- 
dria, Paul sailed for Rome, Acts 
xxvii. 6. Christianity was early 
planted in this place. Mark the 
Evangelist is said to have been 
the founder of it. Clemens, Ori- 
gen, Athanasius, and a vast 
number of other great men, here 
flourished. The bishop of this 
place was for many ages sus- 
tained one of the four chiefs of 
the Christian church, having the 
churches in the eastern part of 
Africa under his jurisdiction. 

The Alexandrian school of the 
Jews, and afterwards of the 
Christians, was long in the high- 



ALL 

est esteem : and we have reason 
to think, that, the Christian 
school at Alexandria, besides 
producing eloquent preachers, 
paid great attention to copying 
the books of the holy Scriptures : 
of which we have an instance fh 
that very ancient MS. now ex- 
tant in the British Museum, 
known by the name of the J1U 
ezandrian MS. because written 
by Thecla, a noble virgin of that 
city. 

Alexandria received the gos- 
pel, by the ministry of St Mark, 
about A. D. 59, or 60. He suf- 
fered martyrdom there towards 
the year 68, and wa3 succeeded 
by Anian, whom he had con- 
verted in his first voyage to that 
city. The Jews were very nu- 
merous here ; they had several 
fine synagogues, and great privi- 
leges. 

ALIEN, strangers, foreigners, 
Exod. xviii. 3. Job xix. 15 To 
be aliens from the common- 
wealth of Israel, is to be with- 
out interest in the true church, 
or new covenant of God, Eph. 
ii. 12. 

ALrVE,possessed of life. One 
is alive, (1.) Naturally, Gen.xliii. 
27. (2.) Supernaturally, when 
raised from the dead, Luke xxiv. 
23. (3.) Spiritually, when justi- 
fied, regenerate, and sanctified, 
Luke xv. 24, 32. This is to be 
alive unto God, to his honour 
and service, Rom. vi. 11. (4.) 
In opinion only,when men vainly 
imagine themselves capable of 
good works, holy, righteous, and 
entitled to eternal life : so men 
are alive without the law, i. e. 
without the convictions of it, 
Rom. vii. 9. 

ALLEGORY, a continued 
metaphor, or a continued series 
of metaphors, illustrative of a 
principal one. For example, 
when the prophets represent the 
Jews under the allegory of a 
vine, planted, watered, cultivat- 
ed by the hand of God, but 
which,inslead of producinggood 
45 



ALM 

fruit, brings forth sour grapes; 
and so of others. "The Jews," 
says St. Jerom, "and, in gene- 
ral, the people of Syria and Pa- 
lestine, were fond of this sort of 
figurative discourse, and mad< 
use of it in almost every tiling 
they said. They cannot justly be 
produced as proof of any thing. 
ALLELUIA, or Hallelujah, 
This Hebrew word, signify' 
praise ye the Lord, is met with 
at the beginning and end of di- 
vers Psalms, chiefly towards the 
close of the book, "it is the bur- 
den of the saints' song at the fall 
of Antichrist, Rev. xix. and may 
import the eminent concern of 
the Jews therein, and the uni- 
versal ascription of all the praise 
to God. 

ALLON-B ACHUTH, oak of 
weeping, G^n. xxxv. 8. 

ALMS,what is given in charity 
to the poor, Mat. vi. I, 4. In the 
Hebrew, it is called righteous- 
ness. It is to be given of things 
lawfully gotten, and as a debt 
due to the poor, not for their own, 
but for the Lord's sake, Luke 
xii. 33. In the Greek, the word 
signifies mercy : it is to be given 
from a principle of true love and 
compassion to needy objects, 
Acts x. 2, 4. xxiv. 17. 

ALMIGHTY, able to do all 
things ; an attribute of God. The 
Hebrew word for it signifies one 
who has all-sufficiency in him- 
self; and all power to destroy his 
opposers. In the early ages of the 
world, God chiefly manifested 
himself by this character, to en- 
courage men's dependence on 
him alone, and their expectation 
of the full accomplishment of 
whatever he had promised, Gen. 
tvii. 1. Exod. vi. 3. 

ALMOND TREE, a tree re- 
sembling the peach tree in its 
leaves and blossoms, but the fruit 
is longer and more compressed, 
the outer green coat is thinner 
and drier when ripe, and the 
shell of the stone is not so rug- 
ged. This stone, or nut, con- 



ALP 

tains a kernel, which is the only 
esculent part. The whole arrives 
at maturity in September, when 
the outer tough cover splits open 
and discharges the nut. They 
thrive either in dry or wet fields ; 
and are often propagated by the 
inoculation of an almond bud 
into the stock of a pear, peach, 
or almond-tree. The Hebrew 
name of the almond-tree im- 
ports, that it keeps its station, 
being the first that blossoms in 
the spring, and the last that fades 
in harvest. 

ALMUG, or Mgum-tree : not 
coral, which cannot be formed 
into staircases or musical instru- 
ments : but either ebony, plenty 
of which grows in India; or 
Brazil-wood ; or citron- tree; on 
some gummy sort of wood, per- 
haps that which produces the 
gum-arabic ; and so is thought 
by some to be the same w T ith the 
Shittah-tree, 1 Kings x. 11. 2 
Chron. ii. 8. ix. 10. 

ALOES. The lign aloes, or 
aloe-tree. Tournefort reckons up 
fourteen kinds of the aloe-tree. 
The American aloe is famous 
for its fine flowers of the lily- 
kind ; the Asian for the useful 
drug prepared from it. The drug 
aloe is formed of the juice of the 
leaves, fresh plucked and squeez- 
ed, set to harden in the sun : the 
succotrine aloe is made of the 
thinnest at the top ; the hypatic 
of the next; and the horse aloe 
of the coarse sediment. This 
drug is famed for its purgative 
virtue. Both the wood and drug 
have an odoriferous and preser- 
vative influence. Aloes were an- 
ciently used for embalming dead 
bodies, and for perfuming beds 
and clothes, John xix. 39. Prov. 
vii. 17. 

The tree called aloes which 
grows in the Indies, is eight or 
ten feet high. The flower is red, 
and the fruit the size of a pear. 

ALPHA and Omega, the first 
and last letters of the Greek al- 
phabet. These letters are used 
46 



ALT 

to designate the eternity of God 
and of Christ, in the book o'f Re- 
velation. Rev. i. 8, 11. xxi. 6. 

ALPHEUS, the father of the 
apostles James and Jude. Mary, 
his wife, it is thought, was the 
sister of the holy virgin: and 
hence his sons are called the 
brethren of our Lord, Gal. i. 19. 
Mark vi. 3. 

ALTAR, that whereon the 
sacred offerings were presented 
to God; and at least partly con- 
sumed with fire, to his honour. 
We read of no altars before the 
flood : possibly the sacrifices 
were burnt on the ground. Be- 
tween the flood and the erection 
of the Mosaic tabernacle, and af- 
terwards on extraordinary occa- 
sions, the altars were of rough 
unhewn stones, or of earth. At 
the dedication of his temple, So- 
lomon hallowed the middle of the 
court,as an altar to burn his large 
offerings : Gen. viii. 20. Ex. xx. 
24, 25. 1 Kings xviii. 30. viii. 64. 
From the erection of the taber- 
nacle, there were but two altars 
to be used in ordinary cases ; the 
one for burning sacrifices, and 
the other for the burning of in- 
cense. Moses' altar of burnt- 
offering was a kind of chest of 
Shittim-wood, overlaid with 
plates of brass to defend it from 
the fire ; it was about three yards 
in length,and as much in breadth, 
and about five feet and a half 
high. At every corner it had a 
spire, or horn, of the same mate- 
rials with the rest. On its top 
was a brazen grate, through 
which the ashes of the offering 
fell into a pan below. This altar 
was portable, carried, with a 
covering over it, on the shoul- 
ders of the Levites, by staves 
of Shittim-wood overlaid with 
brass, and fixed in brazen rin^ 
on the sides thereof. Solomon 
made a brazen altar for sacrifice, 
much larger : but whether all of 
solid brass, or if there were 
stones, or if it was hollow within, 
we know not It was about 3" 



ALT 

feet in length and breadth, and 
half as much in height, and had 
an easy ascent on the east side. 
After the captivity, the altar of 
burnt-offering seems to have 
been a large pile of stones, about 
60 feet on each side at the bot- 
tom, and 45 at the top, Exod. 
xxvii. 1—9. 2 Chron. iv. 1. 

The altar of incense was a 
mall table of Shittim-wood, 
>verlaid with gold, about 22 
inches in breadth and length, and 
44 in height. Its top was sur- 
rounded with a cornice of gold : 
it had spires, or horns, at the 
four coiners thereof; and was 
portable by staves of Shittim- 
wood, overlaid with gold. Both 
these altars were solemnly conse- 
crated with sprinkling of blood, 
and unction of oil; and their 
horns yearly tipped with the 
blood of the general expiation. 
The altar of burnt-offering stood 
in the open court, at a small dis- 
tance from the east end of the ta- 
bernacle, or temple: on it were 
offered the morning and evening 
sacrifices, and a multitude of 
other oblations. To it criminals 
fled for protection. The altar of 
incense stood in the sanctuary, 
just before the inner vail ; and on 
it was sacred incense, and no- 
thing else, offered and burnt eve- 
ry morning and evening. The 
brazen altar of burnt-offering 
prefigured Jesus as our all-suffi- 
cientatonement, and refuge from 
wrath ; and the altar of incense 
as our Advocate within the vail, 
who ever liveth to make inter- 
cession for us. Ex.xxx.Heb.ix.21. 

The heathens too had their 
altars on which they presented 
their oblations to their gods. The 
Jews had idolatrous altars in 
such numbers, that they were 
like heaps in the field, Hos. xii. 
11. These altars and groves their 
children remembered; took great 
delight in, and imitated their 
parents' idolatry, Jer. xvii. 2. It 
was common to plant groves of 
trees around these altars ; there- 
47 



AMA 
fere God would have none 
planted near his, Deut. xvi. 21. 
The Athenians erected an altar 
to the unknown God : but their 
reason, whether they were afraid 
there might be one or more un- 
known deities, who might hurt 
them, if his service was neglect- 
ed; or whether they had a view 
to the God of Israel, to whom 
the heathens were strangers, we 
know not, Acts xvii. 23. This 
altar, which Paul alludes to, 
some of the early Christians 
mention as existing many years 
afterwards. Many opinions have 
been expressed respecting the 
origin of this altar, and of 
the words of the inscription ; 
but they involve nothing im 
portant to the inquirer after 
truth. They are collected in Cal- 
met, vol. i. art. Altar. 

ALVAH, or Aliah, a de- 
scendant of Esau, and prince of 
the Edomites, Gen. xxxvi. 40. 
1 Chron. i. 51. 

ALVAN, or Allan, the son 
of Shobal the Horite, Genesis 
xxxvi. 23. 1 Chron. i. 40. 

AMALEK. Eliphaz, the son 
of Esau, by Timna, had a eon 
of this name, who succeeded 
Gatam in the government of the 
Edomites, 1 Chron. i. 36. Gen. 
xxxvi. 16. 

AMALEKITES, a very an 
cient, idolatrous nation, who 
were ever enemies of the people 
of God, whom they watched 
every opportunity of attacking, 
while journeying through the 
wilderness; and, on this ac- 
count, were devoted, by the so- 
lemn curse of God, to utter de- 
struction. Judg. vi. vil. 1 Sam 
xv. Exod. xvii. 14. 

AMANA, either the mountain 
Amanus, which separates Syria 
on the north-east from Cilicia ; 
for so far did the dominion of 
David and Solomon extend ; or 
rather a mountain beyond Jor 
dan, in the lot of the half tribe 
of Manasseh, Song iv. 8. See 
I*ebanon. 



AMB 

AMASA, the son of Jetheror 
Ithra, and Abigail the sister of 
David. 2 Sam. xvii. 25. 

Amasa, the son of Hadlai. 
See Jihaz. 

AMASAI, the son of Elkanah. 
It is probably he who was chief 
of the captains of Judah and 
Benjamin under Saul, and came 
to David in his exile, along with 
a number of his friends, 1 Chron. 
vi. 25. 

AMAZIAH, the eighth king 
of Judah, son and successor of 
Joash. In the 25th year of his 
age he began his reign, A. M. 
3165, and reigned 29 years. In 
the beginning of his reign he be- 
haved well, but not with an up- 
right heart. He quickly executed 
just punishment on the murder- 
ers of his father ; but according 
to the law of Moses, and contra- 
ry to the then bloody custom of 
many countries, did no harm to 
their innocent children, 2 Chron* 
xxiv. 27. xxv. 4. 

Amaziah, the idolatrous high- 
priest ofthegolden calf atBetheL 

AMBASSADOR ; a messen- 
ger sent by a king or state, to 
carry important tidings, or trans- 
act affairs of great moment with 
another prince or state, 2 Chron. 
xxxii. 31. Gospel-ministers are 
called ambassadors, because in 
the name of Jesus Christ the 
King of kings, they declare his 
will to men, and promote a spi- 
ritual treaty with him, 2 Cor. v. 
20. Eph. vi. 20. Eliakim, Sheb- 
na, and Joah, the servants of 
King Hezekiah, are called am- 
bassadors of peace. In their 
master's name they earnestly so- 
licited a peace from the Assyrian 
monarch, but were made to 
weep bitterly with the disap- 
pointment and refusal, Isa. 
xxxiii. 7. 

AMB ASS AGE; a message 
sent with an ambassador, Luke 
xiv. 32. 

AMBER; a yellow transpar- 
ent substance, of a gummy form 
and consistence, of a resinoUs 
48 



AME 
taste, and a smell like oil of tur- 
pentine. It is dug up in a great 
many places, in Germany, Po- 
land, &c. ; but that which is 
found about the coasts of Prussia 
is reckoned the best. It is ori- 
ginally in a liquid state; for 
leaves, insects, &cc. are some- 
times found in the lumps thereof. 
It is of considerable use in medi- 
cine, and other arts. Bochart 
and Le Clerc suppose this to be 
the chasm al or amber mentioned 
in scripture, Ezek. i. 4. viii. 2. 

AMBUSH, or ambushment; a 
company of soldiers or murder- 
ers stationed in a secret place, 
that they may unexpectedly fall 
on an enemy ; or the act of lying 
in wait to attack unexpectedly, 
Josh. viii. 2. Jer. li. 12. 2 Chron. 
xiii. 13. xx. 22. 

AMEN; (l.)True; faithful; 
certain. Our translation often 
renders it verily: and especially 
when doubled, it approaches to- 
ward the solemnity of an oath, 
John iii. 3. (2.) So be it ; or so 
shall it be, Jer. xxviii. 6. Rev. i. 
18. Christ is called the Amen; 
he is the God of truth ; is the sub- 
stance of revealed truth; the in- 
fallible prophet, and the faithful 
and true witness, Rev. iii. 14. 
All the promises are yea and 
amen in Christ : they are infal- 
libly established by his word and 
oath ; are irrevocably ratified by 
his death, and sealed by his Spi- 
rit, 2 Cor. i. 20. 

AMEND; (1.) To make better; 
Jer. vii. 3. (2.) To grow better, 
John iv. 52. To make amends, 
is to make restitution; to give 
the value of, Lev. v. 16. 

AMERCE; to fine; to con- 
demn to pav, Deut xxii. 19. 

AMETHYST; a precious 
stone of a violet colour, border- 
ing on purple. There are divers 
Bor ts of amethysts : those of Asia 
are of a deep purple colour ; and 
are the hardest, scarcest, and 
most valuable; there are some 
of them of a pale and others of 
a white colour. It was the 
C 



AMM 
ninth in the high-priest's breast- 
plate, Exod. xxviii. 19. and the 
twelfth in the foundations of the 
new Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 20. 

AMM AH, a hill opposite to 
Giah, not far from Gibeon, and 
which had a poolofwateratthe 
foot of it, 2 Sam. ii. 24. 

AMMI, my people. The im- 
posing of this name on the ten 
.tribes after their rejection, im- 
' ports, that in the latter days, or 
Millenium, God shall redeem 
them from their misery and bon- 
dage, and bring them into spe- 
cial covenant-relation to him- 
self, Hos. ii. 1. 

AMMON, or Ben-ammi, the 
son of Lot. He was the father 
of the Ammonites, who dwelt on 
the south-east of Gilead, and 
northward ef the country of 
Moab, Gea, xix. 38. They de- 
stroyed an ancient race of giants 
called Zamzummims, and dwelt 
in their stead : their capital was 
Rabbah : they were noted idola- 
ters : their chief idol was Moloch, 
which might be the same with 
Baal, Milcom, Adrammelech, 
Anammelech, and Chemosh. 

AMMONITES, the descend- 
ants of Ammon. At first, the 
kingdom of the Ammonites ex- 
tended from the river Am on on 
the south, to the Jabok on the 
north, to the Jordan on the west, 
and on the east for a considera- 
ble distance into Arabia. But 
they were expelled from the west 
part of their country, which lay 
along the Jordan, by the Amor- 
ites, from whom it was taken by 
Moses, and given to the tribes 
of Reuben, Gad, and the other 
half tribe of Manasseh. God 
commanded Moses not to dis- 
tress the Ammonites, because he 
had given their country to tbe 
children of Lot, Deut. ii. 19. In 
the time of Jephthah, 300 yeaxs 
after Israel had taken possession 
of the kingdom of Sihon, the 
Ammonites claimed this land, 
and invaded Gilead, but were de- 
feated by Jephthah. About 100 
> 49 



AMO 

years afterward, they again in- 
vaded this part of the land of Is- 
rael, under JNahash their king, 
and besieged Jabesh-gilead. 
The only terms of capitulation 
which they would allow to the 
inhabitants, were, that they 
should suffer them to thrust out 
their right eyes. On this occa- 
sion Saul, recently elected king, 
distinguished himself by the ce- 
erity with which he collected an 
army, and brought relief to the 
wretched inhabitants of Jabesh- 
gilead; for which they showed 
afterwards that they were not 
ungrateful. About 60 years af- 
ter this event, David sent his 
servants to condole with Hanun, 
the young king of the Ammon- 
ites, on account of the death of 
his father. These messengers 
were treated as if they had been 
spies, which brought on a war, 
in which the Ammonites were 
subdued by Joab, and afterward 
were tributary to Israel for a 
long time. But in the days of 
Jeboshaphat the Moabites and 
Ammonites invaded Judea with 
a great army, but were miracu- 
lously destroyed. 

When the tribes of Gad and 
Reuben were conquered and 
carried into captivity, the Am- 
monites £ave way to excessive 
joy; on which account their to- 
tal destruction as a nation, was 
foretold by Ezekiel. Ezek. xxv. 
2, 4, 7. 

AMNON, the eldest son of 
David, by Ahinoam his second 
wife. 

AMON, (1.) A governor of 
Samaria, whom Ahab ordered 
to imprison the prophet Micaiah, 
till he returned safe from the 
war at Ramoth-gilead, 1 Kings 
xxii. 26. (2.) The son of Ma- 
nasseh, by Meshullemeth the 
daughter of Haruz. He was 
the fourteenth king of Judah : he 
began his reign in the twenty- 
second year of his age, and 
reigned two years: he was a 
very monster of wickedness ; nor 



AMO 

did he, like his father Manasseh, 
repent, but still waxed worse 
and worse. His own servants 
murdered him in his house : and 
it seems were, in their turn, 
murdered by the mob. Amon 
was buried in the garden of Uz- 
za, and Josiah his son succeed- 
ed him, 2 Kings xxi. 18—26. 2 
Chron. xxxiii. 20—25. (3.) 
Amon or Ami, a noted chief of 
the returning captives, Ezra ii. 
57. Neh. vii. 59. 

AMOUITES, a tribe of the 
Canaanites, sprung from Emer 
the fourth son of Canaan. Many 
of them being giants, were like 
cedars in height, and oaks in 
strength, Amos ii. 9. They 
had two powerful kingdoms on 
the east of Jordan, governed by 
Sihon and Og. The former had 
seized on a great part of the ter- 
ritories of Moab and Ammon: 
but Moses conquered their whole 
country, and gave it to the Reu- 
benites, Gadites, and half tribe 
of Manasseh. There were other 
kingdoms of the Amorites, all 
along the south of Canaao > 
westward of Jordan : these rout- 
ed the Israelites at Hormah ; but 
about forty years after, were 
subdued by Joshua, and their 
land given to the tribes of Ju- 
dah, Simeon, Dan, and Benja- 
min, r^umb. xxi. Deut. i. 44. 
Josh. xii. xv. xix. As the Amor- 
ites were the most powerful 
tribe, the rest of the Canaanites 
were sometimes called by their 
name, Judg. vi. 10. 2 Kings xxi 
11. The parents of the Jewish 
nation are represented as Amor- 
ites and Hittites ; they were as 
unworthy before God, and as 
wicked in themselves, as the two 
worst of the Canaanitish tribes: 
nay, Judah's wife the mother 
of Shelah, and Tamar the mo- 
ther of Pharez and Zerah, were 
both Canaanites, Gen. xxxviii. 
Ezek. xvi. 3. 

AMOS, the fourth of the mi- 
nor prophets. He was original- 
ly a herdsman of Tekoab, a city 
50 



ANA 

belonging to Judah, and a ga 
therer of sycamore fruit. 

AMPHIPOLIS, a city of Ma- 
cedonia, on the confines of 
Thrace, Acts xvii. 1. 

AMRAM, the son of Kohath. 
He married Jochebed the daugh- 
ter of Levi; and had by her 
Aaron, Moses, and Miriam : he 
died in Egypt, aged 137 years, 
Exod. vi. 20. 

AMRAPHEL. See Chedor- 
laomer. 

ANAB, a city in the hill- 
country of Judah, south of Jeru- 
salem : hence Joshua cut off 
some Amoritish giants, Josh. xi. 
21. It is perhaps the same as 
Nob. 

AN AH, the son of Zibeon the 
Horite, a duke of mount Seir, 
and father of Aholibamah, the 
wife of Esau. Gen. xxxvi. 24. 

ANAK, the son of Arbah, and 
father or chief of the gigantic 
Anakims : his sons were Sheshai, 
Ahinam, and Talmai. These 
Anakims, or children of Anak, 
were considerably numerous, 
dwelling in Hebron, Debir, A- 
cab, and other places, Josh. xi. 
21. Their fierce looks and ex- 
traordinary stature quite terrifi- 
ed the unbelieving spies which 
Moses sent to view the promised 
land, Numb. xiii. 33. 

ANAMIM, or Anam, the se- 
cond son of Mizraim. His pos- 
terity peopled part of Africa, 
probably that westward from 
Egypt, where we find a temple 
sacred to Jupiter Amnion ; and 
where the Nasamones, or men 
of Ammon, lived ; and from 
whom probably sprung the 
Amians and Garamantes, or fo- 
reign and wandering Amans, 
Gen. x. 13. 

ANANIAS, and Sapphira his 
wife, were among the first profes- 
sors of Christianity at Jerusalem. 
They sold their estate, and pre- 
tended to give the whole price 
into the common stock of the be- 
lievers, but retained part of it for 
their own use. Though he knew 



ANA 

the apostles were qualified by tho 
Holy Ghost with the gift of dis- 
cerning secrets, he affirmed to 
Peter that he had brought the 
whole price. Peter sharply re- 
buked him for his dissimulation ; 
in that, when he might lawfully 
have kept the whole, he had pre- 
tended to devote all to the ser- 
vice of Christ, and yet retained 
part to himself. While he spake, 
Ananias was struck dead by the 
immediate vengeance of Hea- 
ven, and was carried to his grave, 
Acts v. 

ANANIAS, a disciple of Je- 
sus Christ. Perhaps one of tha 
seventy. He preached the gos- 
pel at Damascus ; and being di- 
rected in a vision, to ask at the 
house of Judas, for Saul of Tar- 
sus, who was just come to the 
place, he begged to be excused, 
as he was informed that Saul 
was an outrageous persecutor, 
and had come with orders from 
Jerusalem to imprison all the 
Christians he could find in that 
city. The Lord assured him thai 
he was in no danger ; for what- 
ever Saul had been, he was di- 
vinely chosen to be a preacher 
of Christ to the Gentiles, and an 
eminent sufferer for his sake. 
Encouraged herewith, Ananias 
repaired to the house, found Saul 
blind, put his hands upon him, 
and in Jesus's name bid him re- 
ceive his sight, and be filled with 
the HolyGhost; whereupon there 
fell scales from his eyes, and he 
recovered his sight,was baptized, 
and received the Holy Ghost, 
Acts ix. 1—18. 

ANANIAS, the son of Nebe- 
deus, about A. D. 43, succeeded 
Joseph, the son of Camith, in the 
Jewish high-priesthood. Gluad- 
ratus, the Roman governor of 
Syria, having quelled some dis- 
turbances raised by the Jew9 
and Samaritans in Judea, sen! 
Ananias to Rome, to give ac- 
count of his behaviour amidst 
these commotions. The high- 
priest having cleared himself to 
51 



ANC 

the satisfaction of Claudius the 
emperor, was dismissed home to 
his country. 

Some years after, Paul, being 
apprehended, and brought before 
this high-priest, had begun,in the 
most discreet manner : to speak 
in his own defence, affirming, 
that he had lived in all good con- 
science before God to that day : 
Ananias, in a furious manner, 
ordered some of the by-standers 
to smite him on the moutb. Not 
knowing him to be the high- 
priest, or not acknowledging him 
such, Paul replied, "God shall 
smite thee, tbou whited wall," 
thou hypocritical person : " for, 
sittest thou to judge me accord- 
ing to the law, and yet com- 
mandest me to be smitten con- 
trary to tbe law ?" Ananias too, 
and others, encouraged a num- 
ber of assassins to murder Paul 
secretly : but this being prevent- 
ed by the apostle's transportation 
to Cesarea, Ananias went thither 
to prosecute him. Paul's appeal 
to Caesar put off the affair to 
Rome, Acts xxiii. 1 — 5. 

ANATHOTH, the son of Be- 
cher, and grandchild of Benja- 
min. Possibly he gave name to 
the city of Anathoth, which stood 
about three miles north from Je- 
rusalem, and which was given 
to the priests by the tribe of Ben- 
jamin, ] Chron. vii. 8. vi. 60. 

ANCESTORS; those from 
whom one is descended ; ancient 
fathers, Lev. xxvi. 45. 

ANCHOR, an instrument for 
fastening, or stopping the course 
of a ship at sea. The most an 
cient anchors were made of large 
stones : such were the anchors of 
the Argonauts, who made their 
voyage up the Hellespont, about 
the time of Asa. They were af- 
terwards made of wood, with 
great weights of lead, or baskets 
full of stones at the end of them : 
and such to this day are the an- 
chors of the Japanese. The an- 
chor with two teeth or barbs, was 
devised by Eupalamius, or Ana- 



ANE 

charsis, the Scythian philoso- 
pher, not long alter the Jews re- 
turned from Babylon. In large 
vessels they had three or four 
anchors; one of which,neverused 
but in cases of extreme necessity, 
was called the sacred anchored 
is now called tbe sheet anchor. 
The anchors were anciently cast 
from the stern or hinder part of 
the ship, Acts xxvii. 29. The 
modern anchor is a large piece 
of iron, in the form of a hook, 
that, on which side soever it 
falls, it may fix in the sand or 
earth : this is fastened to a large 
beam of wood,which, by a strong 
cable rope, is fastened to the 
prow or forepart of the ship. 
Hope is the anchor of our soul, 
sure and stedfast, entering into 
that which is within the vail : by 
going out of ourselves, and fix- 
ing on Jesus and unseen things; 
by fixing on the deep and hidden 
promises and perfections of God, 
it effectually secures our soul 
from being tossed to and fro, 
amid storms of trouble, and 
keeps it settled in the dark nights 
of temptation and desertion ; or 
Jesus, by his ascension, infallibly 
secures the safety and happiness 
of his people, Heb. vi. 19. 

ANCIENT; (1.) Old: of for- 
mer time, 1 Chr. iv- 22. (2.) Very 
old men, Job xii. 12. Ancient3 
are either men of former times, 
1 Sam. xxiv. 13. or governors, 
civil or ecclesiastic, Isa. iii. 14. 
Jer. xix. 1. God is called the An- 
cient of Days, because he exist- 
ed from all eternity, Dan. vii. 9. 

ANDREW, the brother of 
Simon Peter, a native of Beth- 
saida,and apostle of JesusChrist, 
He was originally a fisherman. 
When John Baptist commenced 
preacher, Andrew became one 
of his followers, John i. 40. 

ANER, Eshcol, and Mature, 
were three Canaanitish princes, 
who assistedAbraham in his pur- 
suit and defeat of Chedorlaomer 
and his allies, Gen. xiv. 24. 

Aner, a city of the hall-tribe 
52 



ANG 

cf Manasseh, on the west of 
Jordan. It either was the same 
withTaanach, or exchanged for 
it, 1 Chron. vi. 70. Josh. xxi. 25. 

ANGEL, or messenger, is the 
common name given to those 
spiritual and intelligent beings 
by whom God partly executeth 
his providential work, and who 
are most ready and active in his 
service. The light of nature 
gives strong reason to suppose 
the existence of such beings ; but 
scripture alone renders it indu- 
bitable. When God founded the 
earth on the first or second day, 
they sang together, and shouted 
for joy, Job xxxviii. 6, 7. They 
were created with eminent wis- 
dom, holiness, and purity, and 
placed in a most happy and ho- 
nourable estate ; but capable of 
change. Their knowledge is 
great, but not infinite : they de- 
sire to look into the mystery of 
our salvation, and learn from 
the churcfithe manifold wisdom 
of God. Nor can they search the 
hearts of men, nor know future 
things, but as particularlv in- 
structed of God, 1 Pet. i. 12. Eph, 
hi. 10. Jer. xvii. 10. Mat. xxiv, 
36. : nor do we understand their 
manner of knowing things cor- 
poreal and visible ; nor the man- 
ner of their impressing bodies, or 
their method of communicating 
among themselves. Their power 
too is very extensive; but reaches 
to nothing strictly called miracu 
Ions. Their number is very great, 
amounting to many millions, Ps. 
lxviii. 17. Mat. xxvi 53. Rev. v. 
11. Dan. vii.10. : and their names, 
of thrones, dominions, princi- 
palities, and powers, suggest an 
order among them, though of 
what kind we know not, Col.i.16. 

An angel foretold the birth of 
Jesus Christ, and of John Bap- 
tist. Multitudes attended our 
Saviour's birth, and published it 
to the shepherds of Bethlehem 
An angel warned Joseph and 
Mary to flee into Egypt with the 
divine babe: and to return thence 
5* 



ANI 

into Judea. Angels ministered 
to Jesus in the wilderness, when 
the devils left him. An angel 
assisted him in his bloody ago- 
ny. Two of them rolled the 
stone from the mouth of his se- 
pulchre, and informed the wo- 
men that he was risen from the 
dead. Multitudes of them at- 
tended him in his ascension, 
some of whom informed the 
gazing disciples, that they should 
in like manner see him return 
from heaven. An angel liberat- 
ed the apostles at Jerusalem, 
brought Peter from the prison 
of Herod, and liberated Paul 
and Silas at Philippi. An angel 
assured Paul of the safe landing 
of him, and of those that were 
with him in the ship, Mat. i. 20, 
21. ii. 13. 19. iv. 11. Luke i. ii. 
xxii. 43. xxiv. Acts i.. 10, 11. v. 
19. xii. 7, 10. xxvii. 23\ 

To ANGER ; to provoke to 
anger, Rom. x. 19. Anger is a 
violent displeasure, attended 
with an inclination to hurt or 
destroy. When pointed against 
sin, it is holy and lawful, Eph. 
iv. 26. When pointed against 
the person of our neighbour, or 
against the innocent creatures 
of God, it is wicked and sinful, 
Mat. v. 22. When it becomes 
very strong, it is called wrath. 
When it renders one outrageous, 
and almost mad to destroy, it is 
called fury. When it becomes 
more calm and fixed, it is hatred. 
When fixed, violent, and even 
pointed against such as did not 
injure us, it is malice. When 
anger, hatred, wrath, and fury, 
are ascribed to God, they denote 
no tumultuous passion, but 
merely his holy aversion at, and 
just displeasure with sin and 
sinners, and the evidence there- 
of, in his terrible threatenings or 
righteous judgments, Psal. vi. 1. 
vii. 11. 

ANGUISH; severe inward 
pain; torment or perplexity, 
Exod. vi. 9. Jer. vi. 24. 

ANISE, or Dill, is a kind of 
53 



ANN 

plant which scarcely thrives but 
in warm climates. Its flower is 
of the rose kind, being composed 
of several petals arranged in a 
circular form, and placed on a 
cup, which afterwards becomes 
a fruit, composed of two seeds 
of an oval figure. The leaves 
are like those of fennel. Anise- 
seed has a fine aromatic smell, 
and is much used by confection- 
ers and perfumers. Itself, and 
the oil and water distilled from 
it, are an excellent cordial and 
carminative. It seems to have 
grown plentifully in Judea, Mat. 
xxiii. -23. 

ANNA, the daughter of Pha- 
nuel, of the tribe of Asher : she 
had been early married, and liv- 
ed seven years with her husband. 
After his death, she devoted her- 
self to the service of God, and at 
every morning and evening sa- 
crifice, attended to pour forth 
her prayers. When she was 
fourscore years of age, she found 
the blessed Virgin, with her di- 
vine babe, at the temple, and 
Simeon blessing God for him. 
Inspired by the Holy Ghost, she 
praised the Lord, and commend- 
ed the babe as the promised 
Messiah, to such as waited for 
his coming, and expected the re- 
demption of Israel by him, Luke 
ii. 36, 37. 

ANNAS, or Jlnanus, the son 
of Seth. He enjoyed the office 
of high-priest eleven years, and 
is reckoned the only one having 
five sons who successively ex- 
ercised that office. When he 
was turned out, he still retained 
a great share in the public man- 
agement. When Christ was 
apprehended, he was first car- 
ried to Annas, and then to Caia- 
Ehas his son-in-law, who was 
igh-priest, or perhaps no more 
than sagan to Annas that year, 
John xviii. 13. Both the one 
and the other were malicious 
persecutors of the apostles, on 
account of their preaching of 
Christ, Acts iv. 6. 



ANO 

ANOINT. (1.) To pour oil 
upon one, Dan. x. 3. (2.) To 
set apart to some noted service, 
1 Kings xix. 15. (3.) To make 
ready, Isa. xxi. 5. (4.) To daub, 
besmear, John ix. 6. 11. The 
anointing of persons or things 
under the law, imported the 
setting of them apart to the ser- 
vice of God, or to some noted 
office, of prophet, priest, or king ; 
and was typical of the commu- 
nication of the Holy Ghost to 
Christ and his church. The 
Holy Ghost is called an unction 
or anointing. God's anointing 
of our Redeemer, imports his 
calling him to the office of Me- 
diator, Prophet, Priest, and King; 
his giving him a human nature^ 
fully furnished with all the gifts 
and graces of the Holy Ghost 
dwelling in him, and in due time 
with all the incomprehensible 
comforts thereof; and, on this, 
account, he is called Messiah, 
Christ, or anointed, Dan. ix. 24. 
Exod. xxix. 7. Psal. lxxxiv. 9. 
1 Sam. ii. 35. He is anointed 
above his fellows, called to 
higher offices, and more abun- 
dantly filled with the Holy Ghost 
than his people are, Ps. xlv. 7. 
God anoints his chosen people, 
when he endues them with the 
gifts, graces, and comforts of the 
Holy Ghost, and bestows pros- 
perity on them, Psalm xxiii. 5. 
xcii. 10. In the time of Christy 
it was the custom, in many 
cases, to anoint the sick with 
oil. This was counted a remedy 
in some particular diseases, and 
was originally applied merely on 
account of its natural healing 
power. It came, however, to 
be abused by the Jews, as a mar 
gical charm. That people, in 
after ages, gave themselves up 
very much to the folly of en- 
chantments, and superstitious 
rites of various kinds ; some 
such form of sorsery seems to 
have grown into use, in mak- 
ing applications of oil to the 
sick, whereby it was thought 
54 



ANT 

the remedy would be rendered 
powerful and certain. When the 
disciples of the Lord were sent 
forth, they thought proper not to 
neglect this common sign of heal- 
ing, although the cures which 
they performed were altogether 
miraculous; " they anointed with 
oil many that were sick, and heal- 
ed them." (Mark vi. 13.) So the 
apostle James, (James v. 14.) 
directs the elders, to pray over 
the sick, "anointing him with 
oil in the name of the Lord;" 
by which he means, that while 
observing the customary usage, 
in this matter, they should do it 
io Christ's name. 

ANT, or emmet, a very pro- 
vident insect, which in the sum- 
mer and harvest lays up provi- 
sion for the winter. It is said 
that ants are ashamed to return 
empty to their nests. With pro- 
digious toil and care they bear 
the corn to their abodes. When 
the rain moistens their upper 
chambers, they convey their pro- 
vision to deeper repositories in 
the earth. If it be wet, they dry 
it at the sun by day : but if their 
nests be near a haunt of bird: 
or doves, who devour it, they 
dry it at the clear moon by night: 
they gnaw off the ends of their 
grain, that it may not bud. They 
are extremely careful in the edu- 
cation of their young. Solomon 
recommends their example to be 
considered and imitated by slug- 
gards, Prov. vi. 6. 

ANTICHRIST. This word 
fs used in scripture, in different 
senses. . 1. Any person or body 
opposed^ to Christ. 2. The word 
Anti, is used -frequently, in the 
place of; thus Anti- Christ is one 
putting himself in the plaoe of 
Christ. 3. False Christs are 
€trictly speaking Antichrists. 
But one particular system of 
wicked persons, principles and 
practices, is chiefly so designed ; 
in the daily fear of which the 
primitive Christians lived. The 
scripture represents this Anti- 



ANT 

christ as a very man of sin, and 
son of perdition ; as a strong de- 
lusion overspreading the whole 
Roman empire ; as a terrible 
judgment introduced by igno- 
rance and hatred of the truth, 
and apostasy from it ; as spring- 
ing from the bottomless pit, 
amidst superstition and error. 

ANTIOCH. Sixteen cities of 
this name were founded in west- 
ern Asia, by Seleucus Nicator, 
the first Syro-Grecian monarch, 
to perpetuate the memory of hig 
father ; but the scripture speaks 
only of two, viz. (l.)Antioch, the 
capital of Syria. It is thought 
to be the same with Riblath in 
the land of Hamath, where Ne- 
buchadnezzar spent his time 
during part of the siege of Jeru- 
salem, and slew Zedekiah's chil- 
dren, and put out his eyes, and 
put to death some other chief 
menofJudah. It stood on both 
sides of the river Orontes, about 
20 miles from the Mediterranean 
sea; near it was the famed temple 
of Daphne, which was one of 
the most famous asylums in the 
world. — It was about ten miles 
in circuit ; was the residence of 
Alexander's Syro-Grecian suc- 
cessors; and one of the most 
flourishing, rich, and trading 
cities in the world. Here the 
Jews held equal privileges with 
the Greeks. Vespasian, Titus, 
and other Roman emperors,load- 
ed this city with honours and pri- 
vileges. Here Paul and Barna- 
bas preached a considerable time: 
her e Peter dissembled,in refusing 
to eat with the Gentiles : here the 
followers of our Redeemer were 
first called Christians, a few 
vears after his ascension ; Acts 
xi. 19—27. xiv. 26. xv. 35. Gal. 
ii. 11. The church here continu- 
ed famous for sundry ages ; and 
here one of the patriarchs had 
his seat : the famed Chrysostom, 
in the end of the fourthcentury, 
preached here, with amazing ap- 
plause and success. This city 
was thrice almost destroyed by 



APA 

earthquakes in the fourth centu- 
ry, and as often in the fifth. In 
Ji. D. 548, the Persians took the 
city, burnt it, and put all the in- 
habitants to the sword. The Em- 
peror Justinian rebuilt it more 
beautiful and regular than ever ; 
but the Persians quickly retook 
it, and demolished its walls. In 
Ji. D. 588, sixty thousand of its 
inhabitants perished in an earth- 
quake. It was speedily rebuilt: 
but the Saracens took it A. D. 
637 ; since which Christianity 
has there made but a very poor 
appearance. Nicephorus, the 
Greek emperor, retook it, Ji. D. 
966. Not long after,the Saracens, 
or Seljukian Turks, seized on it, 
In 1098, the Crusaders wrested it 
from them : but in 1188, they re- 
took, and utterly demolished it. 
At present it is scarce any thing 
else than a heap of ruins. 

(2.) Jintioch, the capital of Pi- 
sidia. Here Paul and Barnabas, 
permitted by the ruler of the Je w 
ish synagogue, preached the gos- 
pel with considerable success, till 
the Jews raised a persecution a- 
gainst them, and obliged them to 
leave the place,Acts xiii. 14 — 51, 

ANTIPAS. A faithful martyr 
of Christ, Rev. ii. 13. 

Jintipas, a son of Herod the 
Great. See Herod. 

ANTIPATRIS, a city of Ca- 
naan, situated in a pleasant val- 
ley, near the mountains, in the 
way from Jerusalem to Cesarea, 
and about 17 or 18 miles distant 
from Joppa, 42 from Jerusalem, 
and 26 from Cesarea. It was em- 
bellished and enlarged by Herod 
the Great, and from his father 
Antipater it received its name. 
Here Paul and his guard halted 
in their route to Cesarea, Acts 
xxiii. Qt 

ANTIQUITY, existence a 
long time ago, Isa. xxiii. 7. 

ANVIL, a smith's tool for 
placing his work on, to be beat- 
en out and forged. 

APACE ; swiftly ; speedily, 
Paul, lxviii. 12. 



APO 

APART, aside from others. 
Mat. xiv. 23. To set apart, is to 
separate from others to a private, 
or to a sacred use, Lev. xv. 19. 
Exod. xiii. 12. 

APE,ormonkey, a four-footed 
animal, somewhat resembling 
the human figure. Its face is 
naked, and its claws like the 
nails of a man. Of all the diver- 
sified kinds of apes, the satyrs 
most resemble mankind, and, of 
old, were worshipped as gods. 
The ourang-outang, or black- 
faced monkey, called the savage, 
is next in resemblance to man- 
kind ; and next to it is the baboon 
or whiskered ape, with a short 
tail. The other kinds of monkeys 
are not so like the human spe- 
cies ; but as they are exceeding 
tractable, people teach them to 
perform many tricks in imitation 
of men. 1 Kings x. 22. 

APHARSACHITES, or Jl- 
pharsathchites. SeeSamaritayis 

APHEK. (1.) A city in the 
tribe of Judah, where the Philis- 
tines encamped, when the ark 
of God was brought from Shiloh 
and taken, and which is possibly 
the same as Aphekah, ISam. iv. 
1. Josh. xv. 53. (2.) A city in the 
tribe of Issachar, and valley of 
Jezreel, near the mountains of 
Gilboa, where Saul and his sons 
were slain. It was probably the 
king of this which Joshua slew, 
1 Sam. xxix. 1. Josh. xii. 18. (3.) 
A city of Asher, on the border of 
the Zidonians, and where they 
suffered the Canaanites to re- 
main, Josh. xix. 30. Judg. i. 31. 

APIECE ; every one ; for eve- 
ry one, Num. vii. 86. iii. 47. 

APOCRYPHA, a number of 
books often placed between the 
Old and New Testament, or 
otherwise bound up therewith. 
They were at least partly read 
in private by the ancient Chris- 
tians, as useful, but not admitted 
into the canon of seripture. None 
of them were ever received by 
the Jews, to whom the oracles 
of God were then committed. 
56 



APO 

None of them are found in Me- 
lito's catalogue of the canonical 
books in the second century ; nor 
does Origen in the third, or E 
piphanius in the fourth, acknow- 
ledge their authenticity. Few of 
them were allowed to be canon- 
ical, till the ninth and tenth con- 
turies, nor was their divine au- 
thority ever established, but by 
the Popish council of Trent, and 
by a few of the Papal adherents 
at Florence. Every attentive 
reader must perceive, that these 
books want the majesty of in- 
spired scripture, and that there 
are in them a variety of things 
wicked, false, and contrary to 
the oracles of God. The first 
book of Esdras is generally no- 
thing but a bad extract of the two 
last chapters of Chronicles, and 
the book of Ezra. The author 
falsely makes Zerubbabel a 
young man in the days of Darius 
Hystaspes, and Joakim to be his 
eon, chap. v. 5. whereas he was 
the son of Jeshua the high-priest, 
Neh. xii. 10. He calls Darius 
king of Assyria, long after that 
empire was utterly dissolved ; 
and relates ^things to be done 
under Darius which were done 
under Cyrus. Compare chap. 
iv. 48, 57, 58. with Ezra i. iii. 
1. The second book of Esdras 
never appeared so much as in 
Greek, but only in Latin, and is 
a collection of fables, dreams, 
and visions, so bad, that even 
the co uncil of Trent were asham- 
ed to acknowledge it divine. 
From abundance of passages 
therein, the author appears to 
have read the New Testament ; 
and hence speaks of the signs 
of the times, and of the third 
trumpet. 

Whether the book of Tobit 
was originally written inHebre w, 
we know not ; but are rather ' 
clined to think the Chaldee, from 
which Jerome made his trans- 
lation, was the original. The 
Grecisms observable in Casta- 
lio's copy, or in the Hebrew co- 



APO 

pies published by Munster and 
Fagius. too plainly prove them 
no originals, but versions from 
the Greek. The. book is perhaps 
entirely a fable. It is not proba 
ble, that in the time of Senna- 
cherib and Esarhaddon, the fa- 
ther should live 158 years, and 
the son 127. It is certain no an- 
gel of God could falsely call him- 
self Jlzarias the son of Jlnanias, 
as that writer affirms. How fa- 
bulous the story of Sarah's seven 
husbands being successively kill- 
ed on their marriage-night by an 
evil spirit! and of that spirit's 
being driven away by the smell 
and smoke of the roasted heart 
and liver of a fish, and bound in 
the uttermost parts of Egypt! 
and of the cure of Tobit' s blind- 
ness with the stroke of the gall 
of a fish, and of his and the an- 
gel's eating of the rest of it ! or of 
the angel Raphael's presenting 
to God the prayers of the saints, 
chap. v. 12. ii. 8. viii. 2, 3. xi. 8 — 
13. xii. 15. 

The book of Judith is a history 
or romance of a great deliver- 
ance wrought for the Jews by a 
woman of this name, craftily 
cutting off the head of Holofer- 
nes the Assyrian general. It 
seems to have been written in 
the Chaldaic language, and from 
thence Jerome made his transla- 
tion. But where to place this 
history consistently with itself, 
we know not. This noted deli- 
verance is said to have happened 
after the Jews returned from 
their captivity, and after the tem- 
ple was rebuilt; and yet about 
the 18th year of Nebuchadnez- 
zar, and after it, they had no 
trouble for eighty years or above, 
chap. ii. 1. iv. 3. v. 18, 19. xvi. 
20 — 25. How impossible to re- 
concile these things with one an- 
other, or with truth ! — How im- 
probable, that Bethulia, a small 
town, should stand out against 
so powerful an army! or that the 
death of the general should make 
all the troops betake themselves 
57 



APO 

to a shameful flight ! How sur- 
prising to commend a woman as 
godly, who was guilty of notori- 
ous lying, of profane swearing, 
of murder, &c. 

The additions to Esther con- 
tain almost seven chapters, and 
are no better than the former, 
nor were ever found in the He- 
brew language. How contrary 
to the inspired history, doth this 
author affirm, that the eunuch's 
attempt to take away the life of 
Ahasuerus, was in the second 
year of his reign; that Mordecai 
was at the very time rewarded 
for his discovery; that Haman 
had been advanced before this 
event, and was provoked with 
Mordecai for his discovery of 
the eunuchs ; that Haman was 
a Macedonian, and intended to 
transfer the government of Per- 
sia to the Macedonians ! Comp. 
chap. xi. 2. xii. 1. with Esth. i. 3. 
ii. 16, 21. — chap. xi. 3. xii. 5. with 
vi. 3. — chap. xii. 6. xvi. 10, 11. 
with iii. 1, 5. How stupid, to re- 
present Ahasuerus looking upon 
Esther as a fierce lion, and yet 
with a countenavcef alio f grace! 
chap. xv. 7, 13, 14. to represent 
him, as calling the Jews the chil- 
dren of the most high and most 
mighty living God, chap. x. 16. 
or as ordering the Heathens to 
keep the feast of Purim! 

The Book of Wisdom was not 
penned by Solomon, as its author 
falsely pretends; nor was it ever 
found in Hebrew. It^ppears this 
author had read Plato, and the 
Greek poets, and borrows ex- 
pressions from them, as Ambro- 
sia, the river of forgetfulness, the 
kingdom of Pluto^ &c. chap. i. 
14. vii.13. xix.20. Sundry phrases 
of it seem taken out of the pro- 
phets, and even the New Testa- 
ment. Comp. chap. vii. 26. with 
Col. i. 15. Heb. i. 3. Some will 
have Philo the Jew to be the au- 
thor of it; but he rather seems to 
have been a fraudulentChristian. 
He talks as if souls were lodged 
in bodies according to their for- 



APO 

mer merits; makes the murder 
of Abel the cause of the flood; 
represents the Egyptians as 
plagued by their own idols, tho' 
it is certain they never worship- 
ped frogs or locusts ; calls the 
divine Logos, or second person 
of the Trinity, a vapour, and 
stream, chap. iii. 13, 18. viii. 20. 
x. 3, 4. xii. 23, 24. vii. 25. 

The Book of Ecclesiasticus is 
a much more valuable work than 
the former. One Jesus, the son 
of Sirach, by reading the scrip- 
tures, and other good books, at- 
tained to a considerable share 
of knowledge. He collected the 
grave and short sentences of such 
as went before him, and added 
sundry of his own. His book was 
originally written in Hebrew or 
Chaldee ; but Jesus, his grand- 
son, translated it into Greek, 
during the reign of Ptolemy Eu- 
ergetes, king of Egypt, about 240 
years before our Saviour's birth, 
and begs pardon if he had done 
any thing amiss, which plainly 
shows that he was not inspired* 
And indeed, though it is by far 
the best of all the apocryphal 
books, yet it hath a variety of 
things contrary to sound doc- 
trine: it represents the divine 
Logos or Son, as created by Godi 
it makes honouring of parents, 
and giving of alms, to be an 
atonement for sin : it affirms, 
that Samuel prophesied after his 
death, and showed Saul his end : 
and that Elias the Tishbite is 
ordered to pacify the wrath of 
the Lord, and to turn the father 
to the son, chap. xxiv. 9. iii. 3, 30. 
xii. 4, 5. xlvi. 20. xlviii. 10. 

The Book of Baruch is an ar- 
rant romance. It absurdly pre- 
tends to have been written by 
Baruch at Babylon, when it is 
probable he never went thither; 
that it was read to Jechoniah at 
the river Sud, which is never 
elsewhere mentioned; nor could 
Jechoniah hear it there, when he 
was confined in prison. It men- 
tions a collection to buy sacri- 
58 



APO 

fices, gathered by the captives in 
Babylon, and sent to Joakim the 
priest, along with the sacred ves- 
sels which Zedekiah had made. 
But how could the captives new- 
ly enslaved in Babylon be able 
to make collections 1 how could 
they send it to a high-priest that 
did not then exist? how could 
the sacred vessels which Zede- 
kiah made be returned from Ba- 
bylon, when it does not appear 
that he made any 1 or how could 
they be returned before they were 
carried away, along with him- 
self? The author borrows a va- 
riety of expressions from Daniel, 
end so must have lived after Ba- 
ruch was dead. The epistle 
escribed to Jeremiah is neither 
written in his style, nor in the 
style of the scriptures, and ridi- 
culously turns seventy years into 
Geven generations. 

The song of the three children 
In the furnace, is partly a poor 
imitation of the 148th Psalm, and 
partly deprecatory, not suited to 
such a deliverance. The account 
of the flame streaming above the 
furnace " forty and nine cubits," 
end of the angel's " smiting the 
flame out of the oven, and mak- 
ing a moist whistling wind" in it, 
seems entirely fabulous and ro- 
mantic; nor is it very consistent 
with the fire's loosing their bands. 
Nor has the story of Susanna the 
least appearance of truth. That 
it was originally in Greek is ma- 
nifest, from the allusion, in the 
punishment pronounced on the 
elders. How absurd to affirm, 
that in the beginning of the cap- 
tivity, Joachim, the husband of 
Susanna, was become conside- 
rably rich ; that there were Jew- 
ish judges of life and death in 
Chaldea ; that Daniel, who was 
brought up in the court, had lei- 
sure, or being so young, was ad- 
mitted to be a judge. 

The story of Bel and the Dra- 
gon is still more romantic. How 
Improbable, that Cyrus, a Per- 
fian, would worship a Babylo- 



APO 

nian idol; nay, an idol that was 
broken to pieces at the taking of 
the city! How absurd to ima- 
gine, that a man of his sense 
could believe that an image of 
brass and clay did really eat and 
drink ! How pitiful, for Daniel, 
to discover the priests coming 
and devouring the provisions, by 
making the king's servants to 
strew ashes on the floor, when 
the priests might so easily per- 
ceive them, or the servants so 
readily inform concerning them ! 
How absurd, that the newly con- 
quered Babylonians should, by 
menaces, oblige Cyrus to deliver 
up his beloved Daniel to them, 
to be cast into the den of lions ! 
How absurd, that Habakkuk 
should be then alive to bring him 
food! or that Cyrus should be 
seven days, before he went to 
the den to see what was become 
of his favourite minion ! 

The Prayer ascribed to Ma- 
nasseh never appeared in the He- 
brew language, and seems to be 
the product of some pharisaical 
spirit. The author speaks of just 
persons, as Abraham, Isaac, and 
Jacob, as without «'b, and not 
called to repent. 

The books of the Maccabees 
are a history of events, relative 
to the Jews, under the govern- 
ment of the Priest Mattathias 
and his descendants, and are, 
especially the first book, consi- 
derably useful. It seems to have 
been originally written in the 
Hebrew or Chaldee : in this lan- 
guage Origen saw it; and from 
this language Jerome seems to 
have made his translation. It 
could not have been written by 
inspiration : the writer often ob- 
serves, that there was no pro- 
phet in his times, chap. iv. 46. ix. 
27. xiv. 41. and indeed he has 
blundered into several mistakes, 
as, that Alexander the Great 
parted his kingdom among his 
honourable servants while he 
was yet alive; that Antiochus 
the Great was taken alive by the 
59 



APO 

Romans; that they gave India 
and Media, parts of his kingdom, 
to Eumenes king of Pergamus ; 
that the Roman senate consisted 
of 320 persons ; that Alexander 
Balas was the son of Antiochus 
Epiphanes, &c. chap. i. 6. viii. 
6—8, 15, 16. x. 1. 

The second book of Maccabees 
is much inferior to the first. It 
is a history of fifteen years, and 
an abridgment of the work of 
one Jason of Cyrene. The au- 
thor- concludes it, begging ex- 
cuse, if he has said any thing 
unbecoming the story: and in- 
deed he had reason to do so, con- 
sidering what a number of false 
and wicked things he retails; as, 
that Judas Maccabeus was alive 
in the 188th year of the Seleuci 
dae, when he died in the 152d ; 
that Antiochus Epiphanes was 
killed at the temple of Nanea in 
Persia, whereas he died on the 
frontiers of Babylon ; that Nehe- 
miah built the second temple and 
altar, whereas they were built 60 
years before he came from Per- 
sia ; that Jeremiah hid the taber- 
nacle, ark, and altar of incense, 
in a cave ; thatPersepolis was in 
being 100 years after Alexander 
had burnt it to ashes ; that Judas 
did well in offering prayers and, 
sacrifices, to make reconciliation 
for the dead ; thatRazis did well 
in murdering himself, to escape 
the furv of the Syrians, chap. i. ii. 
ix. 2,26,28. xii. 43—45. xiv. 37. 

The third book of the Macca- 
bees is a history of a persecution 
intended against the Jews in E- 
gypt,but miraculously prevented. 
Some call Josephus' account of 
the martyrs who suffered under 
Antiochus, the fourth; but that 
which Calmet calls so, to meap- 

Eears nothing else than the Ara- 
ic history of the Jewish nation, 
which vvc have in the London 
Polyglot. It extends to about 
160 years; begins at Seleucus's 
attempt to pillage the temple, 
and ends just before the birth of 
Jesus Christ. 



Aro 

APOLLONIA. There was a 
city of this name on the west of 
Canaan; but that mentioned in 
scripture was a city of Macedo- 
nia, founded by the Corinthians, 
and scarce noted for any thing, 
but that Csesar Augustus there 
learned the Greek language. 
Acts xvii. 1. 

APOLLOS, a Jew of Alexan- 
dria, who came to Ephesus just 
when Paul set off on his third 
journey to Jerusalem. He w r as a 
very eloquent man, and had a 
great acquaintance with the 
scriptures. With distinguished 
fervour and diligence he taught 
the things of the Lord Jesus, 
knowing only the baptism of 
John. Aquila and Priscilla hav- 
ing heard him boldly preach in 
the synagogue, and showing that 
Jesus was the promised Messiah 
and Saviour, took him home 
with them, and instructed him 
more fully in the Christian faith. 
He departed thence, with letters 
of recommendation, to Achaia, 
where he was very useful in 
strengthening the new converts, 
and demonstrating from scrip- 
ture to the Jews, that Jesus of 
Nazareth was indeed the Mes- 
siah promised to their fathers. 
His fine address and obliging be- 
haviour had like to have occa- 
sioned a schism at Corinth ; some 
pretending to be of Paul's party, 
others of Apollos's, others of Ce- 
phas's, and others pretending yet 
higher, to be of Christ's. Vexed 
hereat, Apollos left Achaia, and, 
with Zenas the lawyer, sailed for 
Crete. Thence he went to Ephe- 
sus, and was there when Paul 
wrote his first epistle to Corinth, 
whither he could hardly be pre- 
vailed on to return, Acts xviii. 
24, 28. 1 Cor. i. 12. iii. 4, 6. xvi. 
12. Tit. iii. 13. 

APOLLYON. AGreekword 
which signifies the destroyer^nd 
answers to a Hebrew word sig- 
nifying Abaddon. Rev. ix. 11. 

APOSTATE. This word, 
though not used in our transla- 
60 



APO 
tion is the same with the word 
translated wicked in Job xxxiv. 
18, and Prov. vi. 12. It usually 
means one who forsakes Chris- 
tianity and embraces some false 
religion. 

APOSTLE, a missionary, 
messenger, or envoy. 

Jlpostles of Jesus Christ, in 
which sense the word is now 
commonly used ; these were his 
chief, his most distinguished 
disciples. He invested them 
with his authority, filled them 
with his spirit, trusted them par- 
ticularly with his doctrine and 
services, and chose them to 
raise the edifice of his church 
Jesus Christ, after his resur- 
rection, sent his apostles into 
all the world, commissioned to 
preach, to baptize, to work mi- 
racles, &c. The names of the 
twelve apostles are, Peter, An- 
drew, John, Philip, James Ma- 
jor, Bartholomew, Thomas, 
Matthew, Simon, Jude, James 
Minor, and Judas Iscariot. 
This last betrayed his Master, 
and hanged himself; Matthias 
was chosen in his place. 

From the application of the 
title apostle, as given above, we 
may perceive in what sense the 
apostle Paul claims it. " Am 
not I an apostle?" a missiona- 
ry, an envoy, a person autho- 
rized by Christ to proclaim his 
will, &c. In the same meaning 
he applies the title to Barnabas, 
whom he includes, &c. ; so that 
there are, perhaps, three or four 
persons called apostles in this 
sense, besides the twelve men- 
tioned in the gospels, as having 
been chosen to that office by 
Jesus Christ himself in his life 
time. 

APOSTLESHrP, the office 
of an apostle. To constitute this, 
it was necessary to have seen 
the Lord ; to have a commission 
and right to go every where, and 
found and gather churches ; to 
be possessed of an infallibility 
in doctrine; and a power to 



APP 

speak with divers tongues, work 
miracles, and confer the Holy 
Ghost by laying on of hands, 1 
Cor. ix. 1, 2. 2 Cor. xii. 12. 

APPAREL, see Clothes. 

APPEAL. A Roman citizen 
could remove his cause out of 
the provinces to Rome itself, and 
from before an inferior tribunal 
to the emperor. In one of Pli- 
ny's episties to Trajan, it i3 
mentioned among the privileges 
of a Roman citizen, that he 
could appeal from the provin- 
cial courts to Rome, and take 
his trial in the Supreme Court 
of judicature. He says, "the 
method he has observed towards 
those who were brought before 
him under this infatuation, 
(Christianity) being citizens of 
Rome, was to send them thither 
lo be tried." 

APPHIA, the wife of Phile- 
mon, St. Paul's friend. It is be- 
lieved she suffered martyrdom 
with her husband Philemon 

APPII- FORUM, a place in 
the south-west of Italy, about 
50 miles south of Rome, and 18 
from the Three-taverns. Thus 
far the Christians of Rome came 
to meet Paul in his way thither 
from Puteoli, Acts xxviii. 15. 
The forum was built by Jip- 
pius, the consul, the same who, 
having constructed a great road, 
it was called after him " the 
jSppian way." 

APPLE-TREE. The kinds 
are numerous, and its fruits 
roundish, refreshing, cooling, 
and medicinal. Perhaps the He- 
brews extended this name to 
pear, cherry, and other fruit 
trees. Nay, Bochart says, there 
were few of either in Canaan. 
Though orange and lemon trees 
now grow in considerable num- 
bers in that country, it is doubt- 
ful if they did so in the more an- 
cient times. Damascus, in Sy- 
ria, was peculiarly famed for 
its fine apples and pears, and 
Egypt for its bad ones. Jesus 
Christ is compared to an apple- 
61 



APR 

tree among- the trees of the 
wood; perhaps a. citron apple- 
tree, to mark his glorious height, 
his comeliness, fruitfulness, and 
delightful shadow ; with the 
heart-refreshing, quieting, and 
nourishing virtue of his influ- 
ence, Song ii. 3. The spiritual 
promises and blessings of the 
new covenant are called apples; 
how they delight, nourish, re- 
fresh, revive, and heal our soul ! 
Song ii. 5. Good words fitly 
spoken, are like citrons, oranges, 
or apples of gold, in pictures 
of silver; have a most comely 
appearance, and delightful and 
edifying influence, Prov.xxv.ll. 

APRIES, king of Egypt, call- 
ed Pharaoh-Hophrah, in the 
sacred writings, Jer. xliv. 30. 
Apries was son of Psammis, 
and grandson of Kechos, or JVe- 
cho, who fought Josiah, king of 
the Jews. He reigned twenty- 
five years, and was long consi- 
dered as one of the happiest 
princes in the world ; but hav- 
ing equipped a fleet, with de- 
sign to reduce the Cyrenians, he 
lost almost his whole army in 
this expedition. The Egyptians 
resolved to make him responsi- 
ble for this want of success, re- 
belled, pretending he undertook 
the war only that he might get 
rid of his subjects, and govern 
the remainder more absolutely. 
He deputed Amasis, one of his 
principal officers, to meet them, 
in hope of bringing them to 
their duty ; but, while Amasis 
was haranguing them, one of 
the multitude placed a diadem 
about his helmet, and proclaim- 
ed him king ; the rest applauded 
him, and Amasis did not oppose 
the action. He put himself at 
their head, marched against 
Apries, defeated him, and took 
him prisoner. 

This prince had made a league 
with Zedekiah, and promised 
his assistance, (Ezek. xvii. 15 ;) 
Zedekiah, relying on his forces, 
revolted from Nebuchadnezzar, 



AQU 
A. M. 3410 ; ante J. C. 594, who, 

early in the year following, 
marched against Zedekiah ; but 
as other nations of Syria had 
likewise shaken off their obe- 
dience, he first reduced them to 
their duty ; then, towards the 
end of the year, he besieged 
Jerusalem. 2 Kings, xxv. 5; 2 
Chron. xxxvi. 17 ; Jer. xxxix, 
1 ; lii. 4. Zedekiah defended 
himself in Jerusalem, long and 
obstinately, in order to give time 
to Pharaoh- Hop hr ah, or Apries, 
to come to his assistance — 
Apries advanced, with a pow- 
erful army ; and the king of 
Babylon raised the siege, to 
meet him ; but Apries, not dar- 
ing to hazard a battle against 
the Chaldeans, retreated into 
Egypt, and abandoned Zede- 
kiah. Ezekiel, chap, xxxix. re- 
proaches Egypt severely with 
this baseness ; threatening, — 
since it had been " a staff of 
reed to the house of Israel, and 
an occasion of falling; for when 
they took hold of thee by thy 
hand, thou didst break and rend 
all their shoulder ;" that Egypt 
should be reduced to a solitude ; 
that God would send the sword 
against it, which should destroy 
man and beast in it. This was 
afterwards accomplished, first, 
in the person of Apries ; se- 
condly, in the conquest of 
Egypt, by the Persians. To this 
king, likewise, are applied the 
words of Habukkuk, (ii. 15,) 
" Woe unto him that giveth his 
neighbour drink ; that puttest 
thy bottle to him, and makest 
him drunken also, that thou 
mayest look on his nakedness.'* 
AQUIL A , a Jew born in Pon - 
tus. He, with his wife Prisca,oi 
Priscilla,had, for their business, 
to make leathern tents for the 
Roman troops. They were early 
converted to the Christian faith* 
perhaps by Peter's pentecostal 
sermon. After they had resided 
some time at Rome, the edict 
of Claudius, banishing all Jews 
62 



ARA 

from that city, obliged them to 
leave it, and return to Corinth: 
there Paul lodged with them, 
and wrought at their business, 
till, probably to please the Gen- 
tiles, he went and lodged with 
Justus. They attended Paul 
to Ephesus, and there exposed 
their lives to protect him: here 
they instructed Apollos in the 
way of the Lord more per- 
fectly. They returned back to 
Rome ; and in their house was a 
meeting of the Christians held ; 
and there they were saluted by 
Paul, in his epistle to that church . 
They returned to Asia, and dwelt 
in or near Ephesus ; and were 
there when Paul wrote his second 
epistle to Timothv, Acts xviii. 
Rom. xvi. 3, 4. 2 Tim. iv. 19. 

AR, the capital city of Moab, 
near the river Arnon. Sihon 
king of the Amorites burnt it 
with fire, Num. xxi. 28. 

ARABIA, a large country of 
Asia, lying partly on the east, 
but chiefly-southward of Canaan. 
It is situated between 13 and 35 
and a half degrees of north lati- 
tude, and between 33 and 60 de- 
Eees of east longitude from 
ondon. Its greatest length 
from east to west, is about 1620 
miles ; and its greatest breadth 
from north to south, about 1350. 
And in the north parts, eastward 
of Canaan, it is far less than the 
half of any of these numbers. It 
has the Indian ocean on the 
south, the Red sea and Isthmus 
of Suez on the west, Canaan 
and Syria on the north-west and 
north, the mountains of Chaldea 
and the Persian gulf on the east. 
It is ordinarily divided into three 
parts. (1.) Arabia- Petraa, or 
the rocky, on the north-west, 
and which is now called Hejiaz. 
In the south-west part of this 
now stand the famed cities of 
Mecca and Medina, so much 
visited by the Mahometan pil- 
grims. This division contained 
the land of Edom, the wilder- 
ness of Paran, the land of Cu- 



ARA 

shan, &c ; and seems to hare 
been first called Arabia, from 
its westerly situation, or the 
mixed tribes which inhabit it. 
(2.) Arabia-Deserta, which lay 
eastward of Canaan, and com- 
prehended the land of Uz, of 
Amnion, Moab, Midi an, with 
the country of the Itureans, Ha- 
garenes, &c. (3.) Arabia-Felix, 
or happy, on the south of the 
two former. The two last seem 
to have been called Kedem, or 
the east, by the Hebrews. Scarce 
any part of Arabia is well wa- 
tered; but Arabia-Felix is famed 
for vast numbers of fine spices 
and fruits. 

Arabia- Felix seems to have 
been chiefly peopled by the nu- 
merous family of Joktan, a de- 
scendant of Shem: the other 
two parts seem to have been 
originally inhabited by the Re- 
phairns, Emims, Zamzummims, 
Amalekites, Horites, and other 
descendants of Cush, the eldest 
son of Ham. The Cushites 
were gradually expelled by the 
descendants of JVaAor, 1m, and 
Abraham. Ishmael first settled 
in Hejiaz, and formed twelve 
powerful tribes of Nabatheans, 
Kedarenes, Hagarenes, &c. ; but 
they gradually spread them- 
selves, at least into the whole 
north parts of Arabia ; and the 
remains of theUzites or Ausitse, 
Buzites, Ammonites, Moabites, 
Midianites, &c. incorporated 
with them. The ancient Arabs 
or Arabians, were gross idola- 
ters : they worshipped the hea- 
venly bodies, the sun, moon, and 
stars, and a number of angels 
and men who had been famous 
their view : they worshipped 

jreat number of large stones, 
which were probably, at first, no 
more than the places where 
their ancestors had worshipped 
the true God, Gen. xxviii. 18. 
The Persians introduced their 
Magian religion among part of 
them. The Jews, who fled from 
the fury of the Romans, prose- 
63 



ARA 

lyted a part of them to theirs. 
Paul preached in some part of 
Arabia ; and ten tribes are said 
to have received the Christian 
faith in that or the following 
ages. Since Mahomet's rise, 
about A. D. 603, or rather Ins 
conquests, about j9. D. 630 
they have been generally fol- 
lowers of the Mahometan de- 
lusion. 

We will now proceed to show 
in what astonishing manner the 
ancient predictions of scripture 
have been fulfilled among them, 
for more than three thousand 
years past. It was prophesied 
that the Ishmaelites should bt 
wild free men: should have their 
hand against every man, and 
every man's hand against them ; 
and yet should dwell in the pre- 
sence of all their brethren, and 
multiply into twelve tribes, and 
become a great nation: or, in 
other words, that however they 
should be harassed, they should 
never be utterly subdued ; and 
that, in the latter days, they 
should push at the Roman em- 
pire; and, like so many locusts, 
plague the third part of men, 
Gen. xvi. 11, 12. and xvii. 20. 
and xxi. 10—13. lsa. xxi. 11—17. 
Num. xxiv. 20. Jer. xxv. 23 — 25. 
Rev. ix. 1 — 11. Let us trace 
the fulfilment. Ishmael had 
twelve sons, fathers each of a 
tribe; they dwelt next to their 
relations, the offspring of Lot, 
and of Abraham by Keturah, 
and of Esau the father of Edom. 
They gradually increased till 
they swallowed up their neigh- 
bours on the north and east, if 
uot also most of the children of 
Joktan in Arabia-Felix. Num- 
bers of them began early to trade 
with Egypt in spices, Gen. 
xxxvii. 25. and xxxix. 1. They, 
long after, traded with the Ty- 
nans in ebony, ivory, precious 
cloths, spices, jewels, gold, and 
cattle, Ezek. xxvii. 15. 20—22. 
Vast numbers of them roved 
about with theii cattle, dwelling 



ARA 

in tents, without any settled 
abode, Isa. xiii. 20. They have 
been always famed for their 
lust, robbery, revenge, ravage, 
and murders: such, to use the 
words of a Roman historian, ' as 
one would neither wish his 
friends nor his foes.' It was, 
therefore, the interest of every 
conqueror to root them out ; and 
it is observable, that almost 
every noted conqueror pushed 
his conquests to their very bor- 
ders, and yet left them unsub- 
dued. They oppressed the He- 
brews, but were severely chas- 
tised for it by Gideon, Judg. viii. 
24. They sent presents to Solo- 
mon, but there is no appearance 
that his father or himself had 
subdued them, 1 Kings x. 15. 
Sesostris, or Shishak, the Egyp- 
tian conqueror, had no Arabs in 
the vast and mingled army 
which he marched against Re- 
hoboam ; nay, he vv as obliged to 
draw a line along their frontiers, 
to protect his own country from 
their inroads and ravage. They 
sent a compliment ofsome flocks 
to Jehoshaphat ; but soon after 
entered into the grand alliance 
against him, 2 Chr. xvii. 11. Ps. 
lxxxiii. 6. They terribly ravaged 
Judea under Jehoram, and mur- 
dered all his sons, except the 
youngest, 2 Chr. xxi. 16, 17. 
They probably attacked Uzziah, 
but paid dear for their pains, 
2 Chron. xxvi. 7. Shalmanezer, 
or Sennacherib, hostilely ravag- 
ed part of their country, drove 
the Dedanites to their woods, 
where many of them perished by 
famine ; the Kedarenes he mur- 
dered, and carried off their 
wealth for a spoil. Nebuchad- 
nezzar entered and wasted their 
country ; he murdered vast num- 
bers of the Dedanites, Buzites, 
Temanites, Scenites, Kedarenes, 
Zamarenes ; reduced Hazor, and 
other principal cities, to lasting 
ruins ; and carried off their tents 
and cattle for a prey. 
Cyrus seized the whole empire 
64 



ARA 

of the Assyrians and Chaldeans ; 
and even reduced a body of 
Arabs, about the north point of 
Arabia-Deserta ; but Herodotus 
assures us, that, under Darius 
Hystaspes, who had farther ex- 
tended the Persian dominion, the 
Arabians were free from tri- 
bute. Tiiis people highly pro- 
voked the haughty Alexander, 
with some contempt which they 
had marked for him. He in- 
tended to conqueror ruin them; 
but death prevented the execu- 
tion of his project. To chastise 
their depredations on his territo- 
ries adjacent, Antigonus, one of 
Alexander's successors, first by 
himself, and then by his son 
Demetrius, thought to have sub- 
dued their country. But he was 
obliged to make peace with 
them, almost upon their own 
terms. Pompey, the famed Ro- 
man conqueror, ravaged part of 
their country ; but his army be- 
ing recalled, the Arabs followed 
them at the heels ; and for some 
time thereafter, terribly harassed 
the Roman subjects in Syria, 
Sec. About the 23d year before 
our Saviour's birth, Elias Gal- 
lus, another Roman general, 
sailed up the Red Sea, to subdue 
their country; but his attempt 
miscarried. About A. D. 120, 
Trajan, the Roman emperor, 
thought to have reduced A rabian 
Hejiaz, and ravaged a part of it. 
He besieged Petra their capital ; 
but thunder, lightning, hail, 
whirlwinds, s warms of flies, and 
the like, terrified and repulsed 
his troops, as often as they re- 
peated their attacks. About A. 
D. 200, that famed warrior, the 
emperor Severus, twice besieged 
it with a powerful host, and a 
fine train of artillery. An un- 
accountable difference between 
him and his troops obliged him 
to raise the siege. In the next 
four hundred years, we find part 
of the Arabs sometimes allied 
with the Persians, and others 
with the Romans; but no sub- 
c2 6* 



ARA 

jection of the nation to either of 
these mighty empires. 

In the 7th century, Mahomed, 
an Arab of Hejiaz, commenced 
a noted impostor; and having 
contrived a new scheme of false 
religion, his countrymen, under 
the name of Saracens, to propa- 
gate it, subdued all Arabia, the 
most of western Asia, all Africa 
north of the Senegal river, to- 
gether with Spain, Cicily, and a 
great many isles belonging to 
Europe, and constituted an em- 
pire in length about 7000 miles. 
Their own divisions in Africa 
and Spain, the like in Asia, to- 
gether with the growing powei 
of the Seljukian Turks, and at 
last the terrible ravages of the 
Tartars, &c. between A. D. 900 
and 1260, gradually reduced this 
wide-spread empire. In the 
next three centuries, the Otto- 
man Turks and Spaniards re- 
duced the remaining fragments 
thereof in Africa and Spain. But 
Hejiaz, the original country of 
the Ishmaelites, and its natives, 
were never subdued. To this 
day, the Turkish Sultans pay 
them an annual tribute of 40,000 
crowns, for a safe passage to 
their holy cities of Mecca and 
Medina. And if payment is ne- 
glected, the Arabs are sure to 
pay themselves by falling on the 
caravans, or companies of pil- 
grims ; or by ravaging Mesopo- 
tamia or Syria ; of which there 
have happened various instances 
in this and in the end of the last 
century. 

ARAD, a wild ass. A city, 
Judg. i. 16. 

ARAM, (1.) The fifth son of 
Shem; and, (2.) The grandson 
of Nahor, fathers of the Aram- 
ites or Syrians, Gen. x. 22. and 
xxii. 21. It is observable, that 
Hesiod and Homer, call the Sy- 
rians Aramaeans. Aram is the 
Hehrew name of Syria ; and 
hence we read of Aram-Naha- 
raim, or Mesopotamia ; Aram- 
Zobah, or Svria of Zcbah; Aram 
65 



ARA 

Damascus, or Syria of Damas- 
cus; and Aram-Bethrehob, or 
Syria of Bethrehob, &c. (3.) 
Aram, or Ram, the great-grand- 
son of Judah, and father of Am- 
minadab, Ruth iv. 19. Luke iii. 
33. 1 Chron. ii. 10. 

ARARAT, a high mountain 
of Armenia, on which Noah's 
ark rested. It stands on the bor- 
ders of an extensive plain, east 
of Erivan, and is shaped like a 
sugar-loaf: its exact height has 
never been ascertained by mea- 
surement: but cannot be less 
than 15,000 or 16,000 feet above 
the level of the sea; others how- 
ever, conjecture that its eleva- 
tion does not exceed 10,000 
feet. 

ARAUNAH, or Oman, the 
Jebusite: he had a threshing- 
floor on JMoriah. When David 
perceived the angel of the Lord 
hover above Jerusalem, prepar- 
ing to destroy its inhabitants, as 
the punishment of his numbering 
the people, he was warned by Na- 
than to build an altar, and offer 
sacrifice for stopping the plague, 
and instructed of God that the 
temple should be built on that 
spot, hasted to Araunah. The 
good Jebusite and his sons had 
hid themselves in a hole for fear 
of the destroying angel : but 
when he observed David coming, 
he ran to meet him ; fell at his 
feet, and asked his will. Inform- 
ed that he wanted to purchase 
his threshing-floor for the erec- 
tion of an altar, and offering of 
sacrifice, that the destructive 
pestilence might be stopped, 
Araunah offered the king a free 
gift of the floor, and of wood 
and oxen sufficient for sacrifice. 
Hating to serve the Lord at the 
expense of another, David refus- 
ed to accept them, till the price 
was fixed. For the floor itself 
and the oxen he gave him 50 
shekels of silver, and for the 
whole field about 600 shekels 
of gold, 2 Sam. xxiv. 16—25. 
1 Chron. xxi. 15—28. 



ARC 

ARBA. See Giant and He- 
bron. 

ARCH, a building in form of 
a bow, such as is used in bridges, 
windows, vaults, Ezek. xl. 16.29* 

ARCHANGEL, the Prince or 
chief Angel. This name seems 
never to be applied to any created 
angel. It is true, that, in 1 Thea. 
iv. 16, 'Christ the Lord is said 
to descend with the voice of the 
Archangel ;' but we are not to 
understand this as importing, 
that he is to use the voice of any 
angel ; when he comes, he brings 
the holy angels with him to ga- 
ther together his elect ; and his 
voice shall sound like the voice 
of the great Archangel, — the 
trumpet of God, — referring pro- 
bably to the descent on Mount 
Sinai, at the giving of the law, — 
when the law was given and 
trumpeted by the disposition of 
angels. Whether Michael tba 
archangel, is the Son of God, or 
a created angel, theologians are 
not agreed: it is certain, how- 
ever, that we never read in the 
Bible of more than one archangel. 

ARCHERS, such as shoot 
with bows in hunting or battle. 
This method of shooting was 
almost universal in ancient 
times, before the invention of 
fire-arms, Gen. xxi. 20. Jer. Ii. 3, 
The archers that sorely grieved 
Joseph, and shot at him, were 
his enemies, particularly his 
brethren and mistress, Gen. xlix- 
23. The archers of God that 
compassed Job, were afflictions, 
pains, and terrors sent by God, 
and which, like sharp empoison* 
ed arrows, wounded and vexed 
his soul, Job xvi. 13. 

ARCHELAUS, a son of He- 
rod the Great by Malthace his 
fifth wife. He was reckoned the 
most cruel and bloody of his fa- 
ther's children. Herod having 
murdered his sons Alexander, 
Aristobulus, and Antipater, and 
stripped Herod Antipas of his 
claim to the kingdom, he, by lat- 
ter-will, constituted Aichelaua 
66 



ARC 

his successor, on condition the 
Roman Emperor agreed to it. 
The people and soldiery appear- 
ed very well pleased when this 
will was read, and promised al- 
legiance and fidelity. Archelaus 
interred his father with great 

})omp ; and, returning to Jerusa- 
em, made a solemn mourning of 
seven days; gave the people a 
very splendid entertainment; and 
having convened them in the 
court of the temple, he assured 
them of his mild government; 
and that he would not assume 
the royal title before the empe- 
ror had confirmed it. Just after 
Jl. D. 1, the rabble assembled, 
and required him to execute the 
man who had advised his father 
to kill a noted zealot, for pulling 
down the golden eagle from the 
gate of the temple: they demand- 
ed that Joazas should be divested 
of the high priesthood; and they 
loaded the memory of Herod his 
father with the bitterest curses 
and reproaches. To revenge this 
insult, Archelaus ordered his 
troops to fall on the mob, and 
killed 3000 of them on the spot, 
near the temple. He next repair- 
ed to Rome for the confirmation 
Of his father's will ; but his bro- 
ther Herod-Antipas insisted on 
the ratification of his father's 
former will, constituting him his 
successor ; alleging, that it was 
made when hi3 judgment was 
more sound. After hearing both 
parties, Augustus delayed to 
give sentence. The Jewish na- 
tion petitioned the Emperor to 
lay aside the whole family of 
Herod, and constitute them into 
a Roman province, subject to 
the governor of Syria: Archelaus 
opposed the petition. The em- 
peror heard both, but delayed to 
give judgment. A few days af- 
ter, Augustus called Archelaus, 
assigned him a part of his fa- 
ther's kingdom, with the title of 
Ethnarch, and promised him the 
crown, if bis conduct should de- 
serve it. 



ARE 

Returning to Judea,he deposed 
Joazas the high-priest ; pretend- 
ing that he had stirred up the 
seditions against him ; and made 
Eleazar,his brother, priest in his 
room. When Archelaus had go- 
verned about seven years, with 
the utmost violence and tyranny, 
the Jews and Samaritans jointly 
accused him to the emperor. 
His agent at Rome was ordered 
to bring him thither: his cause 
was heard ; and he was banished 
to Vienne in France ; and con- 
tinued there, in exile, till his 
death. — It was the cruel temper 
of this monster that made Joseph 
and Mary afraid to reside in Ju- 
dea, with her blessed babe, Mai. 
ii. 22, 23. 

ARCHI, a city in the tribe of 
Ephraim, near Bethel : perhaps 
it ought to be joined with Ata- 
roth, thus, Jirchi-ataroth : and 
is the same with Ataroth-addar % 
Josh. xvi. 2, 5. 

ARCHIPPUS,a noted preach- 
er of the gospel at Colosse. The 
church members there are re- 
quired to stir him up to diligence, 
care, and courage, in the work 
of his ministry, Col. iv. 17. Paul 
salutes him by Philemon, 2. 

ARCTURUS, the name of a 
northern star of the first magni- 
tude, at some distance from the 
great Bear, and between the 
thighs of the Bootes or Charles's 
wain : but it is quite uncertain 
whether the Hebrew Hash, oi 
round whirling star, be Arctw 
rus or not. The lesser stars 
around it maybe called its sons, 
Job ix. 9. and xxxviii. 32. 

AREOPAGUS,the high court 
at Athens, famed for the justice 
of its decisions ; so called, be* 
cause it sat on a hill of the same 
name, or in the suburbs of the 
city, dedicated to Mars the god 
of war, as the city was to Mir 
nerva his sister, Acts xvii. 19. 

ARELI, the altar light, the 
son of Gad, Gen. xlvi. 16. 

ARETAS, virtuous. Many 
kings of this name, or as the na- 
67 



AR1 

lives express it, Hareth, reigned 
in the Arabian kingdom of Ghas- 
san, eastward of Canaan; but 
only the successor of Obodas, 
and father-in-law of Herod- An 
tipas, is mentioned in scripture. 
One Sylleus thought to have 
ruined him with the emperor Au- 
gustus ; pretending that he had 
usurped the Arabian throne at 
his own hand. The treachery of 
Sylleus being discovered, Aretas 
was solemnly confirmed in his 
government. 2 Cor. xi. 32. 

ARGOB, a country of the 
half-tribe of Manasseh in Ba- 
shan. It was extremely fertile, 
and contained 60 walled towns, 
which Jair the son of Machir re- 
paired, and called Havothjair. 
It was probably called Argob 
from its capital, or from some 
famed Amorite to whom it had 
pertained, Deut. iii. 4,14. 1 Kings 
iv. 13, 

ABIEL, i. e. the lion of God, 
Jerusalem is so called for its 
warlike force : or Ariel may de- 
note the temple and altar of 
burnt-offering. Wo was to firi 
el, when the city and temple 
were destroyed by the Chal 
deans and" Romans. Isaiah 
xxix. 7. 

ARIMATHEA, a city of Ju- 
dea, where Joseph the honour- 
able counsellor dwelt. Some 
writers will have it to be the 
same with Ramathaim Zophim 
in the neighbourhood of Bethel, 
Luke xxiii. 51. According to 
Clarke and Buckingham, Ari- 
mathea is on the highway from 
Jerusalem to Joppa, on the bor- 
ders of a fertile and extensive 
plain, about 30 miles north-west 
of Jemsalem. Ramah, though 
it belonged to the tribes of Ben- 
janain, (Josh, xviii. 25,) was in- 
c.uded in the kingdom of Israel. 
Baasha, the second king after 
Jeroboam, fortified and garri- 
soned it; (1 Kings xv.17, 2Chr. 
xvi. 1;) but Asa, the contem- 
porary king of Judah, having 
bribed the king of Syria to in- 



ARI 

vade Baasha's northern pro- 
vinces, and thereby compelled 
him to withdraw this garrison 
from Ramah, regained posses- 
sion of the place, (1 Kings xv. 
18, 2 Chron. xvi. 2—6,) which 
afterwards continued subject to 
the kings of Judah. 

In the New Testament, Ra- 
mah is called Arimathea, (a 
corruption of Ramathaim.) To 
this place belonged Joseph, in 
whose tomb Christ was buried. 
(Matt, xxvii. 57, Luke xxiii. 50, 
51, John xix. 38.) 

On the hill where Ramah 
once stood, there is now a vil- 
lage, situated in the mid3t of 
ruins, and called Samuel by the 
Arabs who inhabit it. Ramah 
is not to be confounded with 
Ramlah, a town further west, 
built in the eighth century. 

ARIOCH, (1.) A king of 
Ellassar, one of Chedorlao- 
mer's allies, Gen. xiv. 1. (2.) A 
captain of Nebuchadnezzar's 
guard, who vvas appointed to 
slay all the wise men of Baby- 
lon ; at Daniel's request, he de- 
layed the execution of his orders, 
and introduced that prophet to 
the king, to tell and interpret his 
dream, Dan. ii. 14. 

ARISTARCHUS, a native of 
Thessalonica ; he became a zeal- 
ous Christian, and attended Paul 
to Ephesus, where, in the tumult 
raised by Demetrius the silver- 
smith, he hardly escaped with his 
life. He attended Paul in his re- 
turn to Greece ; and in his jour- 
ney thence to Asia: and having 
gone with him from Jerusalem to 
Rome, it is said he was beheaded 
along with him, Acts xix. 29. 
and xx. 4. and xxvii. 2. Col. 
iv. 10. 

ARISTOBULUS. He is sup- 
posed to have been the brother 
of Barnabas, and one of our Sa- 
viour's seventy disciples, and to 
have preached with great suc- 
cess in Britain : but it is really 
uncertain if he was so much as 
a Christian: since not he, but 
69 



ARK 

liis family, are saluted by Paul. 
Rom. xvi. 10. 

ARK. Noah's ark was a large 
floating vessel, in which he and 
his family, with every species of 
terrestrial animals, were pre- 
served from the flood. It is pretty 
generally, though not certainly 
believed, that he spent about 120 
years in building it, and that hi 
employed a variety of hands in 
that work. The form of this ark 
was an oblong square, with a flat 
bottom, and a sloped roof, raised 
to a cubit in the middle : it had 
neither sails nor rudder, nor was 
it sharp at the ends for cutting 
the water. This form was admi- 
rably calculated to make it lie 
steady on the water without roll- 
ing, which might have endan- 
gered the lives of the animals 
within; but made it very unfit 
for moving to a great distance, 
or for riding in a boisterous sea. 

The length of this ark was 300 
cubits, which, according to Dr. 
Arbuthnot's calculation, amount 
to a little more than 547 feet ; its 
breadth 50 cubits, or 91.2 feet; 
its height 30 cubits, or 54.72 feet ; 
and its solid contents 2,730,782 
solid feet, sufficient for a carriage 
of 81,062 tons. It consisted of 
three stories, each of which, 
abating the thickness of the 
floors, might be about 18 feet 
high, and no doubt was parti- 
tioned into a great many rooms 
or apartments. This vessel was 
doubtless so contrived, as to ad- 
mit the air and light on all sides, 
though the particular construc- 
tion of the windows be not men- 
tioned. The ark seems to have 
had another covering besides the 
roof; perhaps one made of skin, 
which was thrown over, and 
hung before the windows, to pre- 
vent the entrance of the rain: 
and this, we suppose, Noah re- 
moved, and saw the earth dry, 
Gen. viii. 13. 

The ark was built of Gopher 
wood, which I take not to be ce- 
dar, pine, or box, but the cypress^ 



ARK 

a very strong and durable wood 
not easily subject to rottenness. 
And this naturally leads one to 
think that it was built in Chal- 
dea, where grew vast quantities 
of cypress wood, as late as the 
times of Alexander the Great; 
and this conjecture is confirmed 
by the Chaldean tradition, which 
makes Xisuthrus or Noah sail 
from that country : and from 
hence a south wind, or the north- 
ward motion of the decreasing 
waters, would naturally bring 
the ark to rest on the mountain 
of Ararat. 

Some have imagined the ark, 
as we have described it, insuffi- 
cient for its destined cargo of 
animals, and their provision for 
a year. But, upon a more exact 
calculation, the proportion of its 
measures to its cargo, manifests 
it the device of him, " to whom 
all the beasts of the field, and 
fowls of the air, are well known." 
The sorts of four-footed beasts 
which cannot live in the waters 
are about 72, or, as Calmet di- 
vides them, 130, and the species 
of the winged fowls and creep- 
ing things may amouut to about 
200. Now of the two lower sto- 
ries, the one might easily station 
all the four-footed animals, and 
the other contain their provision. 
The uppermost was sufficient for 
Noah and his family, and the 
fowls with their provision. Very 
possibly, many of the serpents 
might live under the water in a 
torpid state ; and if so, there is 
no need to suppose such serpents 
as are peculiar to America to 
have been in the ark ; or if they 
were, the places about Chaldea 
might then produce them, though 
now it does not. 

At the end of the 120 years of 
God's forbearance with the old 
world,not onlyNoah and his wife, 
and their three sons and their 
wives, entered the ark ; but two 
pair of every sort of unclean 
beasts, and seven pair of every 
clean sort, were, by the direction 
69 



ARM 

of providence, conducted to their 
proper places in the ark, and 
then were shut up therein. The 
swelling waters,lifting it from the 
earth, carried it for some months 
in a northern direction; after 
which, the waters decreasing, it 
rested on the mountain of Ara- 
rat, and Noah and his family, 
and the various animals, went 
out of it, and replenished the 
earth, Gen. vi. vii. viii. Heb. xi. 
7. 1 Pet. iii. 20. 

Ark of the Covenant. A cof- 
fer or chest wherein the tables 
of the law were deposited. See 
Exod. xxv. 10—16. 

ARM, that bodily member, 
by which we chiefly exert our 
strength, 2 Sam. i.10. And hence 
power, and whatever qualifies 
one for an active performance of 
actions, is called an arm. God's 
high, holy, strong, or outstretch- 
ed arm, is his almighty power, 
displayed in a high, holy, vigor- 
ous, and remarkable manner, in 
the making of all things ; in the 
bringing Israel out of Egypt; in 
effectuating our redemption ; in 
converting his people ; and in de- 
livering his church, Jer.xxxii.17. 

ARMAGEDDON; the He- 
brew name given to the place 
where the Popish and Mahome- 
tan troops shall be destroyed, 
under the sixth vial. Its name 



ARM 

quered by Astyages the Mede, 
who rendered it tributary, but 
suffered it to be governed by its 
own kings. In the time of Cy- 
rus it was reduced to a province, 
and governed by a Persian pre- 
fect. In this state it continued 
until the conquest of the empire 
by Alexander. Upon the divi- 
sion of his conquests, Armenia 
fell to the king of Syria, who 
held it till the reign of Antiochus 
the Great ; when, under two pre- 
fects sent to govern it, a revolt 
took place, which resulted in the 
division of the country into two 
parts, Armenia Major, and Ar- 
menia Minor; and in the esta- 
blishment of two independent 
kingdoms, which were increased 
from time to time, by the addi- 
tion of other provinces. 

About 50 years before Christ, 
Armenia fell under the power of 
the Romans. The Arabians, or 
Saracens, wrested Armenia from 
Justin II. the Emperor of the 
East; and about 150 years after- 
wards it was seized by the Tar- 
tars. In 1472, Armenia was an- 
nexed to the Persian empire. 
A. D. 1522 this country was 
conquered by the Turks, who 
retain the larger part of it until 
the present time. Christianity 
was early introduced into this 
country, and the Armenians are 



alludes to Megiddo, where Ba- i Christians until this day. The 



rak with 10,000 dispirited, and 
almost unarmed men, entirely 
routed, and almost wholly slew 



present inhabitants of Armenia 
aie greatly addicted to mer- 
chandise, in the prosecution of 



the mighty host of the Canjaan- x which, many Armenian mer- 

ites. anH mnu Via intprnrptpH ihp "r.hflnts rpsirlp in TnrJin Pprcin 



ites, and may be interpreted the 
destruction of troops. Whether 
this shall be in Italy, or in Judea, 
or perhaps rather in both, about 
the same time, we dare not posi- 
tively determine, Rev. xvi. 13, 
14, 16. 

ARMENIA, a country of 
Asia, having Colchis and Iberia 
on the north, Media on the east, 
Mesopotamia on the south, Cap- 



chants reside in India, Persia, 
and Turkey, where their mer- 
cantile establishments are large 
and wealthy. This country is 
throughout mountainous, and in 
winter extremely cold; but the 
air of the summer is balmy and 
serene; yet in the valleys the 
heat is considerable. 

ARMOUR, weapons of war. 
The offensive arms which the 



padocia on the west, and the | Hebrews and other ancients had 
Euphrates and Syria on the \ for attacking their enemies, were 



south-west. Armenia was con- 



swords, darts, lances, spears, ja 
70 



ARM 

brew nation seems to have been 
trained for war, and to have kept 
his own arms. David laid up one 
collection of armour in a tower 
he built for that purpose, Song iv. 
4. Another collection, probably 
the chief of those which he had 
taken in war, he laid up in the 
tabernacle, consecrated to the 
service of God ; with these Jehoi- 
ada furnished the Levites and 
others, at the coronation of Jo- 
ash, 2 Chr. xxiii. 9. Solomon 
stored up collections of armour 
in the house of the forest of Le- 
banon, and in his fortified cities, 
and even obliged some tributary 
princes to forge arms for his ser- 
vice, 2 Chr. ix. 16. xi. 12. 

ARMY, or host, a multitude 
of armed men or warriors, mar- 
shalled into proper order un- 
der different commanders. The 
greatest armies of which we read, 
in scripture, were Jeroboam's of 
600,000: Zerah's of 1,000,000: 
but it is surprising, that in Jeho- 



ARM 

velins, bows and arrows, slings : 
their defensive arms for protect- 
ing themselves, were helmets, 
cuirasses, bucklers,coats of mail. 
In Deborah's time, it is probable 
Jabin had disarmed the Israel- 
ites; for neither sword nor spear 
was to be seen among 40,000 of 
'.hem, Judg. v. 8. In Saul's time, 
the Philistines had done tbe 
same, and entirely prohibited 
smiths to them: hence no more 
than Saul and Jonathan had 
Bword or spear, 1 Sam. xiii. 22. 
It was common to hang up arms 
in strong or sacred places : Go- 
liah's sword was hung up in the 
tabernacle, as a trophy sacred to 
the honour of God, 1 Sam. xxi. 9, 
Armour,when ascribed toGod 
denotes his all-sufficient fitness 
for, and the methods and means 
by which he conquers and de- 
fends his people, and destroys his 
enemies, Psal. xxxv. 2. The spi- 
ritual armour of the saints con- 
sists of the shield of faith, that is, 

the reconciled God in Christ we! shaphat's kingdom, of so narrow 
believe on, and the grace of faith j extent, there should be near 
whereby we believe in him ; the! 1,200,000 warriors, 2 Chr. xiiL 
helmet of the hope of salvation ; 1 3. xiv. 9. xvii. 14 — 18. The ar- 
the breast-plate of truth applied j mies, with which Xerxes king of 
to, and integrity wrought in us»;j Persia invaded Greece, and those 
and of imputed and implanted, wherewith Bajazet the Turk, 



righteousness ; the girdle of truth 
revealed to us, and of upright- 
ness in us ; the shoes of the pre- 
paration of the gospel of peace ; 
the sword of inspired scripture ; 
and the artillery of earnest prav- 
er, Eph. vi. 13—20. With these 
weapons we are to fight against 
gin, Satan, and the world ; and 
to defend ourselves from their 
many and dangerous attacks, 
Eph. vi. 11—20. This armour 
is called the armour of God. 

God's armour, or weapons of 
indumation against the Chal- 
deamf were the Medes and Per- 
sian's, by whom he executed his 
just vengeance in destroying that 
people. 

ARMOURY; an arsenal, oi 
repository of armour. Before Da- 
vid's time, every man of the He- 



and Tamerlane the Tartar en- 
gaged, were still greater. Be- 
fore David's reign, the Israelites 
fought only on foot, and every 
man generally provided for him- 
self. Nor had the most of his 
successors any but militia and a 
life-guard. When the Hebrew 
"army was about to engage an 
enemy, proclamation was made, 
that whoever had built a house, 
and not dedicated it; whoever 
had planted a vineyard, and not 
eaten of its fruit ; and whoever 
was cowardly and fearful, should 
return home. At the same time, 
the priest blew with his trumpet, 
and encouraged the remaining 
troops to depend on the assist- 
ance of God, Deut. xx. 

The Hebrews are represented 
as God's host. They were mar 
71 



ARP 

•hailed under bim, as their prince 
and general : sometimes he no- 
minated their captains, and gave 
express orders for their method 
of war; and' his priests with 
sound of the sacred trumpets, 
gave the alarm to battle, Dan. 
viii. 10, 11. Josh. v. 14. Angels, 
ministers, upright pro fessors,hea- 
venly luminaries, locusts, Ro- 
man armies, and every creature 
in general, are represented as 
God's armies, because of their 
great number ; their orderly sub- 
jection to him ; and readiness to 
protect his interests and people, 
and to destroy his opposers ; and 
he musters them ; he directs their 
motions, and assigns them their 
work, Psal. ciii. 21. lxviii. 12. 
Dan. iv. 35. Joel ii. 7. 25. Mat. 
xxii. 7. 

ARNON, a small river that 
rises in the mountains of Gilead, 
and runs along the north border 
of Moab, to the south-west, till it 
discharges itself into the Dead 
sea, Judg. xi. 18. 26. Isa. xvi. 2. 
Num. xxi. 13. 

AROER, (1.) A city, partly 
on the north bank, and partly in 
an island of the river Arnon. 
Sihon the Amorite took it from 
the Moabites : Moses took it 
from him, and gave it to the 
tribe of Gad, who rebuilt it, 
Num. xxx.ii. 34. (2.) A city on 
the south of Judah, to whose in- 
habitants David sent part of the 
spoil which he took from the 
Amalekites, 1 Sam. xxx. 28. 
But, perhaps, this may be the 
same with the former, the in- 
habitants of which may have 
been kind to David's parents, 
while they sojourned in the 
country of Moab. (3.) A city- 
near Rabbah of the Ammonites, 
Josh. xiii. 25. 

ARPAD, a city near Ha- 
math, in Syria. Some think it 
was the same as Arvad in Phe- 
nicia ; but it is more likely it was 
a different place, situated on the 
north-east of Bashan, and is the 
same as Arphas there placed by 



ARR 

Josephus. 2 Kings xviii. 34. 
xix. 13. Isa. x. 9. xxxvi. 19. 
ARPHAXAD, the son of 

Shem, born about two years af- 
ter the flood ; and father of She- 
lah and others. After a life of 
430 years, he died, A. M. 2088, 
Gen. xi. 10—13. x. 22. 1 Chron. 
i. 17. Luke hi. 36. 

ARRAY ; when this word re- 
spects clothing, it signifies gar- 
ments, or the handsome manner 
of putting them on, Esth. vi. 9. 
When it respects war, it denotes 
the proper arrangement of an ar- 
my to defend themselves, and at- 
tack the enemy, 2 Sam. x. 9. 
The terrors of God set tliem- 
selves in array against one, 
when they appear in great num- 
bers, and ready to destroy him, 
Job vi. 4. Nebuchadnezzar ar- 
rayed himself as a shepherd 
with the land of Egypt, when 
he covered it with his troops, 
easily conquered it, and loaded • 
himself and army with the' rich I 
spoils of it, Jer. xliii. 12. 

ARROGANCY; proud con- 
tempt of others, attended with 
boasting, and insulting speech or 
behaviour, 1 Sam. ii. 3. Prov. 
viii. 13. 

HARROW, a missile weapon, 
slender, sharp-pointed, barbed, 
and shot from a bow, in hunting 
and war, 1 Sam. xx. 36. Divi- 
nation by arrows was very com- 
mon with the Chaldeans, Ara- 
bians, Scythians, &c. Unde- 
termined whether to attack the 
Jews or Ammonites first, both 
of v. hose kings had laid schemes 
to shake offhis yoke, Nebuchad- 
nezzar divined by arrows, con- 
sulted his Teraphim, and looked 
into the livers of siain beasts, to 
collect thence what should be 
his route. In this divination, he 
probably wrote the names dpie ' 
princes or places which heliad 
a view to attack on different 
arrows, then shook the arrows 
together in a quiver. The prince 
or province whose name was on 
the arrow first drawn, was 
72 



ART 
thought to be divinely marked 
as the first to be attacked, Ezek. 
xxi. 21. On all important occa- 
sions of marriage, war, journeys, 
&c. the Arabs divined by three 
arrows shaken together in 
sack. If that inscribed Com- 
mand me, Lord, was first drawn, 
they proceeded in their purpose : 
if that inscribed Forbid me, 
Lord, was drawn, they desisted 
at least for a whole year. If 
that on which nothing was writ- 
ten happened to be drawn, they 
drew a second time. 

What tends quickly to pierce, 
pain, or destroy, is called arrows. 
The arroics of God, are the ter- 
rible apprehensions or impres- 
sions of his wrath, which wound, 
pain, and torment the conscience, 
Job vi. 4. Ps. xxxviii. 2. And 
his various judgments, thunder, 
lightoi] s, famine, and 

every other distress, 2 Sam. xxii. 
15. Ezek. v. 16. Hab. iii. 11. 
Lam. iii. 12. ; and his word and 
spiritual influence, which are 
sharp and powerful in piercing 
and turning the hearts of sinners, 
Ps. xi v. 5. The arroics of wick- 
ed men, are their malicious pur- 
poses, Ps. xi.-2*.aud their false, 
abusive, and slanderous words^ 
Prov. xxv. 13. Jer. ix. 8. Ps. lxiv. 
3. and their means of doing hurt 
to others, Ps. lvii. 4. Prov. xxvi. 
18. all which are very piercing, 
and painful to endure; and may 
do hurt of a sudden. The fall- 
ing of the Turks' 1 arrows out 
of their hand, imports their be- 
ing quite dispirited, and incapa- 
ble to use their armour , 
the newly converted Jews, Ezek. 
xxxix. 3. 

ARTAXERXES, Smerdis, 
Mordus, Sphendadates, Oropas- 
tes. Ahasuerus Cambyses, while 
he ravaged Egypt, lefVPatizithes 

. the Magus to govern the Persian 
state. Ezxa vii. 7. 

2.j9^ix?£&B$fjongimanus was 
the youngest sent of Xerxes, and 
grandson of Darius Hystaspes. 

. Artabanus.captain of the guards, 
D . ' 



ASA 

intending to seize the Persian 
throne for himself, privately 
murdered Xerxes his father, and 
persuaded Artaxerxes that Da- 
rius his elder brother had done 
it, and intended to murder him 
likewise. On this information, 
Artaxerxes flew directly to the 
apartment of his brother Darius, 
and, with the assistance of Arta- 
banus and the guards, killed him 
on the spot. 

ARTEMAS seems to have 
been a noted preacher. Paul 
intended to send him, or Tychi- 
cus, to Crete : probably to su,pply 
the place of Titus, while he 
came to visit the apostle at Ni- 
copolis, Tit. iii. 12. 

ART, skill in any particular 
business, as compounding of 
spices, engraving, &c. Exod. 
xxx. 25. 2 Chr. xvi. 14. 

ARTIFICERS ; persons skil- 
ful in handy work; as smiths, 
weavers, &c. 1 Chr. xxix. 5. 

ARTILLERY, armour, 1 
Sam. xx. 40. 

ARVAD, Aradus, a city of 
Phenicia, situated in a small 
island, southward of Tyre, and 
about a league from tire conti- 
nent. The Arvadites, descended 
of Canaan, built and peopled it 
in the earliest age= after the flood. 

ASA succeeded his father 
Abijam on the throne of Judah, 
.2. M. 3049, and reigned 41 
years. He was educated by 
Maachah, the daughter of Abi- 
shalom, a noted idolater; but 
was pious himself. He destroy- 
ed all the idols that his father 
bad made: he removed Maachah 
his mother from being queen, 
because she had made an idol 
n a grove. Although Asa com- 
manded his subjects to worship 
the true God, and destroyed the 
idols and altars, yet the high 
places and groves, in which the 
worship was performed, wera 
not removed, 1 Kings xv. 8. 

ASAHEL,thesonofZeruiah, 
and brother of Joab. He was one 
of David's thirty heroes, and wat 
73 



ASC 

extremely swift of foot. At the 
battle of Gibeon, he so obsti 
nately pursued Abner, that he 
obliged that general to kill him. 
Joab afterwards resented this 
slaughter, in the murder of Ab- 
ner, 2 Sam. ii. 18, 19. iii. 27. 

ASAPH. He was one of the 
three principal singers, and his 
children constituted the 1st, 3d, 
5th and 7th class of the temple 
musicians, 1 Chron. vi. 39 — 43. 
xxv. 2. 9 — 14. It seems their 
station was on the south side of 
tbe brazen altar. The 50th, 73d, 
and ten following Psalms, are 
ascribed to Asaph ; but it is cer- 
tain lie could not compose them 
a'], as sundry of them relate to 
fetter times. Perhaps their title 
means no more but that they 
were chiefly sung by his pos- 
ted t v. 

ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 
His visible elevation to heaven, 
The evidences of his ascension 
are -numerous. The disciples 
saw him ascend, Acts i. 9, 10. 
Two angels testified that he did 
ascend, Acts i. 11. Stephen 
Paul, and John, saw him in his 
ascended state/ Acts vii 55, 56. 
Acts ix. Rev. i. The marvel- 
lous descent of the Holy Ghost, 
demonstrated it, John xvi. 7.14 
Acts ii. 33. The terrible over- 
throw and dispersion of the Jew- 
ish nation is a standing proof of 
it, John viii. 21. Matt. xxvi. 64. 
The time of his ascension. It 
was forty days after his resur- 
rection. He continued so many 
days on earth, that he might 
give many repeated proofs of 
his resurrection, Acts i. 3; that 
he might instruct his followers 
in every thing which pertained 
to the abolishment of the Jewish 
ceremonies, Acts i. 3 ; and that 
he might open to them the 
Scriptures concerning himself, 
and renew their commission to 
preach the Gospel, Acts i. 5, 6. 
Mark xvi. 15. 

The manner of his ascension. 
It was from Mount Olivet to 



ASH 

heaven, Acts i. 12; not in ap- 
pearance only, but in reality and 
truth ; visibly and locally ; a real 
motion of his human nature ; 
sudden, swift, glorious, and in a 
triumphant manner. He was 
parted from his disciples while 
he was solemnly blessing them ; 
and multitudes of angels attend- 
ed him with shouts of praise^ 
Psal. lxviii. 17. xlvii. 5, 6. 

The effects or ends of Ch? is? s 
ascension were, 1. To fulfil the 
prophecies and types concerning 
it. 2. To take upon him more 
openly the exercise of his kingly 
orfice. 3. To receive gifts for 
men both ordinary and extraor- 
dinary, Psal. lxviii. 18. 4. To 
open the way, &c. Heb. x. 19. 

ASENATH, the daughter of 
Potipherah, and wife of Joseph. 
Some have imagined her the 
daughter of Potiphar. Genesis 
xli. 45. 

ASH, a well known tree. — 
Tournefort mentions four kinds 
of ash. Of part of this wood 
the idolaters formed their idols-, 
baked their bread, and warmed 
themselves with the rest, Isaiah 
xliv. 14.15. 

ASHDOD, or Atotus^ strong 
city on the south-east coast of 
the Mediterranean sea, about 25 
miles, or, according to Diodorus^ 
34 north of Gaza, 13 or 14 south 
ofEkron, and 34 west of Jerusa- 
lem. It was the property of the 
tribeof Judah, Josh. xv. 47; but 
the Philistines either retained or 
retook it. Here stood the famous 
temple of Dagon. Here the cap- 
tive ark of God was first brought, 
and broke to pieces that idol, 
and plagued the inhabitants, 1 
Sam. v. 1 — 6. Uzziah demol- 
ished the walls of this place* 
and built some adjacent forts to 
command it, 2 Chron. xxvi. 6, 
Tartan the Assyrian general 
took it by force, and, it seems, 
put a strong garrison into it, 
who held out 29 years against 
the siege of Psammiticus king 
of Egypt, Isaiah xx. 1. Nebt*. 
74 



ASH 

chadnezzar's troops took and 
terribly ravaged it. Alexander 
the Great's forces did the same. 
Jonathan, the Jewish Maccabee, 
burnt it and the temple of Dagon 
to ashes ; but it was rebuilt. 
Here Philip the evangelist early 
preached the gospel; and a 
Christian church continued till 
perhaps the ravage of the Sara- 
cens. Zeph. ii. 4. Zech. ix. 6. 
Acts viii. 40. 

ASHER, the son of Jacob by 
Zilpah, his maid, and father of 
one of the Hebrew tribes. His 
children were Jimnah. Ishua, 
Issui, and Beriah, of whom 
sprung the Jimnites, Jesuites, 
Berites, and Serah their sister. 
Forty and one thousand and five 
hundred of this tribe, tit for war, 
came out of Egypt, under the 
command of Pagiel, the son of 
Ocran. Their spy for searching 
the promised land, was Sethur 
the son of Michael ; and their 
prince for the division of it, was 
Ahihud, the son of Shelomi. 
Gen. xlvi. 17. 1 Chr. vii. 30. 40. 
Num. xxvi. 44. i. 13. 40. xiii. 
13. xxxiv. 27. They increased 
in the wilderness to 53,400. 
Their inheritance fell by lot in 
the N. W. of Canaan, where the 
soil was extremely fertile, and 
the mines plentiful ; but through 
faintness and cowardice, they 
suffered the Canaanitesto retain 
the cities ofZidon, Ahiab, Ach- 
zib, Helbon, Aphek,and Rehob, 
Gen. xlix. 20. Deut. xxxiii. 24, 
25. Josh. xix. 24—31. Judg. i. 
31, 32. This tribe was one of 
the six who echoed amen to the 
curses from mount Ebal. They 
tamely submitted to the oppres- 
sion of Jabin king of Canaan ; 
and some time after assisted Gi- 
deon in his pursuit of the Mi- 
dianites, Judg. v. 17. vii. 23. 
Forty thousand of them, all ex- 
pert warriors, attended at Da- 
vid's coronation to be king over 
Israel. Baanah, the son of Hu- 
shai, was their deputy-governor 
under Solomon ; divers of them 



ASH 

joined in Hezekiah's reforma- 
tion, 1 Chr. xii. 36. 1 Kings iv. 
16. 2 Chr. xxx. 11. 

ASHES, the remains of buret 
fuel, Lev. vi. 10. Man is com 
pared to dust and ashes, to de- 
note his meanness, insignifi- 
cance, vileness, and readiness to 
be easily blown from off the 
earth, Gen. xviii. 27. To be 
covered with ashes, to eat ashes 1 
to become ashes, and to be ashes 
under the soles of the feet, is to 
be reduced to a poor, contempti- 
ble, distressed, and ruinous con- 
dition, Lam. iii. 16. Psai. cii. 9. 
Job xxx. 19. Mai. iv. 3. To cast 
ashes on the head, to spread 
ashes under one, or wallow in 
dust and ashes, imports great 
humiliation and grief, 2 Sam. 
xiii. 19. Isa. lviii. 5. lxi. 3. Jer. 
vi. 26. 

• ASHIMA, an idol of the Ha- 
mathite Samaritans. 

ASHPEXAZ, the governor 
of A T ebuchadnezzar's eunuchs: 
he changed the name of Daniel 
and his three companions, into 
such as imported relation to the 
Chaldean idols. 

ASHTAROTH, Jlshtorcth, 
or Astarte, a famed goddess of 
the Zidonians. Her name in 
the Syriac language, signifies 
ewes whose teals are full of 
milk : oi it may come from 
Ashera, a grove; a blessed one. 
It may be in the plural number, 
because the Phenicians had sun- 
dry female deities. The Pheni- 
cians about Carthage reckoned 
Ashtaroth the same as Juno of 
the Romans: others will have 
her to have been the wife of 
Ham the father of the Canaan 
ites. Lucian thinks, and I sup 
pose very justly, that the moon 
or queen of heaven, was wor 
shipped under this name, tt 
cero calls her the fourth Venub 
of Syria. The Phenician priest*, 
affirmed to Lucian, that she waa 
Europa, the daughter of their 
king Agenor, whom Jupiter car- 
ried off by force. Perhaps sh* 
75 



ASI 

ig the iEstar or Eostre of the 
Saxons, from whom our term of 
Easter is derived ; and not far 
different from the British goddess 
Andraste. She is variously re- 
presented ; sometimes in a long, 
sometimes in a short habit: some- 
times as holding a long stick with 
a cross at the top ; sometimes she 
is crowned with rays ; at other 
times with a bull's head, whose 
horns, according to Sanchoni- 
atho, were emblems of the new 
moon. The temples of this god- 
dess were woods and groves, as 
were those of Baal, with whom 
she is commonly associated in 
the scriptures ; and in these 
groves, the most infamous orgies 
were practised. It was a heinous 
wickedness in Solomon, that to 
satisfy his strange wives, he in- 
troduced the worship of this dei- 
ty into Judea: but by Jezebel, 
the wife of Ahab, it was fully 
established, so that 400 of her 
prophets ate at,the table of this 
wicked queen. It is not impro- 
bable that this whole number be- 
longed to a single temple of this 
goddess; for at Hieropolis, in 
Syria, there were 300 priests con- 
stantly engaged in one temple, 
in the service of the same deity. 
By the Greeks of Asia she was 
known by the name i_f jSstarte. 
In 1 Kings xviii. these prophets 
are called "prophets of the 
groves ;" but the original word 
is Jlshtaroth, and ought to be 
taken as a proper name. 

ASHTAROTH- Karnairn, a 
city belonging to the half- tribe of 
Manasseh, eastward of Jordan. 
It was about six miles from Ed- 
rei. Here Chedorlaomer smote 
the gigantic Rephaims: here was 
the residence of Og king of Ba- 
shan ; Gen. xiv. 5. Deut. i. 4. 

ASHUR. (1.) The son of 
Shem, and father of the Assyri- 
ans. (2.) Ashur sometimes de- 
notes Assyria, Hos. xiv. 3. 

ASIA. (1.) One of the four 
great divisions of the earth. (2.) 
Lesser Asia, Natolia, or the Le- 



ASI 

vant, lying between the Helles- 
pont and Euxine sea on the 
north, and the east end of the 

I Mediterranean sea on the south. 

| It was about 600 miles in length, 

; and 320 in breadth, and contain- 
ed the provinces of Mysia,Lydia, 

i Ionia, and Cariaon the west; on 
the east of these, Bithynia, Phry- 

Igia, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Lycia; 

I eastward of these were Paphla- 
gonia,Galatia, andLycaonia; on 
the east of which were Pontus 
and Cappadocia. (3.) Proper 
Asia, which Attalus bequeathed 
to the Romans. It comprehend- 
ed Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, and 
Lydia. Asia is perhaps always 
used in this sense in the New 
Testament. Here the seven 
famed churches stood, Acts xvi. 
6. Rev. i. 11. Here Paul, in his 
first journey northward, was di- 
vinely forbidden to preach the 
gospel ; and here a great part 
of the professed Christians, by 
means of false apostles, conceiv- 
ed a dislike to him while he lay 
prisoner at Rome, 2 Tim. i. 15, 
Lesser Asia, Lydia perhaps 
excepted, was originally peopled 
by the offspring of Japheth; and 
anciently parcelled ©ut into a 
great many small sovereignties. 
The kingdoms of Troas, Lydia, 
Pontus, Cappadocia, and the 
Grecian states, were the most 
noted. They do not appear to 
have been reduced by the Assy- 
rian or Chaldean conquerors; 
but, no doubt, part of the others 
were subject to the Lydians in 
their flourishing state. The Per- 
sians extended their power over 
the greater part of it, which 
made it a scene of disputes be- 
tween them and the Greeks. 
About 330 years before our Sa- 
viour's birth, the Greeks under 
Alexander made themselves 
masters of the whole of it. It 
next fell under the Romans, and 
partly continued so, till the Sara- 
cens and Turks wrested it from 
the emperors of the east. For 
300 years past it has been wholly 
76 



ASK 
subject to the Ottoman Turks, 
by whose ravage and tyranny 
this once so glorious country ie 
reduced to a comparative desert; 
but Greece has at length shaken 
off the cruel yoke, and is tree. 

No doubt this country was one 
of those denominated in ancient 
predictions, The isles of the sea; 
and here Christianity was almost 
universally planted in the apos- 
tolic age ; here for a long time 
were flourishing churches ; and 
here the famous councils ofNice, 
Ephesus, Chalcedon, &c. were 
held. The ravages of the Ara- 
bians or Saracens begun in the 
seventh, and continued in the 
three subsequent centuries ; the 
conquests of the Jeljukan Turks 
in the eleventh, and not long 
after, the marches of the Cru- 



ASP 
nine south of Ashdod, and about 
forty west of Jerusalem. It was 
anciently famed for its fine wines, 
and other fruits ; and for its tem- 
ple and fish-pond, sacred to the 
goddess Derceto. It was the 
strongest city belonging to the 
Philistines, but, along with Gaza 
and Ekron, was wrested from 
them by the tribe of Judah : un- 
der some of the Judges the Phi- 
listines recovered it, Judg. i. 18. 
xiv. 19. It was taken and plun- 
dered by the Assyrians ; destroy- 
ed by the Chaldeans; rebuilt; 
and taken by Alexander and the 
Greeks ; and afterward by the 
Jewish Maccabees, Amos i. 8. 
Jer. xlvii. 5 — 7. Zech. ix. 5. Here 
a Christian church was planted 
soon after our Saviour's ascen- 
sion, and continued for sundry 
sades ; and at last the enslaving ' ages. Now the place is scarce 
power of the Ottoman Turks, j worthy of notice, 
rendered their church exceed- 1 Origen notices wells to be 
ingly deplorable. At present seen at Askelon, said (tradition- 
they have a number of bishops ; ally) to have been dug by Abra- 



but these are in a very poor and 
wretched condition. 

Of the seven churches of Asia, 
to whom the Book of Revela- 
tions was primarily addressed, 
three only exist, and these 
scarcely more than in name. 
Philadelphia has always retain- 
ed the Christian form of worship 
agreeable to prophecy. 

ASK. (1.) To inquire, Gen. 
xxxii. 29. (2.) To demand. (3.) 
To seek counsel, Isa. xxx. 2. 
(4.) To pray for, John xv. 7. 
We ask in Christ's name, and 
in faith, when, by the help of his 
Spirit, and in a believing depen- 
dence on his person, righteous- 
ness, and intercession, we, in 
obedience to his command, plead 
for, and firmly expect whatever 
he hath promised in his word, 
suited to our need, and capacity 
of enjoyment, John xiv. 13. 
Jam. i. 6. 

ASKELON, a capital city of 

the Philistines on the coast of 

the Mediterranean sea, about 

sixteen miles north of Gaza, and 

7 



ham and Isaac. Such traditions 
are often verv unsatisfactory. 

ASNAPPER, a famed prince, 
who from different places brought 
and settled the original Samari- 
tans in the country of the ten • 
tribes. See Assyria, Esarhad- 
don. 

ASP, a small poisonous kind 
of serpent, whose bite gives a 
quick, but generally easy death, 
as if in a sleep. Immediately 
after the bite, the sight becomes 
dim, the oart swells, and a mo- 
derate pr.in is felt in the stomach. 
The bite is said to admit of no 
cure, but by the immediate cut- 
ting off of the wounded part 
What is meant by the asp (ad- 
der) stopping her ear at the voice 
of the charmer; whether some 
asps be deaf; or stop their ears 
from hearing of human voices; 
or whether diviners only per- 
suaded the vulgar they did so, 
when unaffected by their charms, 
we know not. It is certain wick- 
ed men are compared to asps, 
for their subtlety, their carnal 
* 77 



ASS 
nestling in the earth, their gra- 
dual, but effectual murdering of 
themselves and others with the 
cruel venom, bitter gall, and de- 
structive poison of sin that is in 
them, and always ready to ap- 
pear in their speech and beha- 
viour; and for their obstinate 
refusal to regard the engaging 
voice of Jesus Christ in the gos- 
pel, Deut. xxxii. 33. Job xx. 14. 
16. Psal. Iviii. 4. 

ASS, a well known animal, 
much used in the east, especially 
in Judea. Asses are generally 
of a pale dun colour, with a 
black stroke along the back, and 
another across the shoulders, and 
a tail hairy only at the end. A 
species of them unlike the com- 
mon beast of burden, was trained 
with great care, and very highly 
valued among eastern nations, 
and are so to this day. These 
were reserved especially for the 
use of princes, and are commonly 
called in our translation of the 
Bible, she-asses. — Noble or high- 
spirited asses would convey the 
meaning of the original name. 
They constituted one of the most 
valuable of the possessions of 
princes : and on them did even 
great men, as Abraham, Moses, 
A bdon's and David's family ride: 
and on them did the princes of 
Israel under Pekah generously 
send back the Jewish captives 
that were unfit to travel. Nor 
had the captives in their return 
from Babylon scarcely any beasts 
of burden, besides 6720 asses, 
Gen. xxii. 3. Exod.iv.20. Num. 
xxii.21.Judg. xii. 14. 2 Sam. xvi. 
2. 1 Kings xii. 13. Neh. vii. 
69. There are wild asses, that 
once were common in Canaan 
and Arabia, and are still so in 
Africa: they are extremely beau- 
tiful, transversely striped with 
white, brown, and some black: 
they live in deserts and moun- 
tains, anjl are exceedingly swift, 
jealous of their liberty, and usu- 
ally seen in flocks. Job xi. 12. 
zxxix. 5—8. Psal. civ. 11. Jer. 



ASS 
xiv. 6. And to them the Ishma- 
elites are compared, to represent 
their perpetual freedom, and their 
restless, wild, and savage temper r 
Gen. xvi. 12. On the banks ofthe 
Euphrates were asses altogether 
white ; and on such the Hebrew 
princes rode in the days of Debo- 
rah, Judg. v. 10. 

When Christ made his royal 
entrance into Jerusalem, he rode 
on an ass, in fulfilment of the 
prophecy of Zechariah, chap. ix. 
9. which by some is considered a 
part of his humiliation ; while by 
others it is thought, that thus it 
became the Son of David to en- 
ter the city after the manner of 
the early kings and princes. The 
ass was unclean by the law, and 
to draw with an ox and an ass 
together, was prohibited, Lev. 
xi. 26. 

Balaam'' s Jlss. The narra- 
tion on this subject is supposed 
to be literal and not figurative. 
Numb. xxii. 28 ; and that God 
gave the ass power to articu- 
late certain words for the pro- 
phet's reproof. 

ASSEMBLE ; to meet or ga- 
ther together, Num. x. 3. Zeph. 
iii. 8. An assembly is a meeting 
of divers persons to worship God 
jointly; or to transact civil, ot 
even wicked business, Isa. i. 13. 
Acts xix. 32, 39. The solemn 
assembly of the Jews, was their 
meeting at their most noted 
festivals, sacrifices, or fasts; and 
to be sorrowful for it, was to 
be grieved for the want of these 
public ordinances of God observ- 
ed in a regular manner, Zeph. 
iii. 18 The general assembly of 
the first-born, is the harmonious 
and large meeting of both Jews 
and Gentiles in one Christian 
church; and of all the redeemed 
in the heavenly state, Heb.xii.23. 

ASSOS, a sea-port in the 
north-west of Lesser Asia, south 
of Troas, and over-against the 
isles of Lesbos. Here Paul touch- 
ed in his fourth journey to Jem* 
salera ; but we read of no Chri% 
J8 



ASS 
tian church in it, till the eighth 
century, Acts xx. 13, 14. 

ASSURE ; (1.) To make cer- 
tain, confirm, Lev. xxvii. 19. (2.) 
To embolden, 1 John iii. 19. 

ASSURANCE; a certainty 
that renders one bold in adhering 
lo what he has confirmed to him ; 
as, (1.) An assurance of life and 
property, when these are secured 
by the law of the land, or by the 
solemn disposition of the former 
proprietor, Deut. xxviii. G6. Isa. 
xxxii. 17. (2.) Assurance of evi- 
dence, is full evidence by mira- 
cles, and by the powerful opera- 
tion of the Holy Ghost, Acts xvii. 
31. (3.)Jlssurance of persuasion, 
which is opposite to doubting, as 
light is to darkness ; and the more 
full the assurance is, the more 
fully are doubts excluded. The 
riches of the assurance of un- 
derstanding, import a solid well- 
grounded knowledge of divine 
things, immediately founded on 
God's infallible word, and con- 
firmed by the correspondent in- 
fluence of the Holy Ghost, Col. 
ii. 2. The full assurance of 
faith, is an abundant and un- 
doubting persuasion of the truth 
of the whole word of God; par- 
ticularly of the doctrines and 
promises of the gospel, with a 
peculiar application of the same 
to ourselves, Heb.x. 22. The full 
assurance of hope, is a firm ex- 
pectation that, without doubt, 
God will grant us the complete 
enjoyment of what future bless- 
edness he hath promised. Heb. 
vi. 11. 

ASSUAGE; to dry up, to 
abate, Gen. viii. 1. Job xvi.5, 6. 

ASSYRIA; an ancient king- 
dom of Asia. It had Armenia on 
the north ; Media and Persia on 
the east; Susiana, a province of 
Persia, on the south; and the 
river Tigris, or Hiddekel, on the 
west, into which run, through 
Assyria, by a south-west course, 
the four small rivers Lycus, 
Capros, Gorgus, and Silla. The 
jaast noted cities of it were 



ASS 
Nineveh, Resen, Calah, Bessa- 
rali, Ctesiphon on the east bank 
of the Tigris, and Arbela and 
Artemias, &c. further east the 
country. It is now partly called 
Curdistan; and being so oft the 
seat of war between potent em- 
perors and nations, it has been 
generally on the decay for 2000 
years, and is almost become a 
wilderness and desert. 

Of the Assyrian empire, after 
it was founded by Nimrod, we 
have no account in Scripture, 
until the mission of Jonah to 
Nineveh, B. C. 824. Shortly after 
this, we find an Assyrian king, 
by the name of Pul, invading the 
land of Israel, in the reign of 
Menahem. Pul is supposed to 
have been the father of Sar- 
danapalus, who being closely 
besieged in Nineveh by Arbaces, 
governor of Media, went into his 
palace with his wives and con- 
cubines, and allhismostprecious 
treasure, and setting fire to the 
building, was consumed in the 
flames, together with all his com- 
pany. The city could have stood 
a siege of many years, but by an 
extraordinary inundation of the 
Tigris, a large extent of the wall 
was thrown down, and a way 
opened for the ingress of the 
enemy, in exact accordance with 
the prophecy of Nahum, i. 8 — 
10. ii. 6. 

About 750 years B. C. a king 
of Assyria, by the name of Tig- 
lath-pilezer, invaded the land of 
Israel, and carried away captive 
the Reubenites, the Gadites, and 
the half tribe of Mannasseh, and 
placed them in Halah, and Ha- 
bor, and Hara, cities of Media; 
and on the river Gozan, 1 Chron. 
v. 26. 

Ahaz having been defeated in 
battle, with great loss of men, by 
the kings of Israel and Syria, 
collected all the treasures he 
could find, and sent them to Tig- 
lath-pilezer to obtain his help; 
which was readily granted. He, 
therefore, invaded Syria, slew 
79 



ASS 
Rezin in battle, and took Da- 
mascus, 1 Kings xi. 23, 24. 

Tiglath-pilezer died in the 
14th year ofAhaz, and was suc- 
ceeded by his son Salmaneser, 
who was no sooner settled on 
his throne, than he invaded the 
land of Israel, and compelled 
Hoshea to pay him tribute, which 
he did for about four years, when 
relying on the assistance of So 
king of Egypt, he refused any 
longer to bring the usual tribute 
to the king of Assyria. On which 
Salmaueser invaded the country 
beyond Jordan, and soon forced 
Hoshea to sbut himself up in 
Samaria, where he endured a 
three years' siege, after which 
the city was taken, and Hoshea 
made prisoner for the rest of his 
life, and the remainder of the peo- 
ple carried captive, and located 
in the same places as their bre- 
thren, before carried captive, 2 
Kings xvii. 

Sennacherib succeeded his 
father Salmaneser, 715 B. C. 
in the 14th year of Hezekiah, 
king of Judah. This pious king 
having refused to pay tribute to 
the Assyrian monarch, he in- 
vaded Judah and took many of 
its strongest cities ; upon which 
Hezekiah gave him 300 talents 
of silver, and 30 talents of gold 
to obtain peace. But the respite 
obtained was short; for while 
Sennacherib himself invaded 
Egypt, he left Rabshakeh with 
a part of his army on the borders 
of Judah. But while he was 
besieging Pelusium, at the en- 
trance of Egypt, Tirhakah the 
Ethiopian king, came against 
him with a great force, and 
caused him to retreat. On his 
return to Judea, he sent that 
blaspnemous message to Heze- 
kiah and his people, which 
quickly occasioned his own de- 
struction ; for, Jehovah, in an- 
swer to the prayers of Hezekiah 
and Isaiah, sent his angel to the 
Assyrian camp, and in one night 
destroyed 185,000 men. Senna- 



ASS 
cherib himself escaped, but on 
his return home he was slain by 
two of his own sons, Adramme- 
lech and Sharezer. 

Esar-haddon, the third son of 
Sennacherib, succeeded his fa- 
ther, about the 22d year of the 
reign of Hezekiah. This prince 
is called Asnapper, " the great 
and noble," by Ezra. After the 
death of Hezekiah he invaded 
Judea, and took Manasseh pri- 
soner and greatly afflicted him; 
which, however, became the oc- 
casion of the sincere repentance 
of this wicked king. It seems, 
that about this time the Assyrian 
king conquered Babylon, which 
was evidently a distinct king- 
dom in the time of Hezekiah, 
when we first read of it in Scrip- 
ture. But after this, Assyria and 
Babylon are spoken of as under 
the same authority ; for this king 
is said to have brought men out 
of Babylon and placed them in 
Samaria, 2 Kings xvii. 24. Ezra 
iv. 9, 10. 

Esar-haddon died in the 31st 
year of Manasseh, having reign- 
ed over the Assyrians 39 years, 
and over the Babylonians 13. 
He was succeeded by his son 
Saorduchinus, not mentioned in 
Scripture, but supposed to be 
the Nabuchodonosor of the book 
of Judith. He reigned about 20 
years. 

The next Assyrian king was 
Chyniladanus, who is not named 
in Scripture. He was contempo- 
| rary with Josiah king of Judah. 
j He was a weak and effeminate 
i prince, which encouraged Nabo- 
| polassar, one of his generals, and 
i a Babylonian by birth, to declare 
himself king of Babylon. Thus 
! those two kingdoms were again 
i separated, after having been 
' united for more than half a cen- 
tury. While Babylon belonged 
to Assyria, the kings resided 
sometimes at Nineveh and some- 
times at Babylon, but most com- 
monly at the former. 

Nabopolassar king of Baby- 
80 



ATH 
Ion, having entered into a league 
and close affinity with Cyaxares 
the king of Media, by marrying 
his son Nebuchadnezzar to a 
princess of the royal family of 
Media, now resolved to attack 
the king of Assyria. Accord- 
ingly, Nineveh was assaulted by 
the combined forces of Babylon 
and Media, and was taken, and 
its king slain 612 B. C. and thus 
ended the Assyrian empire. 

ASTONIED, or astonished, 
in the Old Testament generally 
imports to be filled with wonder, 
mingled with perplexity, fear and 
trouble, Ezra ix. 3. In the New, 
it generally signifies to be filled 
with delightful wonder and 
amazement. 

ATAD, was probably a noted 
Canaanite, and had a threshing- 
floor at Abel- Mi zr aim, Gen. i. 
11. There is a difference of opi- 
nion as to the location of this 
place, but it is generally sup- 
posed to have been two miles 
east of Jordan, and three from 
Jericho. 

ASTROLOGERS : such as, 
by observation of the stars and 
sky, and calculations relative 
thereto, pretend to foretel future 
events: they were famous among 
the heathens, chiefly at Babylon, 
Isa. xlvii. 13. Dan.'i. 20, &c. 

ATHALIAH, the grand- 
daughter of Omri, daughter of 
Ahab, and wife of Jehoram king 
of Judah. She was extremely 
wicked herself, and seduced her 
husband and son Ahaziah to fol- 
low the idolatrous courses of her 
father, 2 Kings viii. 18. 26. In- 
formed that Jehu had slain her 
son, and seventy others of the 
royal family of Judah, probably 
many of them her grand-chil- 
dren, she assumed the govern- 
ment ; and, to secure it for her- 
self, cut off all the remainder of 
the seed-royal, except Joash her 
infant grand-child, who was car- 
ried off by his aunt, and hid six 
years in some apartment belong- 
ing to the temple ; during which 



ATH 

time Athaliah governed the 
Jews, and promoted the vilest 
idolatry. 

In the seventh year, Jehoiada 
the high-priest, engaging the 
leading men of the kingdom in 
his interest, produced the young 
prince in a public assembly, in 
the court of the temple: he 
caused the people to take an oath 
of fidelity to him ; and engaged 
both them and their king to serve 
the Lord. Arming the Levites 
and other friends with weapons 
deposited in the temple, he ap- 
pointed one part of them to guard 
the royal person; the rest to 
secure the gates of the sacred 
courts : next he brought forth the 
young prince, put the crown on 
his head, anointed him with oil, 
and by sound of trumpet, at- 
tended with the shouts of the 
populace, proclaimed him king. 
Alarmed with the noise, Atha- 
liah ran to the temple to see what 
had happened : shocked with the 
sight of the king on his throne, 
she rent her clothes, and cried, 
Treason, treason! At Jehoia- 
da's orders, the guard directly 
carried her out of the courts, and 
slew her at the stable-gate of the 
palace, A. M. 3126. 2 Kings xi. 
2 Chron. xxiii. 

ATHENS, a celebrated city 
of Greece, about twenty-five 
miles eastward from Corinth, 
situate in a very delightful plain. 
It is said to have been buUt 1580 
years before our Saviour's birth, 
though that is probably to carry 
its antiquity too high by some 
hundreds of years. The inhabit- 
ants were anciently famed for 
learning, wealth, and numerous 
conquests: they are said to have 
planted forty colonies in different 
parts of the world. They were 
governed by kings of the family 
of Cecrops, their Egyptian foun 
der, for seventeen generations 
or four hundred and eighty-sever 
years. They were governed 
about four hundred and seventy 
two years more by Archons,per 
81 



ATO 

petual and annual, before they 
settled into a commonwealth 
about A. M. 3412. This city pro- 
duced Solon, Socrates,Aristides, 
and other famed philosophers ; 
Demosthenes, and a vast num- 
ber of other renowned orators; 
Miltiades, Ciraon, Themistocles, 
Alcibiades, Phocion, and a great 
many other illustrious generals. 
Acts xvii. 15, 16. This city con- 
tained a great number of splen- 
did edifices, some of which still 
remain, and are spoken of by 
travellers. 

ATONEMENT. The word 
translated atonement, in the 
original, signifies covering; and 
intimates, that our guilt is cover- 
ed from divine justice. We can 
form the clearest idea of the 
meaning of this word, from the 
covering of the ark, which was 
dyed red; and, as over this stood 
the propitiatory, or mercy seat, 
justice and judgment were the 
establishment of God's throne in 
the earthly tabernacle. Uliat 
shall I give for the sin of my 
soul ? is a very interesting ques- 
tion. This shall be an atone- 
ment for your souls, are words 
which often occur in the law of 
Moses, evidently demonstrating, 
that although the sacrifices of 
the law ' could never make the 
comers thereunto perfect,' yet 
the law was the bringcr-m (the 
introducer) of a better hope. — 
The law, by the atonement for 
the soul, which it brought to 
view in all the ordinances of 
worship and service, was the 
schoolmaster to teach the doc- 
trines of the cross of Christ. 
Christ died for our sins, and rose 
again for our justification. He 
hath fulfilled all the righteous- 
ness of which the law prefigur- 
ed; and thus we receive grace 
for grace. Rom. v. 10. 

The inferences and uses to 
he derived from this doctrine 
are these: 1. How vain are all 
the labours and pretences of 
mankind to seek or Jvope for any 



AVE 

better religion than that which 
is contained in the Gospel of 
Christ. It is here alone that we 
can find the solid and rational 
principle of reconciliation to an 
offended God, Heb. iv. 14.— 2, 
How strange and unreasonable 
is the doctrine of the Popish- 
church, who, while they profess* 
to believe the religion of Christ, 
yet introduce many other me- 
thods of atonement for sin, be- 
sides the sufferings of the Son 
of God. — 3. Here is a solid foun- 
dation on which the greatest of 
sinners mav hope for acceptance 
with God,'l Tim. i. 15.— 4. This 
doctrine should be used as a 
powerful motive to excite re- 
pentance, Acts v. 31. — 5. We 
should use this atonement of 
Christ as our constant way of 
access to God in all our prayers, 
Heb. x. 19. 22.-6. Also as a 
divine guard against sin, Rom. 
vi. 1,2. IPet.i. 15,19.-7. As 
an argument of prevailing force 
to be used in prayer, Rom. viii. 
32. — 8. As a spring of love to 
God, and to his Son Jesus 
Christ, 1 John iv. 10.— 9. As a 
strong persuasive to that love 
and pity which we should show 
on all occasions to our fellow 
creatures, 1 John iv. 11. — 10. It 
should excite patience and holy 
joy under afflictions and earthly 
sorrows, Rom v. 1 to 3. — 11. 
We should consider it as an in- 
vitation to the Lord's supper, 
where Christ is set forth to us in 
the memorials ofhis propitiation. 
ATTALIA, now Sattala, a 
city of Pamphylia, situate on a 
bay of the Mediterranean sea; 
or a city of Lycia : both of which 
were probably founded by Atta- 
lus king of Pergamus. Here 
Paul and Barnabas preached the 
gospel, about sixteen or seven- 
teen years after our Saviour's 
death, Acts xiv. 15 ; but we read 
no more of its Christianity, save 
that the inhabitants had a bishop 
in the 5th and 6lh centuries. 
AVEN, or Bethshemeth, or 



AUG 

Heliopolis, the city of the sun ; 
a city of Egypt, almost straight 
westward from the north point 
of the Red Sea, and eastward 
from the Nile, about a day's 
journey south-east of the Egyp- 
tian Babylon, and the capital of 
a name or country. 

AUGUSTUS Caesar, the se- 
cond emperor of Rome. He suc- 
ceeded his uncle Julius, A. M. 
3965. After being partner with 
Mark Antony, he defeated him 
at the battle of Actium, A. M. 
3975, and assumed the sole sove- 
reignty. No sooner had he esta- 
blished universal peace and or- 
der in his vast empire, than he 
appointed all his subjects, and 
the value of their property, to be 
enrolled in the public records, 
that he might perfectly know 
what subjects he had fit for war, 
or otherwise; and what tax 
might be reasonahly imposed. 
He made three such enrolments ; 
the second was begun about 
seven years before our Saviour's 
birth, and was not then finished, 
but was the occasion of his mo- 
ther and supposed father's jour- 
ney to Bethlehem, at the very 
time of his nativity, Luke ii. 
1 — 6, although no tax was drawn 
till sundry years after. He died 
A. D. 14. 

Augustus procured the crown 
of Judea for Herod, from the 
Roman senate. After the defeat 
of Mark Anthony, Herod ad- 
hered to Augustus, and was 
constantly faithful to him. Au- 
gustus loaded him with honours 
and riches ; and when this mo- 
narch undertook to subject Ara- 
bia to the Roman empire Herod 
gave JElius Gallus, who com- 
manded the expedition, 500 
of his guards. Augustus was 
pleased to undertake the educa- 
tion of Alexander and Aristo- 
bulus, Herod's sons, and gave 
them apartments in his palace. 
When he came into Syria, Ze- 
nodorus and the Gadarens wait- 
ed on him with complaints 



AUG 

against Herod : but Herod, by 
his presence, cleared himself of 
these accusations, and obliged 
his accusers to lay violent hands 
on themselves, to prevent being 
seized by him; and Augustus 
was so far from regarding what 
was charged on him, that h# 
added to his honours and hi* 
kingdom, thetetrarchy of Zeno 
donus. He also examined inte 
the quarrels between Herod and 
his sons, and reconciled them. 
Joseph. Antiq. lib. xv. cap. 14. 

Syllceus, minister to Obadas, 
king of the Nabatheans, ac- 
cused Herod of invading Ara- 
bia, and destroying many peo- 
ple there; Augustus, in anger, 
wrote to Herod about it, but be 
justified his conduct so well, 
that the emperor restored him 
to favour, and continued it ever 
after. Nevertheless he greatly 
disapproved the rigour exercised 
by Herod toward his sons, in 
executing Alexander and Aris- 
tobulus ; and, lastly, Antipater: 
whereupon, the emperor is said 
to have observed, that it were 
better a great deal to be Herod's 
dog, than his child. Macrob. 
Saturn. lib. ii. cap. 4. 

Augustus, after the death of 
Lepidus, assumed the office of 
high-priest among the Romans. 
This dignity gave him the in- 
spection over ceremonies, and 
religious concerns. One of his 
first proceedings was an exami- 
nation of the Sybil's books, 
which were then in many hands, 
and occasioned great disorders 
among the people, every one 
taking the liberty of interpreting 
them, and giving them such a 
turn as suited his fancy and in- 
clination. Augustus directed a 
strict search after them, and it 
is said, he burnt near two thou- 
sand copies; preserving only 
such as bore the name of some 
particular Sybil, and were es- 
teemed genuine, after close ex- 
amination. These were put into 
two little gold boxes, under the 
83 



AZA 

pedestal of Apollo's statue, 
whose temple was within the in- 
closare of the palace. 

This is worthy of note, that 
Augustus had the honour to 
shut the temple of Janus, in 
token of universal peace, at the 
time when the Prince of Peace 
was born. 

AVITES,atribeofthe Sama- 
ritans, which came from Avah, 
or Ivah, and was destroyed 
by Sennacherib, 2 Kings xvii. 
24,31. Isa. xxxvii. 13. 

AXE, a sharp instrument for 
cutting or hewing of wood, Dcut. 
xix. 5. The Assyrians and Chal- 
deans are likened to an axe; by 
them God cut down, destroyed, 
and scattered the nations around, 
Isa. x. 15. The axe was laid to 
the root of the tree with the 
Jews. In Christ's time the de- 
structive judgments of God were 
ready to be executed on their 
church and state, if they did not 
speedily receive Christ, repent 
of their sin, and bring forth good 
works, Mat. iii. 10. 

AZARIAH. See Ahaziah. 

(2.) Azariah, or Uzziah king 



AZA 

of Judah. At sixteen years of 
age he succeeded his father 
Amaziah, A. M. 3194, and reign- 
ed fifty-two years ; his mother's 
name was Jecholiah. 

(3.) Azariah, the son of Oded 
a prophet, who, after the defeat 
of the Cushites, demonstrated to 
Asa the low state of religion, 
and that happiness was only to 
be expected in the way of serv- 
ing God ; and encouraged him 
to proceed farther in reforming 
the kingdom: his admonition 
was obeyed, 2 Chron. xv. 

AZAZEL. Our version ren- 
ders it the scape-goat led to the 
wilderness on the great day of 
fast of expiation. Some think it 
denotes a horrid precipice, over 
which the goat was thrown head- 
long. Witsius, Cocceius, and 
others, will have it to signify Sa- 
tan, to whom they say this goat 
was abandoned in the wilder- 
ness, as a type of Christ led by 
the Spirit into the desert, to be 
tempted of the devil ; or led by 
Pilate and the Jews to have his 
heel bruised; his life taken with- 
out the gate, Lev. xvi. 10. 



BAA 
"D AAL, which signifies lord or 
*-* husband, did perhaps in the 
earliest ages signify the true God. 
It is certain, that it was a very 
common name of the principal 
male-idols of the east, as Ashta- 
roth was a common one for their 
female deities. The Moabites, 
Phenicians, Assyrians, Chalde- 
ans, and frequently the Hebrews, 
had their Baal; and which, from 
his place of worship, or supposed 
office, had often distinguished 
epithets annexed; asBaal-berith, 
Baal-peor,Baal-zebub,&c. Often 
this name Baal was a part of the 
names of persons and cities, per- 
haps to signify, that the most of 
them were dedicated to his ser- 
vice. This the pious Hebrews 
sometimes turned into Boshcth, 
which signifies shame; thus Je- 



BAA 

rubbaal is turned into Jerubbo- 
sheth ; Eshbaal into Ishbosheth ; 
Meribaal into Mephiboshefh, 
Judg. vi. 32. 2 Sam. xi. 21. 1 Chr. 
viii. 33, 34. 2 Sam. ii. 12. ix. 6. 
This idol is sometimes repre- 
sented as a female deity, Rom. 
xi. 4. Gr. ; and, on the other 
hand, Ashtaroth is sometimes 
represented as a male. Baal is 
oft named Baalim in the plural, 
perhaps because there were 
many Baals ; at least many 
images of him. 

Who the first Baal was, whe 
ther the Chaldean Nimrod, or 
Belus, or the Tyrian Hercules, 
&.c. is not so evident, as that the 
Phenicians adored the sun, un- 
der that name; though perhaps 
their idolatry described to us by 
profane writers, is not the most 
84 



BAA 

ancient, but a more recent form 
introduced by the Assyrians. 
Every sort of abominations was 
committed on the festival of this 
idol, and of Ashtaroth, his mate. 
In his chamanim or temples, was 
kept a perpetual fire ; altars were 
erected to him in groves, high 
places, and on the tops of houses, 
Jer. xxxii. 35. 2 Kings xvii. 16. 
xxiii. 4 — 13. Hos. iv. 14. 

The Moabites had begun their 
worship of Baal before the days 
of Moses; and theHebrews began 
theirs in his time, Num. xxii. 41. 
Psal. cvi. 28. They relapsed into 
that idolatry after the death of 
Joshua, and under the judges 
Ehud, Gideon, and Jephthah, 
Judg. ii. 13. iii. 7. vi. 25. x. 6. 
Samuel seems to have quite abo- 
lished the worship of this idol 
from Israel, lSam.vii.4. butAhab 
and Jezebel, above 200 years af- 
terwards, re -imported it from Zi- 
don, in all its abominations: 450 
priests were appointed to attend 
his service, and near as many for 
Ashtaroth. These priests of 
Baal were extremely disgraced 
at mount Carmel ; their god ap- 
peared quite regardless of their 
cries, and slashing of their flesh, 
to move his pity. Nay the impo- 
tence of their idol being discover- 
ed, they were, by Elijah's orders, 
apprehended and slain. Jehoram 
the son of Ahab did not worship 
Baal himself, but his subjects 
continued to do so. After his 
death, Jehu pretending a super- 
lative regard for Baal, convened 
his prophets and priests into his 
temple, and there put them all to 
the sword. Not long after, Jeho- 
iada abolished the worship of 
Baal from Judah: but Ahaz and 
Manasseh reintroduced it. Jo- 
siah reabolished it ; but it was 
restored by his sons, 1. Kings xvi. 
31. xviii. 2 Kings x. xxi. Jer. 
xix. 5. 

Baalah, (1.) Kirjath-baal, or 
Kirjath-jearim, Josh. xv. 0. (2.) 
Baalah or Balah, a city trans- 
ferred from the tribe of Judah 



BAA 

to the Simeonites, Josh. xv. 29 
xix. 3. These cities appear de- 
nominated from Baal, as well as 
the following. 

Baalath, a city of the tribe of 
Dan, Josh. xix. 44. Whether it 
was this, or Baal beck at the head 
of theAbana, thai Solomonbuilt, 
we know not, 1 Kings ix. 18 
See Aven 

Baalai/i-beer, Baal, a city of 
the Simeonites, probably on the 
south west border. If it be the 
same as South Ramah, or Ra- 
moth, David sent to the inhabit- 
ants part of the spoil which he 
took from the Amalekites, Josh, 
xix. 8. 1 Chron. iv. 33. 1 Sam. 
xxx. 27. 

Baal-berith, the idol worship- 
ped in his temple at Shechem^ 
and by the rest of the Israelites, 
after die death of Gideon, Judg. 
viii. 33. Perhaps it was the same 
as the Phenician Beryth or Be- 
roe, the daughter of their Venus 
and Adonis; or rather it is Baal, 
as the guardian of covenants; 
the same with the Horkios of the 
Greeks, and the Jupiter sponsor, 
or Fidius ultor of the Romans. 

Baal-gad, a city at the north- 
west foot of mount Hermon, in 
the valley of Lebanon, at the 
north-east point of the promised 
land : or perhaps a top of Her- 
mon, Josh. xi. 17. xiii. 5. 

Baal-hanan, the son of Ach- 
bor, and seventh king of the 
Edomites : his name,which signi- 
fies the grace and pity of Baal, 
tempts me to think that the wor- 
ship of Baal had then prevailed 
among the Edomites, as well as 
the Canaanites, Gen. xxxvi. 38. 

Baal-hazor.a. city near Ephra- 
im, about eight miles north-east 
of Jerusalem, between Bethel 
and Jericho. It is commonly 
thought to be the same as Ha- 
zor-hadattah,in the lot of Judah, 
Josh. xv. 25.; but if so, its situa- 
tion ought to be placed more to 
the south. Here Absaiom had 
his shearing-feast, and murdered 
his brother, 2 Sam. xiii. 23. 
8 85 



BAA 

Baal-hermon, a part of mount 
Hermon, Judg. iii. 3. 

Baalis, king of the Ammon- 
ites : he sent Ishmael the son of 
Nethaniah to murder Gedaliah, 
Nebuchadnezzar's deputy over 
the Jews who were left in the 
land, Jer. xl. 14. 

Baal-meon, BeUibaalmeon, 
Beon. Perhaps Sihon took it 
from the Moabites: the Hebrews 
took it from him, and it was 
given to the Reubenites ; but the 
Moabites recovered it, and at 
last it was destroyed by the Chal- 
deans, Num. xxxii. 38. Ezek. 
xxv. 9. It, however, seems to 
have been rebuilt, and to have 
been a city in the time of the 
Maccabees. 

Baalpeor j &n idolofthe Moab- 
ites and Midianites. Some think 
him the same with Misraim, or 
Osiris of the Egyptians, or with 
Priapus of the Greeks. He had 
the name Peor from the place of 
his temple, as Jupiter was called 
Olympius, from his being wor- 
shipped on mount Olympus. 
Num. xxv. 3. 

Baal-perazim. a place in the 
valley of Rephaim. I suppose 
about 3 miles south-west from 
Jerusalem. Here David routed 
the Philistines, 2 Sam. v. 20. 

Baal-tamar, a place near 
Gibeah. It seems the Canaan- 
ites had here worshipped Baal, 
in a grove of palm-trees. Here 
the other tribes almost utterly 
destroyed the Benjamites, Judg. 
xx. 33. 

Baal-zebub, the idol-god of 
Ekron. This uame, signifying 
lord of flics, doth not seem to 
be given him in contempt, since 
Ahaziah his adorer called him 
by it; but either because he was 
painted as a fly, though others 
say he was figured as a king on 
his throne; or because he was 
supposed to chase off the hurtful 
swarms of flies : and might be 
the same as the god Achor at 
Cyrene,who was reckoned a pre- 
server from flies. 2 Kings i. 2, 3. 



BAB 

The worship of this false god, 
must have been practised in our 
Saviour's time, since the Jews 
accused him of driving out de- 
vils, in the name of Belzebub t 
prince of the devils ; i. e. of Sa- 
tan, Lucifer, or the chief of the 
rebel angels. This appears by 
our Lord's answer: "If Satan 
cast out Satan, he is divided 
against himself; how then can 
his kingdom stand?" Matth. 
xii. 24. 

Baal-zephon. Whether this 
was an idol erected at the north 
point of the Red Sea, to watch* 
the frontier of Egypt, or was a 
fortified place, we know not, 
Exod. xiv. 2. 

B A AN AH and Rechab, the 
sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, 
Benjamites. Being officers of 
the army to king Ishbosheth t 
they entered his house at noon, 
cut off his head as he slept, and 
carried it to David, expecting 
some valuable reward. After 
representing to them the horrid 
nature of this treacherous mur- 
der, he ordered their hands and 
feet to be cut off, (as the Turks 
ofren cut off the head, hands, 
and feet of those officers that 
displease them, and with great 
reverence lay them at the Grand 
Seignior's gate, while he sits 
trembling within,) and these or 
their bodies to be handed over 
the pool at Hebron, 2 Sam. iv. 

BAASHA,theson of Ahijah, 
not the Shilonite, commander- 
in-chief of the forces belonging 
to Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, 
the son of Nebat. In A. M. 
3051, he treacherously murder- 
ed his master and family, and 
usurped his crown, 1 Kings xv. 
27 — 34. xvi. When it is said in 
the 7th verse of chap. xv. that 
God exalted Baasha to the 
kingdom of Israel, we are to 
understand that the form and 
manner of his accession were 
occasioned by his own ambition. 

BABEL. 1. A famous tower. 

About the time of Peleg'a birth, 

80 



BAB 

after theflood,or perhaps later, the 
whole race of mankind, bavins 
gradually removed to the south- 
west of Ararat, came to the plain 
of Shin ar. Here, being all of one 
language and religion, they, per- 
haps at Nimrod's motion, agreed 
to erect a tower of prodigious 
extent and height. Their de- 
sign was, not to secure them- 
selves against a second deluge, 
otherwise they had built their 
tower on a high mountain, not 
in a low valley, but to get them- 
selves a famous character, and 
to prevent their dispersion to re- 
plenish the earth. ]No quarries 
they knew of at hand in that 
rich soil; they therefore burnt 
bricks for stone, and used slime 
for mortar. Three years it is 
said, they prepared their mate- 
rials, and twenty-two years they 
carried on their building. Their 
haughty and rebellious attempt 
displeased the Lord ; wherefore 
he, by a miracle, confounded 
their language, that but few of 
them could understand one ano- 
ther. This effectually stopped 
the building.procured it the name 
of Babel or Confusion, and 
obliged the offspring of Noah to 
disperse themselves, and replen- 
ish the world. Gen. xi. 

2. Babel or Babylon, the ca- 
pital ofChaldea, was one of the 
most splendid cities that ever 
existed. Its form Avas an exact 
square, built in a large plain: its 
circumference 480 furlongs, or 
€0 miles, 15 on each side. The 
walls were in thickness 87 feet, 
in height 350; on which were 
built 316 towers, or according to 
others, 250- three between each 
gate, and seven at each corner, at 
least where the adjacent morass 
reached not almost to the wall. 
These walls and towers were 
constructed of large bricks ce- 
mented with bitumen, a glutinous 
slime, which in that country is- 
sues out of the earth, and in a 
short time grows harder than 
the very bricks or stones which 



BAB 

it cements. Without the wall, 
the city was surrounded by a 
ditch, rilled with water, and 
lined with bricks on both sides. 
This must have been extremely 
deep and large, as the whole 
earth, of which the bricks for 
building the walls were formed, 
was dug out of it. The gates 
were a hundred in all, 25 on each 
side, and all of them of solid 
brass. From these ran 25 streets, 
crossing one another at right an- 
gles, each 150 feet wide, and 15 
miles in length. A row of houses 
faced the wall on each side, with 
a street of 200 feet between 
them and it. Thus the whole 
city was divided into 676 squares, 
each of which was four furlongs 
and a half on every side. All 
around these squares stood the 
houses fronting the streets, and 
the empty space within served 
for gardens, and other necessary 
purposes ; but it doth not appear 
that all these squares were ever 
wholly built and inhabited ; 
though from Curtius's account 
of it when Alexander was there, 
we cannot safely infer what part 
might be inhabited in its meri 
dian lustre, before Cyrus took it. 
Nimrod, the first king of Ba- 
bylon, and perhaps in the world, 
is generally allowed to have 
founded this city. Belus, who 
by some is made contemporary, 
with Sham gar judge of Israel, 
and Queen Semiramis, are said 
to have further enlarged and 
adorned it: but Nebuchadnez- 
zar, or he and Nitocris his 
daughter-in-law, finished it, and 
made it one of the wonders of 
the world. The inhabitants rf 
Babylon, and places adjacent, 
were excessively credulous, su- 
perstitious, and debauched. The 
idols of the Babylonians were 
Bel, Nebo, Sheshach, Nergal, 
Merodach, their goddess Suo 
coth-benoth, and the Fire: and 
hence the idolatry, so prevalent 
in every place, appears to have 
had its origin. The Babylonians 
87 



JBAC 

pretended to great skill in astro- 
logy, soothsaying, and magic, 
Dan. ii. 2. iv. 7. v. 7. Isa. xlvii. 
12. From hence this pretended 
science spread into Canaan, Isa. 
ii. 6. if not into Egypt. 

3. Babylon, or Babylonia, was 
also the name of the country 
about this famed city ; and some- 
times also of Chaldea; Psal. 
cxxxvii. 1. Here Christianitywas 
very early received by the Jews 
and others. Here the apostle Pe- 
ter wrote one, if not both his 
epistles to his dispersed brethren 
of Judah ; here the Jews, since 
the destruction of their capital, 
have had famous synagogues, by 
one of the Rabbies of which their 
large Talmud was framed, Psal. 
lxxxvii. 4. 1 Pet. v. 13. The 
prophecies respecting the total 
and perpetual destruction of this 
city, have been so perfectly and 
literally verified, that it cannot 
be ascertained with exact pre- 
cision where it stood. The most 
satisfactory account of the site 
and present condition of the ru- 
ins of this once famous city, has 
been given by Mr. Rich, air Eng 
lish traveller. Lsa. xiii. Jer. 1. Ii. 
There are dens of wild beasts, 
in which are found the bones of 
sheep, and other animals ; indi- 
cations of its being the abode of 
lions are also perceptible, and 
in the cavities are found quanti- 
ties of porcupines' quills; num 
bers of bats and owls also live 
amid the ruins. Among the rub- 
bish, Mr. Rich observed innu- 
merable fragments of pottery, 
brick, bitumen, pebbles, scoria, 
shells, pieces of glass, and of 
mother of pearl. 

The following animated and 
picturesque description has been 
given of the Birs, by Mr. Rich: 
"By far the most surprising 
and stupendous mass," he ob- 
serves, (Rich's Memoir, p. 30V 
"of all the remains of Baby- 
lon, is situated in the desert, 
about six miles to the south 
west of Hilieh. It is culled by 



BAK 

the Arabs, Birs Nimrood, and 
by the Jews, Nebuchadnezzar's 
palace. I visited the Birs under 
circumstances peculiarly fa- 
vourable to the grandeur of its 
effect. The morning was at 
first stormy, and threatened a 
severe fall of rain ; but as we 
approached the object of our 
journey, the heavy clouds se- 
parating, discovered the Birs 
frowning over the plain, and 
presenting the appearance of a 
circular hill crowned by a tow- 
er, with a high ridge extending 
along the foot of it." 

BACA, a place on the way 
to Jerusalem; so called, from 
the abundance of mulberry 
trees, & weeping willoics. The 
valley of Baca, may denote 
any valley abounding with these 
trees, through which the He- 
brews, in their journey to their 
solemn feasts, had to travel; 
and where they digged wells to 
receive the rain for Uieir refresh 
ment; or it may denote the val- 
ley of Kephaim in particular, 
Ps. Ixxxiv. 6. 

B AHURIM, a city of the Ben- 
jamites, about a mile, or per- 
haps considerably more, to the 
north-east of Jerusalem. It is 
aid to be the same as Almon 
2 Sam. xvi. 5. 

BAJITH, a temple, or city 
where a temple stood, in the 
country of Moab, whither the 
king unsuccessfully went up to 
bewail the state of his nation, 
and supplicate his idol's assist- 
ance against the Assyrian in- 
vaders, Isa. xv. 2. It is possibly 
the same as Baalmeon. 

BAKE. Anciently the Asiatics 
appear to have baked their bread 
very thin, and to have cooked 
it on a convex iron plrite, or by 
laying it on a clean part of the 
hearth, and covering it with hot 
embers and ashes. Now they 
commonly have ovens digged 
into the ground, of four or five 
feet deep, and three in diameter, 
well plastered with mortar, a 



BAL 

gainst the aides of which, when 
heated, they place their oblong 
thin cakes. The meat-offerings 
seem to have been baken on 
convex iron plates, stone pitch- 
ers, or frying pans, Lev. ii. 4. 5, 
7. At present, tbe eastern na- 
tions generally bake their bread 
in their own families ; but there 
are some public bakers, Jer. 
xxxvii. 21 ; and these now re- 
ceive a cake or piece of bread 
for their labour. Comp. Ezekiel 
xiii. 19. 

BALAAM, the son of Beor 
or Bosor, was a noted prophet 
or diviner of the city Pethor on 
the Euphrates. Num. xii. 45. 

The reason why Balaam calls 
Jehovah " my God," I conceive 
might be, because he was of the 
posterity of Shem, which pa- 
triarch maintained the worship 
of the Lord, not only in his own 
person, but among his descend- 
ants, no doubt, with all his in- 
fluence: so that while the pos- 
terity of Ham fell into idolatry, 
and the posterity of Japhet 
were settled at a distance, in 
Europe, the Shemites maintain- 
ed the worship of Jehovah, and 
knew his holiness and jealousy. 
This appears in the profligate 
advice which Balaam gives Ba- 
lak, to seduce the Israelites to 
transgress against Jehovah, 
with the holiness of whose 
nature the perverted prophet 
seems to have been extremely 
well acquainted. 

BAL AK, son of Zippor, king 
of the Moabites : this prince, 
terrified at the multitude of 
Israelites encamped on the con- 
fines of his country, sent de- 
puties to Balaam the diviner, 
desiring him to come and 
curse, or devote [execrate] 
this people, Numb. xxii. xxiii. 
xxiv. xxv. Vide Balaam. Ba- 
laam having advised him to en- 
gage the Israelites in sin, Ba- 
Ta/c, politically, as he thought, 
followed his counsel; which 
proved equally pernicious (1) 
d3 8* 



BAM 

to him who gave it, (2) to those 
who followed it, and (3) to 
those against whom it was in- 
tended. (1) The Israelites who 
were betrayed by it, were slain 
by their brethren who continued 
unperverted ; (2) Balaam, the 
author of it, was involved in 
the slaughter of the Midianites ; 
and (3) Balak, who had exe- 
cuted it by means of the Mi- 
dianite women, saw his allies 
attacked, their country plunder- 
ed, and himself charged with be- 
ing the cause of their calamity. 

BALADIN. His name is 
compounded of the names of 
the idols Baal and Adon or 
Adonis. He is the same with 
Belesis, Belesus. Nanyburst, or 
Nabonassar, the first king of 
Babylon in Ptolemy's canon. 2 
Kings xx. 12. 

BALM, a precious sweet- 
smelling, and medicinal resin or 
gum, extracted from the balm- 
tree, which is cultivated in the 
manner of the vine, and grows 
in various places of Arabia the 
rocky : but that of Canaan near 
Engedi, and in Gilead, was 
reckoned the best. The Arabs 
sold of it to the Egyptians, and 
the Jews to the Tyrians, Gen. 
xxxvii. 25. Ezek. xxvii. 17. It 
is very light when fresh, and 
swims above the water wherein 
it is dissolved. Its colour at first 
is whitish, and afterwards green; 
but when old, it becomes yellow- 
ish, and of a honey-colour. Its 
taste is very bitter. 

BAMAH, a high place, where 
the Jews shamelessly worship- 
ped their idols, Ezek. xx. 29. 

BAMOTH, a place in the 
borders of Moab : but whether 
a city near the river Arnon, and 
the same with Bamoth-baal, 
which was conquered from Si- 
hon, and given to the Reuben 
ites, we know not, Numb, xxi. 
19, 20. 

BANNER, cnsign^standard; 
colours borne in times of war, . 
for assembling, directing, distin- 



BAP 

guishing, and encouraging the 
troops. In the wilderness, every 
tribe of Israel had its particular 
standard ; and they were again 
marshalled by three tribes a 
piece, under the standards of 
Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and 
Dan. The Saracens reckoned 
the giving of a banner, even by 
a furious and conquering ene- 
my, a sure pledge of safe pro- 
tection. God's setting up an 
ensign to the Assyrians or 
others, imports his providential 
ieading them forth to chastise 
his people, and punish his ene- 
mies by war and ravage, Isa. 
v. 26. xviii. 3. 

BANUUET, a splendid feast, 
where is abundance of wine 
and line viands, Esther v. 5. 
Amos vi. 7. 

BAPTISM, a well known 
ordinance of the New Testa- 
ment, administered in the name 
of the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Ghost. 

Baptism for the Dead. St. 
Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 29, proving the 
resurrection of the dead, says, 
" if the dead rise not at all, what 
shall they do who are baptized 
for the dead ?" The question 
is, what is baptism for the 
derd? 

The term " Baptized for the 
dead, 1 ' is like " baptized for the 
advantage of the dead." 

No one pretends, that the 
apostle approves the practice, 
or authorizes the opinion. It is 
sufficient, that there were peo- 
ple who thus thought and acLed 
at the time. Observe, also, he 
does not say, the Corinthians 
caused themselves to be bap- 
tized for the dead; but — what 
shall they do, who are bap- 
tized for the dead ? How will 
they support this practice? 
upon what will they justify it, 
if the dead rise not again, and 
if souls departed do not exist 
after death % 

We might easily show, that 
eome at this time, who called 



BAP 

themselves Christians, were 
baptized for the dead, — for the 
advantage of the dead. When 
this epistle to the Corinthians 
was written, twenty-three years 
after the resurrection of our 
Saviour, several heretics (as the 
Simonians, Gnostics, and Nico- 
laitans) denied the real resur- 
rection of the dead, and ac- 
knowledged only a metaphori- 
cal resurrection received in bap^ 
tism. 

The Marcionites, who ap- 
peared some time afterwards, 
embraced the same principles ; 
they denied the resurrection of 
the dead, and, what is more 
particular, they received bap' 
tism for the dead. This we 
learn from Tertullian, contra 
Marcion, lib. v. cap. 10, where 
he tells the Marcionites, that 
they ought not to use St. Paul's 
authority in favour of their 
practice of receiving baptism 
for the dead; and that if the 
apostle notices this custom, it 
is only to prove the resurrec- 
tion of the dead against them- 
selves. In another place, (de 
Resurrect. Carnis. cap. 48,) 
he confesses that in St. Paul's 
time, some were baptized a 
second time for the dead,— on 
behalf of the dead; hoping it 
would be of service to others, 
as to their resurrection. 

BARABBAS, a notorious 
robber, guilty of sedition and 
murder. He happened to be 
imprisoned for his felony, when 
Christ's process was carried on. 
John xviii. 45. He was in pri- 
on when our blessed Saviour 
underwent a mock trial 

BARBARIAN, a rude, un- 
learned person, or whose speech 
we understand not, 1 Cor. xiv. 
11. The Greeks called all be- 
sides themselves barbarous or 
barbarians, because they con- 
sidered their language coarse, 
and their manner of life rude 
and savage, Rom. i. 14. Acta 
xxviii. 2. 4. Col. iii. 11. 
90 



BAR 

BARJE3US. In the Arabic 
language his name was Eiymas, 
or the sorcerer. He was a noted 
Jewish magician in the isle of 
Cyprus. Acts xiii. 6. 

BARJONA, a Syriac desig- 
nation of Peter, importing that 
he was the son of one Juna or 
Jonas, Matth. xvi. 17. John i. 
42. xxi. 15—17. 

BARNABAS; his ancestors 
were Levites, and had retired 
to Cyprus, perhaps to shun the 
ravages of the Syrians, Ro- 
mans, or others in Judea. Here 
he was born, and was at first 
called Joses ; but after his con- 
version to the Christian faith, 
was called Barnabas, the son 
of prophecy, from his eminent 
gifts and foresight of future 
things; or the son of consola- 
tion, because his large estate, 
and affectionate preaching, 
much comforted the primitive 
believers, Acts iv. 36, 37. 

BARS ABAS. Joseph Bar- 
sab as, surnamed The Just, 
was an early disciple of Jesus 
Christ, and, probably, among 
the seventy. Acts i. 21, 22, &c. 
After the ascension of our Sa- 
viour, while the apostles kept 
together, expecting the descent 
of the Holy Ghost, Peter pro- 
posed to fill up the place of 
Judas, the traitor, by one of 
those disciples who had been 
constant eye-witnesses of our 
Saviour's actions. Two per- 
sons were selected, Barsabas, 
surnamed Justus, and Mat- 
thias ; the lot determined for 
Matthias. We know nothing 
of his life. The martyrologists 
fix his festival July 20, and tell 
us, that after he had suffered J 
much for the gospel, he died in ' 
Judea. 

BARSABAS JUDAS. He' 
was a member of the council at 
Jerusalem, and was sent along 
with Paul, Barnabas, and Silas, j 
to publish the decree among the ! 
Gentile churches. 

BARTHOLOMEW, one of I 



BAR 

our Lord's twelve apostles. As 
John never mentions Bartholo- 
mew, but Nathanael; and the 
other evangelists, never Natha- 
nael, but Bartholomew ; as John 
classes Philip and Nathanael, 
as the others do Philip and Bar- 
tholomew; as Nathanael is men- 
tioned with the other apostles 
that met with their risen Sa- 
viour at the sea of Tiberias ; as 
Bartholomew is not a proper 
name, but only signifies one to 
be the son of Talmai, as Peter 
is called Barjona ; it is therefore 
probable that Bartholomew and 
Nathanael mean one and the 
same person. Matt. x. 3. 

BARTIMEUS, son of Time- 
us, a blind man, who sat beg- 
ging by the way-side as Jesus 
passed with a great multitude 
from Jericho to Jerusalem, 
Mark x. 46. Jesus coming out 
of Jericho, with his disciples, 
and a great crowd, Bartimeus, 
when he heard that it was Je- 
sus of Nazareth, began w cry 
out, Jesus, son of David, have 
mercy on me! and Jesus re- 
stored him to sight. But Mat- 
thew, xx. 30, relating the same 
story, says, that two blind men, 
sitting by the way-side, under- 
standing that Jesus was pass- 
ing, began to cry out, &c, and 
both received sight. Mark notes 
Bartimeus only, because he 
was more known, (and not im- 
probably, as his name is pre- 
served^) was born in a superior 
rank of life, and to better hopes ; 
therefore was no common beg- 
gar: if, besides, his blindness 
had been the cause of reducing 
him to poverty, no doubt his 
neighbours would mention his 
name, and take great interest in 
his cure. Probably, Timeus, 
his father, was of note in that 
place ; as such was generally 
the case, when the father's name 
was taken by the son ; and, 
perhaps, some of the neigh- 
bours who had known Barti- 
meus, in better hopes, who had 
91 



BAS 
often pitied, but could not re- 
liere him, were the persons to 
encourage the blind man : Be 
of good comfort! Rise: he 
calleth thee. This does not con- 
tradict the supposition, that on 
this occasion, he, principally,ex- 
pressed his warmth and zeal: 
that he spake to Jesus Christ, 
and distinguished himself by his 
alacrity, faith, and obedience. 

This word two, in Matthew, 
may be nothing- more than a 
literal adhesion to the Syriac 
dual form of expression ; there 
being in this Evangelist other 
instances of the same idiom ; as 
the two thieves, Matth. xxvii. 
44, who reviled Jesus ; whereas 
Luke mentions only one ; and 
says, the other rebuked his 
companion. N. B. The cure 
of another blind man, mention- 
ed Luke xviii. 35, 43, is differ- 
ent from this: that happened, 
when Jesus was entering 
into Jericho; this, the next 
day, as he was coming out. 

BARL T CH, a Jewish prince, 
son of Neriah, grandson of Mati- 
seiah, and brother of Seraiah, 
•one of Zedekiah's courtiers, at- 
tached himself to the prophet 
Jeremiah, and was sometimes 
his secretary or scribe. Jer. 
xxxvi. 4. 

Baruch, the son of Zabbai, 
nnder the direction of Nehe- 
niiah, repaired a part of the 
wall of Jerusalem. 

BARZ1LLAL (1.) A Sime- 
onite of Meholah, and father to 
Adriel, the husband of Merab, 
the daughter of Saul, 2 Sam. 
xxi. 8. 2 Sam. xix .31,30. (2.) A 
<Gileadite of Rogelim, who plen- 
tifully supplied David and his 
email host with provisions, as 
they lay at Mahanaim, during 
the usurpation of Absalom. 

BASHAN, or Batanea, one 
of the most fruitful countries in 
the world, lying eastward of 
Jordan, and the sea of Tiberias, 
northward of the river Jabbok, 
westward of the mountains of 



BAT 

Gilead, and south of Hermon 
and the kingdom of Geshuri. 
Besides villages, it contained 
sixty fenced cities. It was pe- 
culiarly famous for its rich pas- 
ture, excellent flocks and herds, 
and stately oaks. Moses took it 
from Og, and gave it to the 
half tribe of Manasseh. 1 Kings 
iv. 13. Ezek. xxvii. 6. Isa. ii. 
13. Zech. xi. 2. 

BAT, a four-footed beast of 
the ravenous kind. This ani- 
mal has often been ranked with 
birds ; but it has the mouth of a 
quadruped, not the beak of a 
bird ; it is covered with hair, not 
feathers; it produces its young 
alive, not from eggs ; and in ge- 
neral much resembles a mouse. 

BATH, a measure for liquids, 
the same as the ephah for corn ; 
it contained almost 1748 soJid 
inches, was equal to seven gal- 
lons four and above a half pint 
English wine-measure. Some 
think there was a common and 
sacred bath; the last. containing 
a third more than the former, 
because in one place Solomon's 
brazen sea is said to contain 
3000 baths, and in another 2000. 
1 Kings vii. 2b\ 2 Chron. iv. 5. 

BATHSHEBA.or Bathshua, 
the daughter of Eliam or Am- 
miel, perhaps grand-daughter of 
Ahithophel, and wife of Uriah 
the Hittite. 1 Chron. iii. 5. 

BATTLE, a warlike contest 
or engagement, Deut. xx. 3. 
The Jewish wars are called the 
battles of the Lord, because 
fought by his people against his 
enemies ; and he often express- 
ly directed and gave signal vic- 
tory therein, 1 Sam. xviii. 17. 2 
Chron. xxxii. 8. 

BATTLEMENT, a wall 
around the top of flat-roofed 
houses, as those of the Jews 
and some other eastern nations 
generally were, to prevent falU 
ing from them, or to fight from 
with an enemy. 

BATTER, to beat down, 2 
Sam. xx. 15. 

92 



BEA 

BAY : (1.) A reddish colour, 
inclining to chesnut ; but some 
render the Hebrew word amutz- 
tzim, strong, starling-coloured ; 
speckled with black and white, 
Zech. vi. 3. 

BAY TREE. This tree is 
mentioned but once in Scrip- 
ture, Psal. xxviii. 35, 36. It 
spreads wide and flourishes 
beautifully, unless the winter is 
very severe ; it retains its ver- 
dure, but quickly grows old and 
decays. Wicked men are com- 
pared to it; their power and 
influence is extensive, and their 
prosperity often uninterrupted 
for many years ; but disease 
and death soon change the 
scene, and they are sent away 
to their account. 

BDELLIUM, a gum or resin 
somewhat resembling myrrh. 
Ir/is found in single drops, of a 
very irregular size, some of 
which are as big as a hazle-nut. 
Its colour is dusky, and its taste 
bitterish; it powerfully softens 
and cleanses, when it is new and 
fresh. Gen. ii. 12. Num. xi. 7. 

BEACON, a long piece of 
wood, erected on rising ground, 
or top of a hill, to give warning 
of the approach of an enemy ; 
or on a place of danger, to warn 
passengers to avoid it. 

BEAM, a large and strong 
plank of wood, such as those on 
which weavers roll their webs 
in the loom, 1 Sam. xvii. 7. ; or 
which are used to support the 
walls, roof, or galleries of a 
house, 2 Kings vi. 2. 

BEAR, a four-footed beast 
of prey. It is a large unsightly 
animal ; in some places about 
the size of a mastiff; in others 
as large as a 3mall heifer. 

BEARD. In various countries 
different parts of th^ beard have 
been cultivated. The ancient 
Hebrews wore a beard on the 
chin, but not the upper lip ; and 
were divinely forbid to cut off 
the angles and extremities of 
their beard in the manner of the 



BEA 

heathen Egyptians, or other?, 
who wore only a tuft of hair on 
the chin. Some of the modern 
Jews cherish a fillet of hair, all 
along from their ear, and the 
whole of it on their chin. Kiss- 
ing °f U ie beard among the 
Orientals, denotes great respect 
2 Sam. xx. 9. Men's shaving 
their own heads and beards ; or 
clipping, or plucking the hair 
thereof, or neglecting to trim 
the hair of the heard, was ex- 
pressive of great mourning and 
£rief, Isa. xv. 2. Jer. xli. 5. 
xlviii. 37. Ezra ix. 3. 2 Sam. 
xix. 24. To shave the whole or* 
half of the beard to one, was 
accounted the most horrid in- 
sult and contempt, 2 Samuel 
x.4, 5. 

BEAUTY ; (1.) Comeliness; 
fineness of appearance, 2 Sam. 
xix. 25 ; but in Dan. x. 8, it may 
signify vigour, strength. (2.") 
A chief person, or city, which 
is comely, and adds an air of 

lory to its fellows ; so Saul 

rid Jonathan were the beauty 
of Israel, Babylon the beauty 
of the Chaldees, Jerusalem and 
the temple the beauty of Israel^ 
2 Sam. i. 19. Isa.xiii. 19. Lam. 
ii. 1. (3.) Splendor, glory, dig- 
nity, Lam. i. 6. The beauty of 
the Lord, is the shining forth 
of his excellences in Christ, and 
in his word and works, Psalm 
xxvii. 4. (4.) Comfort and joy, 
Isa. lxi. 3. God is called the 
beauty of holiness ; his holiness 
and moral purity infinitely sur- 
pass that of angels and men, 
and is the bright ornament of 
his nature, 2 Chron. xx 21. 

Beautiful,haivix\g much come- 
liness. 

Beautify, to render comely. 
God beautifies the meek with 
salvation; his clothing them 
with the righteousness, grace, 
and glorious redemption, privi- 
leges, honours, and comforts of 
his Son, renders them corner 
before God, angels, and m^\ 
Psal. cxlix. 

93 



BEE 

BED ; (1.) A place to sleep 
or rest on, 2 Sam. iv. 5. In Ca 
naan, and places about, each 
person had a distinct bed. Some 
of their beds on the floor were 
richly ornamented with silver 
and gold, Esth. i. 6. The cor- 
ner of them was the most ho- 
nourable seat, Amos in. 12.— 
They fitted them for the recep- 
tion of company, Acts ix. 34 
(2.) A small piece of ground 
raised for flowers or plants, 
Song vi. 2. 

BED AN, a deliverer or judge 
of the Hebrews, 1 Sam. xti. 11. 

BEE, a small insect bred from 
a worm, and very remarkable 
for skill and industry in gather- 
ing honey and wax from flow- 
ers. Bees and honey were un- 
clean by the law, Lev. xi. 23. 
See Honey. 

BEER, a city twelve miles 
northward of Jerusalem, on the 
way to Shechem. Here Jotham 
the son of Gideon concealed 
himself from Abimelech, Judg. 
ix. 21. 

Beer, or Beer-elim, a place 
in the countrv of Moab. 

BEER-LAHAI-ROI,«Ae well 
of him that liveth and seeth 
me: a well between Kadesh 
and Shur. 

BEEROTH, a city of the Gi- 
beonites, given to the tribe of 
Benjamin, and where the two 
murderers of Ishbosheth were 
born, Josh. ix. 17. 2 Sam. iv. 2. 

BEER-SHEBA, the well of 
the oath, or of seven ; a place so 
called, because here Abraham 
swore a covenant with Abime- 
lech king of Gerar, and gave 
seven ewe-lambs as a ratifica- 
tion thereof. Gen. xxi. 31 — 33. 

Beersheba was situated twen- 
ty miles south of Hebron, at the 
southern extremity of Canaan ; 
for which reason the phrase 
"from Dan to Beersheba," is 
used to denote the whole length 
of the country, and "from Beer- 
sheba to Mount Ephraim," the 
whole length of the kingdom of 



BEH 

! Judah. 2 Chron. xix. 4. Beer- 
Isheba was at first merely the 
name of a well dug by Abra- 
ham, Gen. xxi. 25, 30, xxvi. 
15, 18, near which he long re- 
sided, Gen. xxi. 32, xxii. 19, and 
his son Isaac after him. Gen. 
xxvi. 28—33. In Josh xv. 28, 
it is assigned to the tribe of Ju- 
dah, but in xix. 2, to Simeon. 
Beersheba was the residence of 
Samuel's sons,J0el and Abiah, 
when they became colleagues 
of their father. 1 Sam. viii. 2. 
In later times, it was a seat of 
idolatrous worship. Amos v. 5, 
viii. 13, 14. On the return of 
the Jews from captivity, Beer- 
sheba was again re-peopled. 
Neh. xi. 27, 30. 

BEETLE, a kind of insects 
extremely numerous, and dis- 
tinguishable into more than 
twenty different sorts. LeviL 
xi. 22. 

BEEVES, oxen, cows, Num. 
xxxi. 23. 

BEHEMOTH, one of the 
most noted four-footed beasts. 
To convince Job of his insig- 
nificancy before him, God re- 
quires him to consider this ani- 
mal. He represents it as made 
together with him, or near to 
his abode ; as harmlessly feed- 
ing on the grass of mountains, 
lying among lotice-trees, wil- 
lows, reeds, and fens ; as ex- 
tremely fierce and courageous, 
indifferent though a river should 
burst forth upon him ; as hav- 
ing a tail or trunk strong as a 
cedar-tree, or able to rend one; 
as having his strength in his 
loins ; as having bones strong as 
bars of iron, and pipes of brass, 
Job xl. 15 — 24. It seems agreed 
that this animal is either the ele- 
phant or the river-horse, most 
probably the latter. 

At full growth, an elephant is 
from 17 to 20 feet high, with a 
belly reaching almost to the 
ground. 

The river-horse, or Hippopo- 
tamus, is another singular four- 
94 



BEL 

footed beast, resembling partly 
the buffalo, or wild bull, and 
partly the bear. It is larger than 
the buffalo. Its length from 
head to tail is about thirteen feet ; 
its circumference about the waist 
as much ; its thickness four feet 
and a haif. It is extremely vo- 
racious, and in a short time de- 
stroys a whole field of corn or 
clover ; and is extremely perni- 
cious to the productions of the 
earth, desolating and eating up 
the ears of corn wherever it goes, 
especially the Turkey wheat. It 
delights in the eminences or little 
islands that are in these rivers. 

BEKAH, half a shekel,Exod. 
xxxviii. 26. 

BEL, the Chaldean idol Baal. 
Whether, under this name, they 
worshipped Nimrod, their first 
Baal or Lord, or Pul king of As- 
syria, or some other monarch, 
the sun, or all in one, we know 
not, Isa. xlvi. 1. Jer. 1.2. li. 54. 

BELIAL, a name given to 
Satan, representing him without 
yoke, profit, or ascent, Judg. 
xix. 22. 2 Cor. vi. 15. In later 
writings, Belial denotes the de- 
vil. Paul says, 2 Cor. vi. 15, 
" What concord hath Christ 
with Belial?" Whence we in- 
fer, that in his time the Jews, 
'under the name of Belial, un- 
derstood the devil, [as the pa- 
tron, and epitome of licentious- 
ness] by this term, in the Old 
Testament. 

BELIEVE; (1.) To b* per- 
suaded of, and give credit to a 
report, Gen. xlv. 26. (2.) To 
give a bare assent to gospel- 
truth, at least such assent as im- 
plies no reception of Christ info 
the heart, Acts viii. 13. (3.) 
Heartily to receive and rest upon 
Jesus Christ alone for salvation, 
as offered by God to us in the 
gosps^ John iii. 15, 16. Acts 
xvi. 31. 

BELL. The lower border of 
Ibe high-priest's blue robe was 
hung round alternately with 
beUa and pomegranates. 



BEL 

Bells are frequently mention- 
ed in Scripture ; they were some- 
times used in the temple. The 
figure of them is not known : 
they were of copper, their sound 
was sharp, and was audible at 
a great distance. The prophet 
Zechariah speaks of bells of the 
horses, i. e. probably hung to the 
bridles (or foreheads,) [or belts 
round the neck] of war-horses, 
that thereby they might be ac- 
customed to noise, Zech. xiv. 
20. A horse which had not been 
trained, nor used to wear bells, 
was by the Greeks called — one 
that had never heard the noise 
of bells. The mules employed 
in the funeral pomp of Alexan- 
der the Great, had at each jaw 
a gold bell. 

BELLY, that part of animal 
bodies which contains the en- 
trails. This word is often used 
as synonymous with gluttony; 
" The Cretans are always liars^ 
evil beasts, sloio bellies," Tit. 
i. 12; and, "There are many 
whose God is their belly," Phil, 
iii. 19, and Rom. xvi. 18, " They 
serve not the Lord Jesus, but 
their own bellies.^ 

Belly is used, likewise, for the 
heart, the bottom of the soul. 
" The words of a tale-bearer go 
down into the innermost parts 
of the belly,'"' and wound the 
very bottom of the soul, Prov. 
xx. 27, " The spirit of man is 
the candle of the Lord, search- 
ing all the inward parts of the 
belly;" the spirit of man is the 
light of God, which penetrates 
the very bottom of the soul. — 
And, Prov. xxii. 18, "Preserve 
the lessons of wisdom ; if thou, 
keep it within thy belly" in thy 
heart, " it will not break out 
upon thy lips." 

BELSHAZZAR^abosedus, 
or Labynitus, the son of Evil- 
merodach and Nitocris, and the 
grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, 
and king of Babylon. He was 
a most worthless and inactive 
wretch; but his famad mother^ 
95 



BER 
exerted herself exceedingly for 
the support of the kingdom, 
Dan. i. 7. 

BENAIAH, the son of Jehoi 
ada, was one of David's valiant 
men, and captain of his guards, 
1 Kings i. 36, ii. 29. 

BENCHES, seats in ships for 
the rowers. The Tyrians had 
some of ivory, Ezek. xxvii. 6. 

BENH AD AD,the son of Tab- 
rimon, and king of Syria, IKings 
xv. 18. 

2. Benhadad, the son and suc- 
cessor of the forrver tvas a still 
moie terrible scourge to the 
kingdom of Israel. In the reign 
of Ahab he ravaged the country, 
laid siege to Samaria the capi- 
tal, insolently claimed his wives, 
children, and wealth, and every 
thing valuable in the city, 1 
Kings xx. 5, 7. 

3. Benhadad, the son of Ha- 
zael, was also king of Syria. 
Under him that kingdom was 
reduced to the brink of ruin, 2 
Kings xiii. 3. 24. 

BENJAMIN, the youngest son 
of Jacob and Rachel, born Jl. 
M. 2262. His mother dying in 
childbed, called him Benoni, the 
son of my sorrow ; but unwill- 
ing to have his name a constant 
memorial of his beloved Rachel's 
death, Jacob called him Benja- 
min, the son of the right hand. 
He married young ; and was 
scarce 32 years of age when he 
had ten sons, five of whom died 
childless, Genesis xxxv. 16 — 18. 
xlv. 21. 

BERA, king of Sodom, had 
his country terribly ravaged by 
Chedorlaomer and his allies. — 
When Abram defeated the con- 
querors, and recovered the spoil, 
Bera offered him the whole 
booty, the persons excepted ; but 
Abram refused any part of it, 
lest it should be said that not 
Jehpvah, but the king of Sodom 
had made him rich, Gen.xiv.23. 

BERACHAH. See Jehosha- 
fkcit. 

SERE A, a eity of Macedonia: 



BER 

it was a Kttle distance from Pe! 
la, where Alexander was born. 
Here Paul preached with great 
success, and it is related of the 
inhabitants of this city, that they 
" were more noble than those of 
Thessalonica, in that they re- 
ceived the word with all readi- 
ness of mind, and searched the 
Scriptures daily, whether these 
things were so ; therefore many 
of them believed." Acts xvii. 
10—12. 

BEREAVE, to cause to want, 
Deut. xxxii. 25. 

BERITH. See Baal-berith. 

BERNICE, or Berenice, the 
daughter of Agrippa the Great. 
She was first betrothed to Mark, 
the son of Alexander, governor 
of the Jews at Alexandria. She 
next married her own uncle, 
Herod king of Chalcis. After 
his death, she married Polemon 
king of Pontus. Acts xxv. 13. 
But Berenice did not continue 
long with him. She returned to 
her brother Agrippa, with whom 
she lived in such a manner as 
made all the world talk of her. 
Juvenal notices this incestuous 
commerce between the brother 
and the sister. Berenice was 
present with her brother Agrip- 
pa, and heard the discourse of 
Paul before Festus, at Caesaiea 
of Palestine. Titus, son of Ves- 
pasian, had a friendship for 
Berenice, and Vespasian him- 
self made her large presents. — 
Tacit. Hist. lib. ii. cap. 81 
Some have said that Titus would 
have married her, had she not 
been a foreigner, and a queen, 
which connexion the Roman 
laws forbad. 

BERODACH. See Mero- 
dach. 

BEROTH,£cro«AaA,or Chun, 
a city of Syria, conquered by 
David : perhaps it was Bejytus 
in Phenicia, 2 Sam. vii. 8. 

BERSADA, a town in Gali- 
lee, south of Upper Galilee, and 
north of Lower Galilee. 

BERYL, a transparent jewelf 
96 



BET 

©fa bluish green colour, of very 
different degrees, from a deep 
dusJcy, to the palest colour of 
sea- water. It seems to have re- 
ceived its Hebrew name from 
the resemblance of its colour to 
the sea. Its size is from that of 
a small tare, to that of a bean 
or walnut. Its hardness often 
approaches that of the garnet. 
It is chiefly found in the East 
Indies, and about the gold mines 
of Peru in America. There are 
beryls found in Silesia; but they 
are much inferior to the other, 
and perhaps but a kind of crys- 
tal. The beryl is the eighth foun- 
dation of the new Jerusalem ; 
and Christ's body is compared to 
it, to denote his heavenly beauty, 
mysterious person and dignity, 
Rev. xxi. '20. Dan. x. 6. It was 
the tenth stone in the high- 
priest's breast-plate. 

BESOM, an instrument to 
sweep with, Isa. xiv. 23. 

BESOR, a brook in the south- 
west corner of Canaan. Here 
200 of David's men staid behind 
being faint, while the other 400 
pursued the Amalekite3, who 
had burwt Ziklag, 1 Sam. xxx. 0. 
BESTEAD. "To be hardly 
bestead and hungry, is to be 
sore distressed, and almost fa- 
mished, Isa. viii. 21. 

BETAH, or Tibbath, a city 
which David took from Hada- 
dezer, king of Syria. It is per- 
haps the same as Be-then, in the 
tribe of Asher, 2 Sam. viii. 8. 

BETHABARA,a place where 
John baptized multitudes; and 
near to which ho pointed out 
Jesus Christ to two of his disci- 
ples, John i. 28. As the word 
Beth in the beginning of names, 
signifies house or temple, this 
signifies the house of passage. 
Calmet, Jerome, and others, 
place it on the east bank of Jor- j 
dan, near the place where the j 
Hebrews passed that river under j 
Joshua. 

BETHANY, a considerable 
▼illage at the foot of mount Oli- ^ 
E 9 



BET 
vet, almost two miles east from 
Jerusalem. It was the residence 
of Lazarus, and his sisters Mar- 
tha and Mary, John xi. 18. 

BETH-ARAM, Bcth-aran,z. 
city of the Reubenites, to the 
northward of the Dead Sea, and 
afterwards called Livias, Num. 
xxxii. 35. 

BETHAVEN; either Bethel, 
so called, because of the idol 
there set up, or a place very near 
to it, Hos. iv. 15. Josh. vii. 2. 

The wilderness ofBeth-rfven, 
is mentioned, Josh, xviii. 11, as 
forming a part of the northern 
boundary of the tribe of Ben- 
jamin. Palestine is not now, and 
probably never has been, a very 
woody country. There are few 
forests mentioned in the Bible. 
When the Israelites first entered 
Canaan, the region which fell to 
the lot of the tribe of Ephraim 
was woodland ; as appears from 
Josh. xvii. 15 — IS, where Joshua 
advises the Ephraimites to fell 
the trees, and make room for their 
settlements. It was not entirely 
cleared, however ; for in this 
same quarter was the wood in 
which Jonathan found wild ho- 
ney, 1 Sam. xiv. 22, 25; and the 
battle between the armies of 
David and Absalom, "was in 
the wood of Ephraim.." 2 Sam. 
xviii. 6. In 1 Sam. xxii. 5, we 
read that David fled before Saul, 
and "came into the forest Ha- 
reth," in the land of Judah. 
Nothing more is known of the 
situation of this forest. 

BETHBARA, a place where 
Gideon called the Ephraimites to 
post themselves to stop the flying 
Midianites. If this be the same 
with Btihabara, it seems plain 
that it was south of the Galilean 
sea; as there the Midianites 
crossed the Jordan, and there 
the borders of Ephraim were 
Judg. vii. 24. It is generally sup- 
posed that Bethbara is a con- 
traction of Bethabara. See Ge- 
ography of the Bible, publisher 
by Am. S. S. Union, page 123 
97 



BET 

BETHCAR, a city of the 
Danites. Thus far the Hebrews, 
under Samuel, pursued the Phi- 
listines : and near to it he set up 
his Ebenezer, 1 Sam. vii. 11. 

BETHEL, a city about eight, 
Borne say twelve, miles north- 
ward of Jerusalem, and a mile 
westward of Ai. The place was 
originally called Luz, from the 
almond and hazel bushes that 
grew here. Here Jacob lodged 
under the open sky, as he went 
to Padanaram. An eminent 
vision which he there enjoyed, 
made him call it Bethel, the 
house of God. About thirty 
years after, he pitched his tent 
here for some lime. The Ca- 
naanites built a city on the spot, 
and called it Luz, Joshua took 
it, alon? with Ai, and gave it to 
the Ephraimites. Genesis xii. 8. 
xxviii. 19. 

BETHER; whether this was 
a distinct place, or the same with 
Beth-aram, Beth-horon, or Bith- 
ron, I know not. 

BETHESDA, a pool on the 
east of Jerusalem. The name 
signifies either a draught-house., 
or house of mercy ; so called be- 
cause a public bath was here 
erected ; or because God gra- 
ciously bestowed a healing vir- 
tue on the waters of it. As it lay 
but a little to the north-east of 
the temple, the sacrifices might 
be washed in it ; but it did not 
thence derive its healing virtue. 
Some years before our Saviour 
and divine Healer came in the 
flesh, an angel, on some occa- 
sions, descended, and troubled 
the water of this pool. Whoever 
first after the agitation, bathed 
himself in it, was healed of 
whatever disease he had. Multi- 
tudes of distressed persons were 
there, constantly, to be healed. 
One man who had been diseased 
38 years, was found by our Sa- 
viour at the pool, waiting for an 
opportunity to go down into it ; 
but Jesus, by a word, restored 
him to strength, John v. 1 — 6. It 



BET 

is said to be now 120 paces long T 
40 broad, and 8 deep, but empty 
of water. 

BETH-G AMUL, a city of the 
Reubenites, but afterwards seiz- 
ed by the Moabites, and ravaged 
by the Chaldeans, Jer. xlviii. 23. 

BETH-HACCEREM, a city 
standing on a hill; it seems noted 
i for vineyards, between Jerusa- 
lem and Tekoah. Neh. hi. 14- 
Jer. vi. 1. 

BETH-HOGLA, a city about 
half way between Jericho and 
Jordan : it pertained to the Ben- 
jamites, Josh, xviii. 21. 

BETH-HORON, two cities 
of this name, the one in a lower 
situation than the other, pertain- 
ed to i he tribe of Ephraim. Josh, 
xxi. 22. 

BETH-JESHIMOTH, a city 
of the Reubenites, about ten 
miles east of Jordan. The Mo- 
abites seized on it : and at lastit 
was destroyed bv the Chaldeans, 
Josh. xiii. 20. Ez,;k. xxv. 9 

BETHLEHEM. 1. A city of 
Judah, about six miles south of 
Jerusalem, and situated on a 
declivity of a hill. It is also 
called Enhratah and Ephrath, 
and its inhabitants Ephrathites, 
from its founder. It was never 
considerable for wealth or ex- 
tent, but for giving birth to Ib- 
zan, Elimelech, Boaz, David, 
and chiefly to Jesus the promised 
Messiah, Genesis xxxv. 16. 19. 
xlviii. 7. Ruth i.2. Psal. exxxii. 
6. Mic. v. 2. It still retains its 
ancient name, and is situated 
on a hill overlooking a deep val- 
ley, about two leagues south of 
Jerusalem. The aspect of tha 
country, which, for some dis- 
tance south of Jerusalem, is very 
uninviting, becomes more at- 
tractive in the neighbourhood of 
Bethlehem ; the soil being such 
as would richlv repay the toil of 
cultivation. The town contains 
about 200 houses, inhabited by 
Christians and Mahommedans, 
who live together in peace.— 
About two hundred paces east 
98 



BET 

of Bethlehem, stands the cele- 
brated church of the Nativity, 
and adjoining it a Franciscan 
convent. A subterraneous cha- 
pel in this church is said to have 
been the stable in which Christ 
was born. It is lighted by thirty- 
two lamps, which are constant- 
ly kept burning, adorned with 
paintings, and furnished with an 
organ. Another subterraneous 
chapel in this church, is called 
the oratory of St. Jerome, who 
is said to have mnde his trans- 
lation of the Bible in this place, 
and to have been buried here. 
Within the same convent, there 
is another ancient church call- 
ed the church of St. Catherine 
Besides this Franciscan convent, 
there is an Armenian and a 
Greek one. 

North-west of Bethlehem, at 
no great distance, is the grave 
of Rachel, Jacob's wife, Gen. 
xxxv. 19, over which there is a 
monument of modern date. — 
About as far eastward is a small 
but beautiful and fruitful plain, 
where (tradition says) the shep- 
herds were feeding their flocks 
by night, when they received 
from the angel the intelligence 
of the Redeemer's birth. Luke 
ii. 9, 10. Here are the ruins of 
a church built by the empress 
Helena. 

South of Bethlehem there are 
three pools or reservoirs, sup- 
posed to be the same mentioned 
Eccl. ii. 6. These reservoirs are 
thirty ells deep, above two hun- 
dred long, and above one hun- 
dred wide, and are to this day 
called Solomon's pools. 

2. Bethlehem, a city of the 
Zebulonites, Josh. xix. 15. 

BETH-MEON. See Baal- 
tneon. 

BETH-PHAGE, a small vil- 
lage belonging to the priests. It 
was hard by Bethany, and near 
two miles east of Jerusalem. 
Here our Saviour obtained the 
ass for his lowly triumph, Matt. 
xxi. 1. 



BET 

BETHSAIDA, (1.) A village 
on the east of Jordan, Luke ix. 
10—17. (2 ) A place on the sea 
of Galilee, Luke x. 13. 

BETH-SHAX,oi ■ Beth-shean, 
a city of the Manassites, on the 
west of Jordan, Josh. xvii. 11. 

BETH SHEMESH- LA city 
of the tribe of Judah, given to 
jthe priests. Josh. xxi. 16. It 
stood about 30 miles westward 
of Jerusalem. 

2. Beth-shemesh, a city on the 
frontier of Issachar's lot. Judg. 
i. 33. 

3. Beth-shemesh in Egypt, the 
same as Auen, or On, Jer.xliii.13. 

BETHUEL, the son of Na- 
hor and Milcah, cousin of Abra- 
ham, and father of Laban and 
Rebekah, Gen. xxiv. 15. 29. 
xxviii. 2. 

BETH-ZUR, a noted city on 
the south of Judah, near Hebron, 
2 Chr. xi. 7. 

BETROTH, or espouse. Fa- 
thers, in early times, disposed 
of their children in marriage, 
without consulting them. Bro- 
thers did the same, as in tho 
cases of Dinah and Rebecca. In 
due time, the female was brought 
into the presence of her intended 
husband, and a formal agree- 
ment was entered into by both, 
before witnesses, to marry at a 
future time. This was called 
espousing or betrothing, and 
generally took place a twelve- 
month or more before marriage. 
During this interval, however, 
from the time of espousals to the 
marriage, the woman was con- 
sidered as the lawful wife of the 
man to whom she was betroth- 
ed; nor could the engagement 
be ended by the man without a 
bill of divorce; nor could she be 
unfaithful without being consi- 
dered an adulteress. For a full 
account of the whole ceremony 
of marriage, and of the spiritual 
relation which the term denotes, 
See Biblical Antiquities, pub- 
lished by the American S. S. 
Union, vol. 1. p. 145—157. 
99 



BIB 

BEULAH, a name given to 
the Jewish nation and church 
of God in the latter days, im- 
porting their marriage to Christ, 
as their husband and sovereign 
Lord, Isa. lxii. 4. 

BEZALEEL, the son of Uri, 
of the tribe of Judah, and Aho- 
•liab the son of Ahisamach, of 
the tribe of Dan, were two noted 
artificers, called of God, and 
eminently qualified with wisdom 
and skill: they had the chief 
direction of framing the various 
appurtenances of the Mosaic 
tabernacle, and performed every 
thing with the greatest exact- 
ness. Exod. xxxi. 2. xxxv. 30. 
xxxvi. 1. xxxvii. 1. xxxviii. 22. 

BEZEK, a city in the lot of 
Judah, on the east side of a hill, 
about two miles from Beth-zur, 
and a good way westward of 
Bethlehem. 

BEZER. See Bozrah. 

BIBBER, a great drinker, 
Matt. xi. 19. 

BIBLE, the name commonly 
given to the collection of the 
sacred writings, which are the 
sole standard and rule of our 
faith and practice. It is called 
by the Jews, the Mikra or Les- 
son ; the Christians often call 
it the sacred books ; the oracles 
of God, the volumes of inspira- 
tion; the book of God, Src. It 
was always distinguished into 
books, but not into chapters and 
verses, as at present. It appears 
from Clemens of Alexandria, 
Athanasius, and others, that in 
the early ages of Christianity it 
was divided into a kind of short 
paragraphs. The division of it 
into the present form of chapters, 
is generally ascribed to Arlott, a 
Tuscan monk, or rather to Hugo 
Cardinalis in the 13th century, 
and perhaps more justly to 
Langton Archbishop of Canter 
bury, about 1220. But it is plain, 
from the works of Theophylact 
on the gospels, that it must have 
taken place at least 200 years 
•ooner with respect to some kind 



BIB 

of chapters. Such as believe the 
authenticity of the. Hebrew 
punctuation, suppose the Old 
Testament to have been always 
divided into verses ; but these 
were not numbered as now, till 
perhaps Mordecai Nathan pub- 
lished his Hebrew concordance, 
about Ji. D. 1450. About 1551, 
Robert Stephen, a French prin- 
ter, divided the New Testament 
into verses. It is therefore no 
wonder this division into chap- 
ters and verses is not altogether 
just, nor is it any crime to cor- 
rect it. The chapters of the 
Hebrew Old Testament, and of 
Translations, do not always 
correspond. The Hebrew punc- 
tuation divides the verses of the 
Old Testament: in that language 
they amount to 23,205 ; those of 
the New amount to 7G5G. The 
division of the New Testament 
into sections by Doddridge is 
not injudicious. 

At present our Bible consists 
of the Old and New Testaments ; 
the former was written before, 
and the latter since, the incarna- 
tion of Christ ; the former, ex- 
cepting a part of Ezra and Da- 
niel, and a verse of Jeremiah, 
written in the Chaldaic, are in 
the Hebrew language. The lat- 
ter is written in Greek, but very 
different from that of Homer, 
and other celebrated authors. 
Both were written in the lan- 
guage which was then best 
known to the church of God: a 
sure token that every nation 
whither the gospel comes, should 
have access to read the scrip 
tures in their own language. 

About the time of our Saviour, 
the Jews distinguished their Bi- 
ble into 22 books, correspond- 
ing to the 22 letters of their al- 
phabet, viz. the five books of 
Moses; thirteen of the Prophets^ 
Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, Sam- 
uel, Kings, and Chronicles, Isai- 
ah, Jeremiah, and Lamenta- 
tions, Ezekiel, Daniel, the twelve 
lesser prophets, Job, Ezra, Ne- 
100 



BIB 

hemiah, and Esther ; and four 
Hagiographs, or holy writings, 
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, 
and Song of Solomon. Thus, 
the law of Mosts, the Prophets, 
and the Psalms, were compre- 
hensive of the whole, Lukexxiv. 
44. The modern Jews reckon 
24 books, which they suppose to 
have three different degrees of 
authority. To the five books of 
Moses they ascribe the highest 
authority. To the former pro- 
phets, writers of Joshua, Judges, 
Samuel, Kings, and the latter, 
viz. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, 
and the book of the lesser ones, 
they ascribe a lower inspiration 
and authority. To the other 
eleven books of Psalms, Pro- 
verbs, Job, Song of Solomon, 
Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesias- 
tes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and 
Nehemiah, and Chronicles, they 
scarce ascribe any proper inspi- 
ration, but a mere superinten- 
dency of God's spirit, leaving 
the writers in a great measure to 
the direction of their own reason. 
The Christian division of the 
Old Testament is far more sen- 
sible. The historical books, 
which are most plain and neces- 
sary for the understanding of 
doctrines and predictions, are 
placed first, ending with Esther : 
the doctrinal books, ending with 
Solomon's Song, are placed in 
the middle : the prophetic books, 
to the knowledge of which an 
acquaintance with both histories 
and doctrines is necessary, are 
placed last in order. But in all the 
three parts, histories, doctrines, 
and predictions arc often mixed. 
Several books mentioned in 
scripture, as of Jasher, of the 
wars of the Lord, and the An- 
nals of the kings of Israel and 
Judah, are now lost; but they 
never had more than human 
authority. Just before Josiah's 
reign, the canonical books then 
extant seem to have been mostly 
destroyed ; hence he and his 
courtiers were so much surprised 
9* 



BIB 

at the contents of a book of the 
law, perhaps an original manu 
script authenticated copy, found 
in the house of the Lord. No 
doubt a variety of copies were 
transcribed from it. In vain it 
is pretended that the inspired 
writings were lost during the 
Chaldean captivity, and restored 
by Ezra. Daniel had the book 
of Jeremiah to peruse, chap. ix. 
2. Can we doubt but other 
godly persons also had copies, 
or that even the Samaritans 
wanted copies of the law? It is 
nevertheless probable, that Ezra, 
inspired of God, corrected a copy 
of the sacred books, and caused 
others to be transcribed there- 
from. To elucidate the history, 
he added various sentences, and 
sometimes changed the ancient 
names of cities or persons, into 
such as were modern. As the 
book of Nehemiah carries down 
the genealogy of the high priests, 
and that of 1st Chronicles the 
line of Zerubbabel, to near the 
time of Alexander the Great, it 
is probable the books of Malachi, 
Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and 
Chronicles, were admitted into 
the sacred canon more than 100 
years after Ezra's death. 

The Jews divided the Penta- 
teuch, or law of Moses, into 54 
sections, answerable to the num- 
ber of Sabbaths in their third or 
intercalated year. In other year* 
they joined two short sections, on 
two different Sabbaths, that they 
might publicly read the whole 
law every year in their worship- 
ping assemblies. They subdi- 
vided it into a number of lesser 
sections, where it seems their 
readers stopped to give the 
sense, or hand the book to ano- 
ther. About A M, 3840, Anti- 
ochus prohibited the reading of 
the law : they therefore substi- 
tuted 54 sections of the prophets 
in its stead. After Judas Mac- 
cabeus restored their worship, 
the two were conjoined, and a 
section of the law and another 
101 



BIB 

of the prophets were read every 
Sabbath. 

The manuscript Bibles of the 
Jews in Spain are far more cor- 
rect than those of Germany ; but 
scarce any of either are thought 
above 600 or 700 years old. In 
the 16th century of the Chris- 
tian aera, Bomberg printed a 
great many Hebrew Bibles, in 
4to and folio. The folio edition, 
1548, with the Masora, Chaldee 
paraphrases, and commentaries 
of Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Da- 
vid Kimchi, is the most exact. 
From this, about 70 years after, 
Buxtorf and Leo Modena print- 
ed their Rabbinic Bibles at Basil 
and Venice. Innumerable He- 
brew Bibles, in almost every 
form, have been printed. Those 
of Leusden and Athias, in 1667, 
have a glorious character ; but 
none in exactness are equal to 
those of Menasseh-Ben-Israel, in 
1635, and especially those of Van- 
der-Hooght in 1705. Nor are 
those of Proop, Jablonski, Opi- 
tius, Michaelis, Reineccius, and 
Simon, unexact, especially the 
former. Houbigant's large Bi- 
ble abounds too much with pre- 
tended rectifications of the text, 
often upon mere conjecture. 
Kennicot hath, with infinite la- 
bour, compared about 600 ma- 
nuscripts of the Old Testament. 

When the Jews in their cap- 
tivity had learned the language 
of Chaldea, and forgotten part 
of their own, it behoved the rea- 
der of the law to stop at the end 
of a sentence, and give the sense, 
Neh. viii. 8. : this produced a 
variety of paraphrases or Tar- 
gums, but no literal translation 
of the Bible into the Chaldean 
tongue. That of Onkelos on the 
Pentateuch, or five books of 
Moses, composed about the time 
of our Saviour, is by far the 
most literal and sensible. The 
Targum of Jerusalem on the 
same books, is written in a very 
obscure language, and we have 
no more than shreds of it. An- 



BIB 

other large paraphrase on the 
Pentateuch, mixed with plenty 
of fables, is ascribed to Jonathan 
the son of Uzziel, though, if we 
can judge by the style, it is none 
of his. Jonathan has indeed a 
paraphrase on the former and 
latter prophets, which is far 
from contemptible. The authof 
of the paraphrase on the Psalms, 
Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, 
Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesias- 
tes, and Esther, is not certainly 
known. It is pretty large, fre- 
quently useful, and not seldom 
whimsical. There is also a 
Targum on the two books of 
Chronicles. 

The Samaritans have a copy 
of the Pentateuch, in a peculiar 
alphabet, believed by many to 
be the old Hebrew letters. Thia 
copy of the books of Moses has 
undoubtedly been preserved by 
this nation, ever since the king 
of Assyria sent a priest among 
them, to teach them the Jewish 
religion. This copy differs but 
little in language or sense from 
the Pentateuch received from 
the Jews, except in the early 
chronology of the Bible; and 
some small alterations, evidently 
made to accommodate it to the 
Samaritan place of worship, 
mount Gerizim. They have also 
a version of this Hebrew Penta- 
teuch in what was once their 
vernacular tongue, which is a 
dialect of the Arabic. 

According to Aristobulus, the 
Pentateuch and Joshua, if not 
other books, must have been 
translated into Greek before the 
time of Alexander the Great; 
and it is supposed the Grecian 
philosophers borrowed a part of 
their knowledge from them. The 
Greek version ascribed to seven- 
ty interpreters, was not compos- 
ed till a considerable time after. 
Could we believe Aristeas, Jo- 
sephus, Philo, Justin Martyr, 
and Epiphanius, it was done by 
72 Jewish interpreters, at the de- 
mand of Ptolemy Philadelphia 
102 



BIB 

king of Egypt, for the use of his 
library; and with the exactness 
of miraculous inspiration: but 
the evident marks of fable inter- 
woven with their account, the 
vast difference in various parts 
of that version, the obvious in- 
accuracy of the greater part of 
it, do sufficiently refute it. It is 
more probable, the Pentateuch 
was translated for the use of 
those renegade Jews, whw built 
a temple, and established the 
worship of their country, at He- 
liopolis in Egypt, about 150 years 
before our Saviour's birth ; and 
that the rest, which is far less 
exact, was translated by various 
hands. This version, however, 
paved the way for the spread of 
the gospel, and was very much 
used in the primitive church, as 
well as among theHelienistJews, 
and is still of great use for settling 
the meaning of some Hebrew 
words. The principal printed 
editions of it are, (1.) The Com- 
plutensian, published by Cardi- 
nal Ximenes, A. D. 1515. It was 
altered in a variety of places, to 
make it correspond with the He- 
brew ; and so is the best version 
in Greek, but not the true Sep- 
tuagint. (2.) The Venetian, 
printed from a manuscript It 
has been often reprinted atStras- 
burgh, Basil, &c. and altered in 
some places, to bring it nearer 
the Hebrew. (3.) The Vatican, 
printed at Rome 1587, from a fine 
manuscript of the Pope's libi ary . 
This, and the various readings 
of the excellent Alexandrian 
manuscript, are inserted in Wal- 
ton's Polyglot. (4.) Grabe's 
Alexandrian copy at Oxford, 
1707, but sometimes altered as 
he thought fit. — There is no good 
reason for rejecting the opinion, 
so fully attested by the voice of 
antiquity, that the Law was 
turned into Greek in the reign 
of Ptolemy Phiiadelphus ; and 
that the version was made by his 
command. While we reject 
what 16 evidently fabulous in the 



BIB 

history of Aristeas, we should 
not deny what is credible : mo- 
dern conjecture ought not to 
stand on a level with the testi 
mony of all antiquity. 

Christianity had scarcely 
spread in the world, when new 
translations of the OldTestament 
were published in Greek. About 
fl. D. 223, Aquila, a Jewish pro- 
selyte of Pontus, published one 
very literal, perhaps out of hatred 
to the Christians, who had ex 
communicated him. About 200, 
Symmachus, who by turns was 
a Jew, a Samaritan, a Christian, 
and Ebionite, published another, 
adhering to the sense, rather than 
to the letter. About the same 
time, or perhaps 20 years sooner, 
Theodotian, first a Marcionite, 
and then a Jew, published ano- 
ther, in which he struck into a 
medium between the two former, 
his version being neither quite 
literal, nor too far distant from it; 
and so preferable to them both 
There were other two Greek 
versions, whose authors are not 
known. In the fourth century, 
Lucian Martyr, Hesychius, and 
Sophronius, made each of them 
a translation. 

The New Testament, in its 
original Greek, has hadvery nu- 
merous editions. Those of Al- 
cala, Erasmus, Stephens, and 
Beza, have been generally copi- 
ed by others. Those of Mills, 
Kuster, and Wetstein, Bengeli- 
us, and Griesbach, with the va- 
rious readings, are the most valu- 
able. This vast number of va- 
rious readings is so far from 
weakening the authority of 
scripture, that it mightily con- 
firms it : they have been collect- 
ed by the friends of Christianity, 
which shows their scrupulous 
exactness in trying their own 
cause. Not one of the vast mul- 
titude tend to overthrow ona 
article of faith, but are versant 
about accents, letters, syllables, 
and things of smaller moment : 
and by comparing a multitude 
103 



BIB 

of copies, the genuine reading is 
easily established. Of the books 
of the New Testament, the first 
five are historical, the next twen- 
ty-one epistolary, and the last is 
prophetic. Some heretics have 
attempted to add spurious gos- 
pels, acts, and epistles ; but these 
were always rejected by the 
Christian church. 

The Syrian version of the 
whole scripture is considerably 
ancient and useful. It is pre- 
tended that. Solomon procured 
for the Syrians a version of the 
inspired books then extant; and 
that Abgarus king of Edessa, 
soon after the dearth of our Sa- 
viour, procured a version of the 
rest of the Old Testament. It is 
far more probable, that the Chris- 
tians of Antioch procured the 
whole translation about A. D. 
100. It is certain the version is 
ancient. In the Old Testament, 
it too often leaves the original 
Hebrew, to follow the Samaritan 
or Septuagint; and leaves out 
the titles of the Psalms, to insert 
their contents. Nay, there is a 
Syrian version of the Old Testa- 
ment done from the Seventy. 

In the first ages of Christianity, 
the Romans, and others of the 
Western church, had a variety 
of Latin translations. One called 
the Vulgate, translated almost 
word for word from the Septua- 
gint, was most generally received. 
Jerome, the only father of the 
Latin church who seems to have 
understood theHebrew language 
to purpose, formed a new version 
from the originals. This being 
better, was in some churches 
preferred to the Vulgate. Some 
contention about the two ver- 
sions happening, the Vulgate 
was corrected by that of Jerome, 
and so one made of both. This, 
sufficiently corrupted by the 
scribes, is used by the Romish 
church, and received the sanc- 
tion of authenticity from the 
council of Trent. Pope Sixtus, 
however, afterward corrected 



BIB 

some thousands of faults in it, 
and Clement the 8tb, his succes- 
sor, added some thousands more 
of corrections, some of which 
are for the worse : nor is Bellar- 
mine mistaken in avowing, that 
a number of places still need a 
farther amendment. Jerome's 
own version was published at 
Paris in 1693, by Martianay and 
Pouget. 

Ch.-ysostom and Theodoret 
assure us, that the Old and New 
Testaments were, in their time, 
found in the Syrian., Indian, Per- 
sian, Armenian, Ethiopie, Scy- 
Ithian, and Samaritan language. 
| About ^.7).S00,or later, Saadias 
J Caon, a Jew, translated the Old 
\ Testament into Arabic. Another 
| of Mauritania translated the Pen- 
tateuch ; aud Erpenius printed 
his work. A bishop of Seville 
formed an Arabic translation 
about 719. Risius, a monk of 
Damascus, also translated the 
New Testament. Another Chris- 
tian who lived in Egypt formed 
another translation. Who were 
the authors of the Arabic ver- 
sion in the London Polyglot, we 
know not. It has been generally 
done from theAlexandrian Greek 
j copy, and is not exact, but never- 
theless useful. 

i The Ethiopians of Abyssinia 
have a version of the whole Bi- 
ble, which they ascribe to Fru- 
mentius, a bishop of the fourth 
century. In that part of the Old 
Testament which we know, it 
much corresponds with the A 
lexandrian copy of the Septua- 
gint, and the New is far from 
exact; but whether owing to the 
copy, or to the ignorance of the 
printer and corrector, we dare 
not determine. It is certain the 
Ethiopian who inspected the 
printing of the Roman edition, 
1548, complains grievously, that 
he understood not the art of 
printing, and that the workmen 
understood not the language, 
and scarce the letters. 
The Copts, or remnant of the 
104 



BIB 

ancient Egyptians, have a pretty 
ancient translation of the B;bJe : 
the Old Testament, done with 
considerable exactness from the 
Alexandrian Septuagint, but 
never printed that I know of. 
The New was printed at Oxford 
in 1716. But Jablonski and La 
Croze have a low opinion of this 
work, especially the Latin trans- 
lation. 

The Persians have some 
manuscript versions of the Bible: 
the Pentateuch by Rabbi Jacob, 
a Jew, and the Gospels by Si- 
mon, a Christian, are inserted in 
the London Polyglot: neither 
are ancient ; and the last is far 
from being correct. 

The Armenians have a trans- 
lation of the Old Testament, 
done from the Septuagint, by 
Moses Grammaticus, and two 
others, about 1400 years ago. It 
was done from the Syriac and : 
Greek. In 16G6, corrected or 
corrupted from the Vulgate, it 
was printed at Amsterdam, un- \ 
der the direction of an Armenian 
bishop. Theodorus Patreus pro- i 
cured an impression of an Ar- j 
menian New Testament, at Ant- 
werp, 1668, and of the whole ' 
Bible in 1670. 

The Georgians have the Bible 
in their ancient language ; but j 
that being now almost obsolete, I 
and themselves generally brut- j 
ishly ignorant, few of them can \ 
either read or understand it. 

The Russians have the Bible j 
in their Sclavonic tongue, done | 
from the Greek by Cyril their 
apostle. It was published in 
1381 ; but being too obscure, 
Ernest Gliik, a Swedish captive, . 
about ninety years ago began to j 
form another. He died before he 
finished it. Peter, the emperor, ! 
ordered a number of his most 
learned clergy to complete the I 
work. I suppose it was printed, ! 
and that the Bibles distributed 
by royal authority about 1722 
were of this translation. 

The most ancient German I 



BIB 

: translation is that of Ulphilas, 
bishop of the Goths, about 360; 
but he left out the books of 
Kings, lest they should have ex- 
cited his savage countrymen to 
war. Towards the end of the 
16th century, Junius professed to 
publish an edition of it, from a 
manuscript found in the abbey 
of Verden, written in letters of 
silver. An anonymous version 
was printed at Nuremberg in 
1477 ; but Michaelis, La Croze, 
and Bayer, think this was not 
the Gothic version of Ulphilas, 
but one about 200 years later. 
Between 1521 and 1332, Luther 
composed his translation, and 
published it in seven parcels, as 
it was ready. Some persons of 
quality, masters of the German 
language,revised it. Two Popish 
versions, the one of Eckius on 
the Old, and Emzer on the New 
Testament, and another of Ulem- 
bergius, were published, to sink 
the credit of Luther's; but the 
Protestants of Germany and 
Switzerland still use it, a little 
corrected. About 1660, a pro- 
ject was on foot to have it cor- 
rected to purpose ; but I suppose 
the death of the great Hottinger 
rendered that design abortive. 
Simon, however, tells us, that 
this work was carried through, 
and that its sense is much the 
same as that of Leo Juda. 
About 1604, Piscator turned the 
Latin translation of Junius and 
Tremellius into a kind of Ger 
man; but too much latinized 
About 1529,the Anabaptists pub- 
lished their German translation 
at Worms. In 1630, John Crel- 
lius, a Socinian, published his 
New Testament at Amsterdam, 
and Felbinger his in 1660. About 
1680, Athias published a Hebrew 
German translation of the Old 
Testament, for the sake of his 
Jewish brethren, and Jekuthiel 
another ; but both, especially the 
latter, distorted several texti 
relative to the Messiah, &«. 
Schmidt's German translati.,** 
105 



BIB 

appears to have been not much 
more prized. 

The first Polish version of 
scripture is ascribed to Hade- 
wich, the wife of Jagellon duk( 
of Lithuania, who embraced 
Christianity, Ji. D. 1390. In 
1596, the Protestants published 
another, formed on Luther's 
translation. About three years 
after, James Wiek, a Jesuit, and 
some of his brethren, published 
another, more to the Popish 
taste. The Socinians published 
two versions to their taste, in 
1562 and 1572. 

About 1506, the Bohemian 
Taborites published a Bible in 
their language, done from the 
Vulgate. In the end of the 16th 
century, eight Bohemian divines, 
after a careful study of the origi- 
nal languages, at Whittenberg 
and Basil, published a version 
from the original text. 

In 1534, Olaus and Laurence 
published a Swedish Bible, done 
from Luther's German transla- 
tion. About 1617, Gustavus 
Adolphus ordered some learned 
men to revise it. Since which 
time, it has been almost univer- 
sally followed in that kingdom. 
The translation into the lan- 
guage of Finland, I suppose, was 
done from it. In 1550, Peter Pel- 
ladius, and three others, pub- 
lished a Danish version, done 
from the German of Luther. In 
3605, Paul Resenius, bishop of 
Zealand, published another. In 
1621, John Michel published his 
version of the New Testament. 

The Flemish or Dutch Bibles, 
composed by Papists, are very 
numerous ; hut except that of 
Nicolas Vink, in 1548, are, for 
aught I know, all anonymous. 
The Calvinists of the Low Coun- 
tries long used a version done 
from Luther's; but the synod of 
Dort appointed some learned 
men to form a new one from the 
originals. It was published in 
1637. Nor do I know of another 
translation equally exact. 



BIB 
In 1471, an Italian Bible, done 
from the Vulgate, by Nicolas 
Malerme, a Benedictine monk, 
was published at Venice. An- 
thony Bruccioli published an- 
other in 1530. The council of 
Trent prohibited it. The Pro- 
testants have two Italian ver- 
sions : the one by the celebrated 
Diodati, published in 1607, and 
with corrections in 1641. He 
gives us a half paraphrase, 
rather than a translation. The 
other by Maximus Theophilus, 
dedicated to the Duke of Tus- 
cany, about 1551. By an order 
of King James of Arragon to 
burn them, we find there were a 
number of Bibles in Spanish, 
about 1270: probably the work 
of the Waldenses. About 1500, 
a Spanish version was published, 
but the translator is unknown. 
In 1543, Driander published his 
version of the New Testament, 
and dedicated it to King Charles 
the 5th. After long private use 
of it, the Jews published their 
Spanish version of the Old Tes- 
tament in 1553. Cassiodore, a 
learned Calvinist, published his 
Bible in 1569. Cyprian de Valera 
corrected and republished it in 
1602. About Ji. D. 1160, Peter 
de Vaux, chief of the Walden- 
ses, published the first transla- 
tion of the Bible in French. 
About 1290, Guinard les Mou- 
lins formed a translation, and 
which, it is probable, Menard 
published in 1484. A bout 1380, 
Raoul de Presley made another. 
By order of the Emperor Charles 
the 5th, the doctors of Louvain 
published another, 1550 : but F. 
Simon says, it scarce differed 
from that of L'Empereur, in 
1534. Renatus Benoit published 
his French Bible 1567, and Cor- 
bin his in 1643. The first is said 
to be pirated, and the other to 
be harsh in its style, adhering 
too closely to the Vulgate. In 
1672, Isaac le Maitre de Sacy 
published his version, with short 
notes, to point out the literal and 
106 



BIB 

spiritual sense. It was received 
with great applause. The New 
Testament of Moris, done from 
the Vulgate, and published 1665, 
with the king of Spain and arch- 
bishop of Cambray's licence, is 
in a most clear and agreeable 
style : but Pope Clement the 9th 
and Innocent the 11th, with a 
number of French bishops, furi- 
ously prohibited it. About 1670, 
Amelotte, pretending to have 
ransacked the various libraries 
of Europe, and with great care 
to have collated the ancient 
manuscripts, published his New 
Testament. To his shame, it 
was found that he had scarce 
noted any new various readings 
of consequence: he himself was 
obliged to own that he had so 
boasted, to procure a sale for his 
book. In 1697, Bohours, and 
other two Jesuits, published 
their New Testament; but their 
strict adherence to the Vulgate 
has rendered their language 
harsh and obscure. In 1702, F. 
Simon published his New Tes- 
tament, with some literal and 
critical notes: the bishops of 
Paris and Meaux quickly con- 
demned it. Martianay published 
his New Testament in 1712. 
There are a number of French 
Bibles translated by Protestants. 
Faber's version of the New Tes- 
tament was printed for those of 
Piedmont, in 1534. Next year 
Peter Olivetan's Bible was pub- 
lished at Geneva; and being 
often reprinted, with the correc- 
tions of Calvin and others, is 
now a work of considerable ac- 
curacy. After some struggling 
with the French Protestant 
clergy, Diodati published his in 
1644; but, like his Italian and 
Latin versions, the translation is 
too free, and near to the nature 
of a paraphrase. Castalio pub- 
lished his; but both version and 
language have too much of a 
foppish levity. Le Clerc pub- 
lished his New Testament at 
Amsterdam 1703, with notes, 



BIB 

mostly borrowed from Grotius 
and Hammond. The States-Ge- 
neral prohibited it, as inclining 
to the Sabellian and Socinian 
heresies. La Cene published an- 
other, which shared much the 
same fate, on account of its fan- 
cies and errors. 

About Jl. D. 709, Adelm 
translated the Psalms into Eng- 
lish Saxon. About the same 
time Eadfrid translated other 
parts of scripture; and the Vene- 
rable Bcde translated the Gos- 
pels, if not the whole Bible. 
About 890, King Alfred trans- 
lated a great part of the scrip- 
ture. An Anglo-Saxon version 
of some books by Elfric, was 
published in 1699. A version of 
the Gospels was published by 
Parker, archbishop of Canter- 
bury, in 1571 ; but the author is 
unknown. At the request of 
Lord Berkley, John Trevisa 
translated the Bible into English, 
and finished his version A. D. 
1357, or, according to others, in 
1398. About 1360, John Wick- 
lirTe composed his version,which 
is still extant in several libraries 
of England. In 1526, Tindal 
published his New Testament. 
Most of the copies were bought 
up for the fire, by Bishop Ton- 
stal and Sir Thomas More. The 
price enabled Tindal to proceed 
in the translation of the Old Tes- 
tament. He was burnt in Flan- 
ders, just as he had prepared his 
Bible for a second edition. John 
Rogers, afterwards martyr, fin- 
ished the correction, and printed 
it at Hamburgh, under the name 
of Thomas Matthews: Cranmer, 
and Miles Coverdale, further 
corrected it. Cranmer got it 
printed by public authority in 
England ; and King Henry or- 
dered a copy of it to be set up in 
every church, to be read by every 
one that pleased. By advice of 
the Popish Bishops, he soon af- 
ter revoked this order, and pro- 
hibited the Bible. When Cover- 
dale, Knox, Samson, Goodman, 
107 



BIB 

Uilby, Cole, and Whittingham, 
were exiles, during the Marian 
persecution, they framed ano 
fher translation, with short notes, 
and got it printed at Geneva. It 
was much valued by the Puri- 
tans, and in about thirty years 
had as many editions. The 
bishops heartily hated it, and 
made a new one of their own, 
which was read in the churches, 
while the Geneva translation 
was gene raily read in families. 
About 1583, Laurence Thom- 
son published a translation of 
Beza*s New Testament, and an- 
notations. In the end of tiie 
16th, and beginning of the 17th 
century, the English Papists at 
Rheims published a version of 
the whole Bible. It was crowd- 
ed with barbarous terms, and 
attended with notes, calculated 
to support the Papacy: nor 
durst tiie Popish people read 
even this bad translation, with- 
out a licence from their supe- 
riors. 

At the Hampton-court confe- 
rence, the Puritans suggested 
unanswerable objections to the 
Bishops' Bible ; and King James 
heartily hated the Genevan 
translation. He therefore ap- 
pointed fifty- four learned per- 
sons to translate the scriptures 
anew, or at least compose a bet- 
ter translation out of many. 
Forty-seven of them ranged into 
six divisions, actually engaged 
in it, A. I). 1G07. After each 
had translated the portion as- 
signed him, they met together: 
one read the new version ; all 
the rest meanwhile held in their 
hand, either original copies, or 
some valuable version. When- 
ever they observed any thing, 
the reader stopped, till they con- 
sidered and agreed on it. In three 
years they finished their task : 
and their translation was pub- 
lished in 1610. It is still of pub- 
lic authority in the British do- 
minions, and next to the Dutch, 
u the best extant. Since that 



BIB 

time, Ainsworth, Doddridg* 
Wynne, Campbell, Haweis, 
Lowth, and others, have pub- 
lished their own versions ofpart 
of the sacred books, in English. 
The Dutch version and annota- 
tions have also been turned into 
our language. About 1630, Bi- 
shop Bedel of Kilmore employed 
one King, to translate the Eng- 
lish Bible into Irish. After it 
was finished, and Bedel had ex- 
amined it, he intended to print it 
at his own charge. Archbishop 
Laud and Lord Strafford pre- 
vented him, pretending it would 
be a reproach for the nation to 
use the version of so despicable 
a fellow as King. The manu- 
script however was not lost, but 
printed in 1685. Whether the 
Erse or Gaelic Bibles used in 
the Highlands of Scotland be 
nearly the same, I know not. 

The Turks have some manu- 
script translations of the Bible in 
their language. In 1666, a Turk- 
ish New Testament was printed 
at London, to be dispersed in the 
East. In 1721, it is said the 
Grand Signior ordered an impres- 
ion of Bibles at Constantinople, 
that they might be confronted 
with the Alcoran, or Mahome- 
tan oracle. About 1650 John 
Eliot published his translation 
of the Bible into the language of 
the American Indians of Massa- 
chusetts. About twenty years 
after, the honourable Robert 
Boyle procured a version of the 
New Testament into the Malay- 
an language, and sent the im- 
pression into the East Indies. 
[n 1711 Ziegenbalg and Grindler, 
Danish Missionaries, published 
their version of the New Testa- 
ment in the Malabrian language ; 
and afterwards proceeded to 
translate the Old ; but whether 
it be yet published I know not. 
The modern Greeks in Turkey 
have also a translation of the? 
Bible in their language. 

Since the institution of the 
British and Foreign Bible So- 
103 



BIB 
tiety, the whole Bible has been 
translated into almost all the 
written languages of the world. 
By the labours of missionaries, 
especially the Baptist, versions 
of the whole, or a part of the 
Scriptures, have been made into 
most of the languages of Hin- 
dostan, and also into the lan- 
guage of Burmah. The whole 
Bible has been translated into 
the Chinese, by the missionary, 
Morrison. A new translation of 
the New Testament into the 
Persic, has been made by Henry 
Martyn; and a new Turkish 
version has also been prepared. 
Besides, parts of the Scriptures 
have been translated into the 
languages of savage tribes, who, 
until visited by missionaries, had 
no written tongue. In short, 
more progress has been made 
in this century, already, in cir- 
culating the Bible through the 
world, than ever before. 

Since the Reformation, avast 
number of Latin versions have 
been formed by the Papists. Pag- 
nin published his in 1527: it is 
very literal, and generally exact. 
Montanus's corrections render it 
still more useful. By the assist- 
ance of two persons skilful in 
Hebrew,Cardinal Cajatan trans- 
lated part of the Old Testament. 
Isidorus Clarius undertook to 
correct the Vulgate from the 
Hebrew, and pretends he recti- 
fied above 800 passages. Of 
Protestants, Sebastian Munsrer 
published a literal but judicious 
translation. That of Leo Juda 
is more elegant Latin, but less 
conformable to the original. 
Castalio often renders his pom- 
pous, if not sometimes foppish 
. Latinity, more than the mind of 
the Holy Ghost. Junius, Tre- 
mellius, and Beza's translations 
are considerably exact, and have 
been frequently reprinted. Pis- 
cator's version, which he pub- 
lished a little before his death, 
along with his commentary, is 
•till more so. Schmidt's version 



BIB 

is somewhat harsh in the lan- 
guage, but very literal ; and, by 
its numerous supplements, also 
serves as a kind of commentary. 
It hath been printed along with 
a coarse edition of Vander 
Hooght's Hebrew Bible. 

For the more commodious 
comparison of different versions, 
sundry of them have been some- 
times joined together. In his 
octapla, or eight-fold Bible, Ori- 
gen arranged, in different co- 
lumns, a Hebrew copy, both in 
Hebrew and Greek characters, 
with six different Greek versions. 
Elias Hutter, a German, about 
the end of the 16th century,pub- 
lished the New Testament in 
twelve languages, viz. Greek, 
Hebrew, Syriac, Latin, Italian, 
Spanish, French, German, Bo- 
hemian, English, Danish, Polish; 
and the whole Bible in Hebrew, 
Chaldaic, Greek, Latin, Ger- 
man, and a varied version. But 
the most esteemed collections 
are those in which the originals, 
and ancient translations,are con- 
joined. Such as the Comply.- 
tcnsian Bible by cardinal Xi- 
menes, a Spaniard : the king of 
Spain's Bible, directed by 
Montanus, &c. ; the Paris Bible 
of Michael Jay, a French gen- 
tleman, in ten huge volumes fo- 
lio ; copies of which were pub- 
lished in Holland, under the 
name of pope Alexander the se- 
venth ; and that of Brian Wal- 
ton, afterward bishop of Ches- 
ter. This last is the most regu- 
lar and valuable. It contains 
the Hebrew and Greek originals, 
with Montanus's interlineary 
version ; the Chaldee paraphra- 
ses ; the Septuagint; the Sa- 
maritan Pentateuch ; the Syrian 
and Arabic Bibles ; the Persian 
Pentateuch and Gospels ; the 
Ethiopic Psalms, Song of Solo- 
mon, and New Testament, with 
their respective Latin transla- 
tions; together with the Latin 
Vulgate, and a large volume of 
various readings, to which isor- 
10 109 



BID 

dinarily joined, CastePs Hepta- 
glot Lexicon, all included in 
eight volumes folio. 

I cannot conceive one single 
character of a divine revelation, 
but what I find the writings of 
the Bible marked with. The di- 
vine authority, majesty, wisdom, 
holiness, and goodness discover- 
ed therein ; the depth, sublimity, 
purity, and benevolence of their 
matter : their scope, to render all 
the glory to God, and crush the 
corrupt inclinations of man ; the 
transcend ant loftiness of their 
style, even when suited to the 
capacity of the weak; the ob- 
vious candour of the writers, in 
relating the weaknesses and 
faults of themselves and their 
nation ; their amazing harmony, 
though of very different stations 
and ages, and publishing things 
contrary to the natural inclina- 
tions of men: the attestation of 
these writings by vast numbers 
of important, public, and incon- 
testible miracles ; the joyful suf- 
ferings of millions for their 
steadfast adherence thereto ; the 
marvellous preservation of them, 
and the signal strokes of divine 
vengeance on such as attempted 
to destroy them ; their amazing 
success, prevailing over the lusts 
of men, and furious opposition 
of worldly power, to the civiliz- 
ing of nations, and to convince, 
convert, and comfort the hearts 
of millions, the most obstinate 
the exact fulfilment of the nu- 
merous, the particularly circum- 
stantiated predictions thereof, — 
are infallible documents that they 
only are the word of God, able 
to make us wise unto salvation, 
and to convey to us eternal life, 
2 Tim. iii. 15—17. 

BID ; (1.) To invite, Mat. xxii. 
9. (2.) To command, 2 Kings x. 
5. God's bidding Shimei curse 
David, imports his permitting 
him to do so, and suffering Satan 
to excite him thereto, for the pu- 
nishment of David's sin, 2 Sam. 
xvi. 11. God's bidding his guests, 



BIL 

imports his providential opening 
of the way for the instruments 
of his vengeance, to fall on and 
devour guilty sinners, Zeph. i. 7. 
Our bidding one God speed, im- 
ports our wishing him success, 
2 John 10. 

BIER, a kind of instrument on 
which they carried dead bodies 
to their interment. It was gene- 
rally used only for the poorer 
sort, Luke vii. 14; and the rich 
were carried on a kind of bed, 
sometimes very splendid, 2 Sam. 
iii. 31. 

BILDAD, a descendant of 
Shuah, the son of Abraham by 
Keturah. He was one of Job's 
four visitants in his distress. In 
his two first replies to Job, he 
attempts to prove, that God only 
punisheth noted transgressors 
with severe afflictions; and insi- 
nuates that Job's sore calamities 
were a token of his being a hy- 
pocrite. In his last he celebrates 
the greatness and infinite purity 
of God, Job ii. 11. and viii. and 
xviii. and xxv. 

BILHAII. (1.) The handmaid 
of Rachel, concubine of Jacob, 
and mother of Dan and Naphtali. 
She committed incest with Reu- 
ben, Gen. xxix. 29 and xxx.3 — 8. 
and xxxv. 22. (2.) A city belong- 
ing to the Simoonites, 1 Chroiu 
iv. '20. See Baalah. 

BILL. (1.) x\ promise in wri- 
ting, Luke xvi. 6, 7. (2.) A bill 
of Divorce. When God asks the 
Jews, Where was the bill of 
their mother's divorcement, and 
to which of his creditors he had 
sold them? he either denies, that 
they were yet abandoned by 
him; or rather hints that not he 
but their own sins, were the 
guilty cause of the rejection of 
heir church and nation, and of 
their being delivered up into the 
hands of the oppressing Chalde- 
ans nnd Romans, Isa. 1. 1. 

BILLOWS, raging waves of 
the sea. Powerful armies are 
likened to waves, for their furi- 
ous approach, their overwheln*- 
110 



BIN 

ing and ruinous influence, Jer. 
li. 42. Wicked men are likened 
to raging waves, for their unset- 
tledness and inconstancy, Jam. 
i. 6 ; or their noisy and unsub- 
stantial doctrines, and their 
boasting to carry all before them, 
and to ruin every oppose r, Jude 
13. Grievous afflictions succeed - 
ing one another, are called God's 
waves and billows. Sent and 
ordered by God, they terrify, 
perplex, and threaten to destroy 
men, Psai. lxxxviii. 7. and lxix. 
1, 2. and exxx. 1. 

BIND; (1.) To tie firmly to- 
gether, Gen. xxxvii. 7. (2.) To 
fix in chains or cords, Acts xii. 
6. (3.) To engage by promise or 
oath, Num. xxx. 2. 9". 13. (4.) To 
restrain, Job xxviii. 11. (5.) To 
distress, trouble, Luke xiii. 1G. 
(6.) To impose with violence, 
Mat. xxiii. 4. (7.) To inflict or 
ratify church- censure, whereby 
men are restrained from full 
communion with the visible part 
of the mystical body of Christ. 
Mat. xvi. 19. and xviii. 18. God 
binds up men, or binds up their 
breach, when he protects, heals, 
delivers, and comforts them, Job 
v. 18. Psal. cxlvii. 3. Isa. xxx. 26. 
Ezek. xxxiv. 16. He bound and 
strengthened the arms of the 
Israelites when, by means of Je- 
hoash and Jeroboam, he reco- 
vered them to their former pow- 
er and glory, Hos. vii. 15. The 
binding of them in their two 
furrows, sins, or habitations, 
denotes their exposing of them- 
selves to certain punishment, by 
their obstinate forsaking of the 
Lord, and the family of David ; 
and their turning aside to other 
gods and kings ; or the Assyri- 
ans reducing them to brutal sla- 
very, Hos. x. 10. The binding 
up the testimony, and sealing 
the law among the disciples, 
may denote the preserving of the 
truths relative to the Messiah's 
birth and office, with great care 
and esteem, by the followers of 
Christ, even while they were hid 



BIR 
from the body of the Jewish na 
tion, Isa. viii. 16. Men's bind- 
ing God's laic on their hearts^ 
neck, hands, or fingers, imports 
their constant regard to it, and 
their consideration and practice 
of it, Prov. vi. 21. and iii.3. and 
vii. 3. Deut. vi.8. The binding 
of the wicked in bundles, or hand 
and foot, and casting them into 
hell, imports their deprivation of 
all liberty and ease, Mat. xiii. 30. 
and xxii. 13. Christ's binding of 
Satan, is his conquest of him, 
Matt. xii. 29. A nation is bound 
up, like the wounds or bruises 
of a man, when their deliverance 
is begun, Jer. xxx. 13. The wind 
bound up the Israelites in her 
wings; the whirlwind of God's 
wrath, and the Assyrian forces, 
fast seized them, and violently 
carried them into captivity, Hos. 
iv. 19. Their iniquity was bound 
up, and sin hid: remained un- 
forgiven, exactly remembered by 
God, and ready to be produced 
against them in judgment, and 
its punishment executed on 
them, Hos. xiii. 12. 

BIRDS. Of these there are 
many species, both of clean and 
unclean, of which catalogues are 
given in the Law; but none of 
these were used in the Levitical 
sacrifices, except turtle doves, or 
young pigeons, Deut. xxii. 6, 7, 
and xiv. Lev. xi. No particular 
characters are given in Scrip- 
ture for distinguishing birds by 
classes, as clean or unclean ; but 
a list of exceptions is tendered, 
and these are forbidden, without 
enumerating those which are 
allowed. However, it will be 
found, on consideration, that 
those which live on grain are 
not prohibited. As these are the 
domesticated kinds, we might 
almost express it in other words, 
that birds of prey generally are 
rejected ; that is/such as have 
crooked beaks and strong talons, 
whether they prey on lesser 
fowls or animals, or on fish ; 
111 



BIR 

whilst those which eat vegetables 
are admitted as lawful. The 
number of birds prohibited in 
Scripture is twenty. Birds were 
offered in sacrifice on many oc- 
casions : in the sacrifices for sin, 
he who had not a lamb or a kid, 
might offer two turtles, or young 
pigeons; one for a sin-offering, 
the other for a burnt-offering. 

BIRTH. The saving change 
of men's nature is a birth or 
being born again. By divine 
influence, and painful convic- 
tion, they have a new nature 
formed in them; are brought 
from darkness to light ; become 
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with 
Christ ; and begin to live on the 
sincere milk of God's word, John 
iii. 5. The church and her faith- 
ful ministers, travail as in birth, 
by earnest prayers, laborious in- 
structions, and by patient suffer- 
ing of manifold distress, they 
exert themselves to promote the 
conversion of men to God and 
his way, Rev. xii. 2. Gal. iv. 9. 
Born not of blood, nor of the 
will of the flesh, nor of the will 
of man, but of God ; adopted 
into God's family, not because 
descended from holy patriarchs, 
or sharing in circumcision or sa- 
crifices, or because of any natu- 
ral endowments, or cultivation 
of natural powers, or as acting 
according to human exhorta- 
tions, John i. 13. Our spiritual 
birth is of God, is of the Spirit, 
and from above; in regard that 
change is effected by the power 
of the divine Spirit, and therein 
a heavenly and spiritual nature 
like unto God is given to us, 
1 John iii. 9. John i. 13. and iii. 
3 — 6. — Ishmael was bom after 
the flesh, by the power of nature; 
Isaac, by promise ; by the 
miraculous influence of God's 
Spirit, when Sarah his mother 
was naturallv past child-bear- 
ing, Gal. iv. 23, 2J. 

Birth-right, the privilege of 
a first-born son. With the He- 
brews he was peculiarly the 



BIS 

Lord's ; had a double share of 
his father's inheritance; had do- 
minion over his brethren and sis- 
ters ; and succeeded his father in 
the kingdom or high-priesthood, 
Exod. xxii. 29. Deut. xxi. 17. 
Num. viii. 14,17. Esau sold his 
birth-right to Jacob ; and so Ja- 
cob had a right candidly to de- 
mand his father's blessing. Reu- 
ben forfeited his birth-right, by 
his incest with his father's con- 
cubine ; and so his tribe continu- 
ed alway in obscurity, while his 
younger brethren shared the pri- 
vileges. Levi had the priesthood, 
Judah the royalty, and Joseph 
the double portion, Gen. xxv. 31 
— 34. and xiix. See First-born. 
BISHOPS, or Overseers. The 
managers or directors of any 
piece of business, are, in the Old 
Testament, called the overseers 
thereof. Thus Joseph was the 
overseer of Potiphar's family 
who took care to provide thing3 
necessary, and that the servants 
went rightly about their work, 
Gen. xxxix.4. It is said the name 
was first given to clerks of the 
market, who inspected what was 
bought and sold. It is certain, in 
every important work, as in the 
building and repairs of the tem- 
ple, there were overseers to ob- 
serve and direct the workmen, 
2 Chron. ii. 18. and xxxi. 13. 
Under the New Testament, 
bishop, or overseer, is restricted 
to spiritual rulers. It is well 
known that different views are 
entertained with respect to the 
office of bishop. On the one 
hand, it is held that when appli- 
ed to mere men, it does not ever 
signify more than a pastor; that 
no where are any but deacons 
ma rked as subordinate iobishops % 
Phil. i. 1. 1 Tim. iii. The very 
same persons are called bishops 
and elders, Acts xx. 17, 28. Tit. 
i. 5, 7. 1 Pet. v. 1, 2. During the 
three first centuries of Christiani- 
ty, the pastors of particular con- 
gregations were so called; but 
the name was given by way of 
112 



BIS 

eminence to him, who, on ac- 
count of his age or superior judg- 
ment, presided in their courts. 
On the other hand, the bishop is 
held to be a superior officer in 
the church, presiding over a 
body of clergy embraced within 
a diocess. The name imported, 
that their business was to watch 
over, care lor, and instruct the 
people. No man was to be ad- 
mitted to the office, except he 
was blameless, the husband of 
one wife if married at all, vigi- 
lant, sobei, of good behaviour, 
given to hospitality, apt to teach, 
not given to wine, no striker, 
not greedy of filthy lucre ; but 
patient ; not a brawler, nor co- 
vetous, lTim. ni. Tit. i. Christ 
is a Bishop of souls; sent by 
his Father, he spiritually and 
effectually instructs, watches 
over, and governs the souls of 
bis people, 1 Pet. ii. 23. 

The jurisdiction of a bishop in 
England, consists in collating 
to benefices; granting institu- 
tutions on the presentations of 
other patrons ; commanding in- 
duction; taking care of the pro- 
fits of vacant benefices, for the 
use of the successors ; visiting 
his diocess once in three years ; 
in suspending, depriving,degrad- 
ing, and excommunicating; in 
granting administrations, and 
superintending the probate of 
wills. These parts of his func- 
tion depend on the ecclesiastical 
law. By the common law, he 
is to certify the judges respecting 
legitimate and illegitimate births, 
and marriages ; and to this juris- 
diction, by the statute law, be- 
longs the licensing of physicians, 
chirurgeons, and schoolmasters, 
and the uniting of small parishes. 
This last privilege is now pecu- 
liar to the bishop of Norwich. 
The bishops' courts possess this 
privilege above the civil courts, 
that writs are issued from the 
former in the name of the bishop 
himself, and not in that of the 
king. The judge of the bishop's 



e2 



10* 



BI1 

court is his chancellor, anciently 
called ecclesiae causidicus, the 
church lawyer. 

BISHOPRIC, or Oversight: 
the charge of instructing and 
governing souls, Acts i. 20. 1 
Pot. v. 2. 

BIT, the snafEe of a bridle, 
that is put into the horse's mouth, 
or the whole bridle, Psal. xxxi. 
9. James iii. 3. 

BITHYNIA, a province on 
the south of the Euxine sea, west 
of Pontus and Galatia, north of 
Asia Proper, and east of the Pro- 
pontis. It was famed in the time 
of the Argonautic expedition, 
which might be during the reign 
of Rehoboam, if not much ear- 
lier. It is now called Becksan- 
gil ; and, if cultivated, would 
be a fruitful soil. The towns of 
note in it were, Prusa, Nice, Ni- 
comedia, Chalcedon, Libyssa, 
Therma. Before Paul first tra- 
velled into Europe, the Holy 
Ghost allowed him not to preach 
here, Acts xvi. 7. But afterward 
a church was here planted, and 
a number of Jews and others be- 
lieved, 1 Pet. i. 1. The centu- 
riators of Magdeburg trace the 
history of Christianity here till 
the 10th century: nay, there 
still remain some pitiful vestiges 
thereof. 

Bithynia was separated from 
Paphlagonia, on the east by the 
river Parthenius ; on the west 
were the sea of Marmora, and 
the river Rhyndacus (now Me- 
hullidsch ;) on the north the 
Black Sea, and on the south 
Phrygia and Galatia. The river 
Sangarius (now Sacari) falls 
into the Black Sea. Olympius 
is the principal mountain. — 
Among its cities, two are worthy 
of notice : Nice which was for- 
merly called Antigonia, and now 
Isniky at which was held, A. 
D. 325, the first general council, 
at which Arianism was con- 
demned : and Chalcedon, now 
called Kadikjoi, where was 
held, A. D. 451, the fourth gene- 



113 



BLA 

ral council, at which the Euty- 
chians were condemned. The 
apostle Paul was prevented from 
vijsitins: Bithynia. Acts xvi. 7. 

BITTERN, a fowl about the 
«ize of a heron, and of that kind, 
though the colour be very dif- 
ferent. The crown of its head is 
black ; and there is a black spot 
near each angle of the mouth. 
Its neck is covered with long fea- 
thers. Its back and upper parts 
are beautifully speckled with 
black, brown, and gray ; and its 
belly is whitish. It is common 
in fen countries, skulks among 
the reeds and sedges, and ordi- 
narily stands with its neck and 
beak straight upward. It suffers 
people to come very near it ; 
and if unable to escape, will 
strike at them, chiefly at their 
eyes. It flies mostly in the du.sk 
of the evening, and makes a 
very odd noise among the reeds, 
and a different one when it 
mounts into the sky, into which 
it ascends by a straight spiral as- 
cent till it is quite out of sight. 
Nineveh and Babylon became a 
possession for the bittem y when 
the spot was partly turned into a 
ton, or poo! of wafer, Isa. xiv. 
23. Zeph. ii. 14. But the kip- 
pod is by some interpreters ren- 
dered an owl, an osprey, a tor- 
toise, a beaver; and Bochart 
will have if, a hedge-hog. 

BITUMEN; a combustible. 
oily substance, found in many 
places, particularly about Baby- 
lon. With this Noah coated 
over the ark ; and with this, in- 
stead of mortar, were the brinks 
cemented in the building of Ba- 
bel. Gen. vi. 14. xi. 3. 

BLACK, blackness, applied 
to gates, skin, face, raiment, 
imports great distress, and bitter 
grief and mourning, Jer. viv. 2. 
and viii. 21. Joel ii. 6.; but 
when applied to the hair of one's 
head, it signifies beauty, fresh- 
ness, and soundness, Lev. xiii. 
37. Song v. 11. In respect of re- 
maining corruptions and arrlic- 



BLA 

tions, the church and people of 
God are black ; but in respect of 
Christ's ordinances, imputed 
righteousness, and implanted 
grace, they are comely, Song i. 
5, 6. To mark dread, fear, and 
perplexity, the Jews and Assy- 
rians are called black, Nah. ii. 
10. Hell is called the blackness 
of darkness: How terrible is 
every appearance there ! what 
eternal torment, perplexity, de- 
spair and sorrow ! Jude 13. 

BLADE; (1.) The cutting 
part of a dasser or sword, Judg. 
lii. 22. (2.f The first growth of 
the corn, Matth. xiii. 26. (3.) 
The bone wherein our arm is 
fixed. 

BLAINS, burning blisters, or 
boils, Exod. ix. 9, 10. 

BLAME; (1.) A charge of 
guilt, Gen. xliii. 9. (2.) To 
charge with guilt; reprove, 2 
Oor. vi. 3. Blameless, or un- 
blameable, without open fault 
or allowed ?uile, Luke i. 6. 

BLASPHEME: to reproach 
and revile God, by denying or 
ridiculing his perfections, word, 
or ordinances, and by ascribing 
to him any thing base or sinful, 
2 Sam. xii. 14. Tit. ii. 5. Rev. 
xiii. 6. In an improper sense, 
men are said to be blnsphemed % 
when vilely reproached and 
mocked, 1 kinirs xxi. 10. Rom. 
iii. 8. Gr. Blasphimy against 
God, ought to be punished with 
death by the civil magistrate, 
and with delivery unto Satan by 
the church, Lev. xxiv. 10. What 
the unpardonable blasphemy a- 
vainst the Holy Ghost is, hath 
been much controverted. The 
occasion of Christ's mentioning 
it, Matth. xii. 31. hath tempted 
many to think, it lay in ascrib- 
ing his miracles to diabolical in- 
fluence: but when we consider 
also, Heb. vi. 4, 5. and x. 26 — 30. 
it appears that an ob-tinate and 
malicious rejection of Christ;and 
the whole plan of salvation 
through him, notwithstandingthe 
strong convictions of the Holy 
114 






BL.U. 

Ghost, is indeed this dreadful 
crime, which, to deter men from 
presumptuous sins, God hath 
fixed as unpardonable. 

To BLAST ; to wither; 
parch, Hag. ii. 17. 

Blast; (1.) A storm of wind, 
or frost, that withers the fruits 
of the earth, Gen. xli. 6. (2.) 
A sounding of horns or trum- 
pets, Josh. vi. 5. The blast of 
God, or of his nostrils, is his 
alarming, violent, and destruc- 
tive judgments, Exod. xv. 8. 2 
Kings xix. 7. The blast of the 
terrible ones against the wall, is 
the noisy, violent, furious, and 
short-lived attempts of the wick- 
ed against the saints ; particu- 
larly Rabshakeh's reproachful 
demand of a surrender, and Sen- 
nacherib's march of his army to 
attack Jerusalem, Isa. xxv. 4. 

BLASTUS. See Herod. 

BLAZE; to report a thing 
every where, Mark i. 45. 

BLEMISH, whatever renders 
a person or thing defective, or 
uncomely. To mark that Jesus, 
our great Priest and sacrifice, is 
complete, holy, harmless, and 
undefiled, the "Jewish priests and 
sacrifices were to be without 
blemish, such as wounds, blind- 
ness, lameness, &c. Lev. xxi. 
17—23. and xxii. 20—24. Scan- 
dalous professors are spots and 
blemishes ; are a reproach, dis- 
honour, and plague to the church 
and company that entertain 
them, 2 Pet. ii. 13. Jude 12. 

BLESS ; BLESSED, BLESS- 
ING. The scriptural view of 
these words may be best illus- 
trated by their opposite — the 
Curse. By the entrance of sin 
into this world, the curse of 
God came upon all that creation 
which God had so lately finished 
and declared to be very good. 
The curse extended to the earth 
and all that is therein ; the very 
air became the seat of the prince 
of darkness. This curse came 
by the transgression of the first 
Adam ; and the Son of God was 



BLO 

manifested to destroy the works 
of the devil, and introduce a 
blessing, a blessing extensive a9 
the curse ; nay, as Paul emphati- 
cally expresses it, as sin hath 
reigned unto death, even so 
should grace reign r through 
righteousness, unto eternal life. 

BLIND, blindness. Blind- 
ness is sometimes taken for a real 
privation of light, sometimes for 
no more than a dimness of sight; 
for example, the blindness of the 
man in the gospel who was born 
blind, was real ; but Paul, for the 
three first days of his being at Da- 
mascus, lost the use of his sight 
only for a season ; the offices of 
his eyes were suspended. The 
Septuagint has extremely well 
represented the situation wherein 
the inhabitants of Sodom were, by 
expressing that they were struck, 
with an actual inability of seeing. 

BLOOD ; a red fluid that cir- 
culates through the veins of ani- 
mal bodies, and serves for the 
life and nourishment of the parts. 
1 Kings xx. 19 

God from the beginning for- 
bade the eating of blood alone, 
or mixed with flesh, i. e. crea- 
tures suffocated, or killed with- 
out discharging their blood from 
them ; because the life of the 
creature is in its blood; animal 
life does so depend on the bloody 
that no creature can live with- 
out it. God reserved to himself, 
the blood of all sacrifices ; he 
being absolute master of life and 
death. The blood of animals 
was poured upon his altar, or 
at the foot of his altar, accord- 
ing to the nature of the sacrifice ; 
and if the temple were too re- 
mote, it was poured upon the 
ground, and covered with dust. 
This blood of the sacrifices in 
the Old Testament, was figura- 
tive of that blond which Jesus 
Christ poured forth for us, for 
the forgiveness of sins. 

A man of blood; a husband of 
blood, (Ex. iv. 25.) a cruel and 
sanguinary man, a husband pur 
115 



oA 

chased with blood, or who is the 
occasion and cause of the effu 
sion of his son's blood ; thus Zip- 
porah called her husband Moses, 
when she had circumcised her 
son ; others render it, " Thou 
art now a husband to me by 
blood;" i. e. by the blood of the 
covenant; by circumcision. — 
" To build one's house with 
blood;' 1 '' Hab. ii. 12; with op- 
pression, and the blood of the 
unhappy. " To wash one's feet 
in blood" to obtain a signal and 
bloody victory, Psalm lvii. 11. 
The vulgate reads, to wash his 
hands; the Hebrew, he shall 
wash his feet. 

Blood of the Covenant, Exod. 
xxiv. 8. Heb. x. 29. xiii. 20. 

The blood of Jesus Christ is 
the price of our salvation ; " his 
bloodlvds purchased his church," 
Acts xx. 28. " We are justified 
in his blood" Rom. v. 9; Eph. 
i. 7. "We have redemption 
through his blood" Colos. i. 14. 
"By his blood he hath pacified 
all things in heaven and earth," 
Colos. i. 20. " By his own blood 
he entered once into the holy 
place, having obtained eternal 
redemption for us. His blood 
cleanseth from all sin, 1 John i. 7. 

Blood, means kindred, or rela- 
tionship. Lev. xiii. 6. Acts xvii. 
26. 

Flesh and blood, in the New 
Testament, signify men ; espe- 
cially men of the world, Matt, 
xvi. 17. 1 Cor. xv. 50. Ephes. 
vi. 12. 

Blood was forbidden to be eat- 
en, in the law, and in the apostol- 
ical decree. 

Blood-guiltiness ; the guilt of 
shedding the blood of a human 
being, or murder, Psal. Ii. 14. 

BOANERGES, sons of thun- 
der, James and John, sons of 
Zebedee, were so named by our 
Lord, Mark iii. 17. 

BOAR, a fierce and voracious 
animal. The destroying and 
persecuting enemies of the Old 
Testament church, are termed 



BuA 

the wild boar of the forest, Peal. 
lxxx. 13. 

BOAZ was the son of Salmon 
and Rahab. Salmon ofthe tribe 
of Judah, married Rahab, a Ca- 
naanitess of Jericho, who bore 
to him Boaz, one of our Sa- 
viour's ancestors according to 
the flesh. Some say there were 
three of this name, the son, 
grandson, and great grandson, 
of Salmon ; the last Boaz, was 
husband of Ruth, and father of 
Obed. They pretend, that the 
Scripture cannot he rendered 
reconcilable with itself any other 
way, since it reckons 306 years 
between Salmon's marriage and 
the birth of David, and yet men- 
tions only three persons between 
Salmon and David, namely, 
Boaz, Obed, and Jesse. ButLe 
Clerc observes, that this cannot 
be the case, since neither the 
genealogy of David, (1 Chron. 
ii. 11, 12,) nor that of Jesus 
Christ, (Matt. i. 5,) reckons any 
more. Besides, if any name was 
omitted in this genealagy, it 
must have been so omitted be- 
fore the time of the writer of the 
Chronicles, when the Jews were 
in captivity, as it is improbable 
but that, while the kingdom of 
Judah continued, an accurate 
genealogical table of the princes 
was preserved. 

BOAZ signifies strength, firm 
ness. It is the name of one of 
the brazen pillars erected in the 
porch of the temple by Solo- 
mon, which stood on the left 
hand ; while the other, called 
Jachin, stood on the right. — 
Together they were thirty-five 
cubits high, 2 Chron. iii. 15; 
that is, each was separated se- 
venteen cubits and an half. In 
other parts of Scripture, each 
is said to be eighteen cubits, in 
round numbers, 1 Kings vii. 15; 
Jer. Iii. 21. Jeremiah says, that 
the thickness of these columns 
was four fingers, for they wer» 
hollow; that the circumference 
of them was twelve cubits, or 
116, 






BOH 
four cubits in diameter; and 
that the chapiter of each was in 
all five cubits high, Jer. lii. 81, 
22; 1 Kings vii. 16. In different 
parts of Scripture, these chapi- 
ters are said to be of different 
heights, or three, four, or five 
cubits ; because they were com- 
posed of different ornaments, 
or members, which were some- 
times considered a^ omitted, and 
sometimes as included. The 
body of the chapiter was of 
three cubits ; the ornaments with 
which it was joined to the shaft 
of the pillar, were of one cubit ; 
and the row which wa3 at the 
top of the chapiter, was also 
of one cubit. These make in 
all five cubits. From the differ- 
ent accounts in the Scripture of 
the height of these pillars, some 
have thought that there were 
two different cubits. 

Mr. Hutchinson has attempt- 
ed to show, that upon these 
columns was represented the 
system of this world, which he 
insists was given in writing by 
God to David, and by David to 
Solomon, and wrought upon the 
pillars by Hiram. 

BOCHER A, the first born, the 
son of i\sel, 1 Chron. viii. 38. 

BOCHIM, weeping- ; a place 
where the Hebrews assembled 
some time after Joshua's death. 
Probably it was near Shiloh, 
where they met at their solemn 
feasts. 

BODY, is either natural, or 
spiritual. — Man's body, in its 
present state, is called his na- 
tural body, in distinction from 
the spiritual body which shall 
he raised up at the resurrection 
of the dead; for flesh and blood 
cannot inherit the kingdom of 
God, 1 Cor. x. 17. 

BOHAN. a Reubenite, who, 
it seems, did some noted exploits 
in the conquest of Canaan, and 
had a stone reared to his ho- 
nour, on the frontier between 
Judah and Benjamin, Josh, x.6, 
and ivii. 17. 



BOO 

BOND. (1.) A band or chain, 
Acts xxv. 14. (2.) An obligation, 
or vow, Num. xxx. 12. (3.) Op- 
pression; captivity; affliction, 
outward or inward, Psal. cxvi. 
16. Phil. i. 7. (4.) The laws of 
God or men, which restraiu li- 
centiousness of every kind. (5.) 
The bond of Christianity. 

BOND, such as are in slavery 
and bondage, 1 Cor. xii. 13. Rev. 
vi. 15. 

BONDMAN orBONDMAH), 
servants bought with money, or 
taken captives in war. No Jew 
was to be a bond-servant ; they 
were often reminded of their 
bondage in Egypt, from which 
theGod of Israel redeemed them, 
and which was the ground of the 
old covenant, and a figure of that 
spiritual redemption which was 
the ground of the new covenant. 

BONES. (1.) The hard parts 
of animal bodies, which support 
their form, Job x. 11. (2.) A 
dead body, 1 Kings xiii. 31. 2 
Kin^s xiii. 21. 

BONNETS. According to the . 
Jews, bonnets and mitres are the 
same, and were made of a piece 
of linen sixteen yards long,which 
covered their priests' heads, in 
form of a helmet ; that of the 
common priests being roundish, 
and that of the high-priest point- 
ed at the top. Josephus will have 
the bonnet of the common priests 
to have been made of a great 
many rounds of linen, sewed in- 
to the form of a crown, and the 
whole covered with a fold of 
plain linen to hide the seams; 
and the high-priest to have had 
another above this, of a violet 
colour, which was encompassed 
with a triple crown of gold, with 
small buttons of henbane flow 
ers, interrupted in the forepart 
with the golden plate, inscribed, 
Holiness to the Lord. These 
bonnets and mitres of the priests 
represented the pure and excel- 
lent royalty of our blessed High. 
Priest Christ, Exod. xxviii. 40. 

BOOK: in Latin, Liber t in 
117 



BOO 

Hebrew Sepker, in Greek Biblos. 
Several sorts of materials were 
used formerly in making books. 
Plates of lead and copper, the 
barks of trees, bricks, stone, and 
wood, were the first matters em- 
ployed to engrave such things 
and monuments upon as men 
were willing to have transmitted 
to posterity. The letters which 
Rabshakeh delivered from Sen- 
nacherib to Hezekiah, are called 
a book. The contract which 
Jeremiah confirmed for the pur- 
chase of a field, is called by the 
eame name. Ahasuerus's edict 
in favour of the Jews is likewise 
called a book. Job wishes, that 
his judge or his adversary would 
himself write his sentence. The 
writing likewise which a man 
gave to his wife when he divor- 
ced her, was called a book of di- 
vorce. 

Book, a written register of 
events, or declaration of doc- 
trines and laws, Gen. v. 1. Esth. 
vi. 1. The books of Moses are 
the most ancient in being ; nor 
does it appear that any were 
written before them. Josophus 
says, the children of Seth, before 
the flood, wrote their discoveries 
in arts, and in astronomy and 
other sciences, upon two pillars; 
the one of stone, to withstand a 
deluge ; and the other of brick, 
to endure a conflagration: but 
the obscurity of his narrative, 
and the want of concurring evi- 
dence, render his account very 
suspicious. Moses' books are 
called the book of the law; and 
a copy of Deuteronomy, if not 
the whole of them, was laid up 
in some repository of the ark, 
Deut. xxxi.26. Hcsiod's works 
were written on tables of lead ; 
the Roman laws on twelve tables 
of brass ; Solon's on wood ; and i 
those of God on stone, probably ! 
marble. In very ancient times 
the Persians and Ionians wrote 
on skins. When Attalus formed 
his library, about A. M. 3770, i 
he either invented or improved i 



BOO 

parchment. This, when written 
on, was either sewed together in 
long rolls, and written only on 
one side, in the manner of the 
copy of the law now used in the 
Jewish synagogues ; or, it was 
formed in the manner of our 
books. Some Indian books are 
extant, written on leaves of the 
Malabar palm-tree. Books now, 
and for aboutfive hundred years 
backward have been generally 
written on linen paper. 

The book of the Lord is either 
the scriptures, Isa. xxxiv. 16. ; or 
his purpose, wherein every thing 
is regulated and fixed, Psalm 
cxxxix. 16. Rev. v. 1. and x. 2. ; 
or his providential care and sup- 
port of men's natural life, Exod. 
xxxii. 32. Psal. lxix. 28.; or his 
omniscient observation and fixed 
remembrance of things, Psal. lvi. 
8. Mai. iii. 16. Men's conscience 
is like to a book; it records what- 
ever they have done, Dan. vii.10. 
The opening of the books at the 
last day, denotes the manifesta- 
tion of the purposes and words 
of God, and the exact procedure 
in judgment, according to divine 
purposes, laws, and real facts, 
Rev. xx. 12. Christ's opening 
the sealed book, imports his pre- 
declaration and exact fulfilment 
of the purposes of God, relative 
to the New Testament church, 
Rev. v. 1. and viii. 1. 

BOOTH, a tent madeofbranch- 
es, and covered. Jacob made 
booths for his cattle. The Israel- 
ites made booths to dwell in, Lev. 
xxiii. 42, 43. During the feast 
of tabernacles they dwelt in 
booths of green boughs of trees, 
Neh. viii. 14. 17. 

BOOTY, prey, spoil. (1 ) 
What a wild beast catcheth for 
its provision, Amos iii. 4. (2.) 
What is taken by conquerors 
and robbers, ravaging like wild 
beasts, Job x.xiv. 5. Isa. x. 2. 
(3.) The unjust forcing of men's 
goods from them is called a.spoil y 
Jer. xx. 8. and vi. 7. Of the 
booty taken from the Midian- 
118 









BOT 

ites, the warriors had the one 
half, and God a five hundreth 
part of it; the congregation of 
Israel had the other half, and 
the Lord a fiftieth part of it; 
but this appears to have been 
no stan ling law, N im.. xxxi. 

BORDER. (I.) The edging or 
hem, E*od. xxv. 25. Mark vii. 
5G. (2.) A coast; boundary, 
Gen. xlix. 13. The borders of 
garments enlarged by the Phari- 
sees, were the fringe worn by 
the Hebrews, as a memorial 
of their separation to God's ser- 
vice, and subjection to bis law, 
Matt, xxiii. 5. The church's bor- 
ders, or hems of gold, with 
studs of silver, are her divine 
ordinances, which being pre- 
cious, exceedingly beautify and 
adorn bar, Song i. 11. 

BORROW. Where our trans- 
lation reads that the Hebrews 
borrowed things of value from 
the Egyptians, the Hebrew word 
signifies merely to ask, and doth 
uot imply any pro;nise of return- 
ing them. To borrow money or 
goods, without earnestly endea- 
vouring to pay in due time, is a 
token of a covetous an i wicked 
person, Psal. xxxvi.. "21 ; and it 
is sinful to injure what we have 
borrowed, Exod. xxii. 14, 15. 

BOSOM. (1.) That partof the 
body which encloses the hear;:, 
Exod. iv. 6. (2.) The arms, Ps, 
exxix 7. To have one in our 
bosom, implies tenderness; kind- 
ness; sec-ecy, Gen. xvi. 5. 2 
Bam. xii. 8. livings i. 2. Isa. xl. 
11. Christ's being in the bosom 
of the Father, imports his one. 
ness of nature, equality of per- 
son, infinite dearness to, and full 
knowledge of all the secrets of 
tie Path r, J\.h i i. 13. 

BOSSES, the thickest and 
strongest parts of a buckler, 
Job xv. 26. 

BOTTLE. Anciently bottles 
were a kind of ieathern bags, 
generally made of goats' skin, 
with the hairy side inmost, and 
finely sewed or pitched together ; 



BOW 

the longer they were worn the 
worse they grew, especially if 
hung near a fire, Gen. xxi. 14, 
Josh. ix. 4. 13. Our Saviour 
s.iys, "men do not put new 
wine into old bottles, else the 
bottles break, and the wine run- 
neth out." His apostles were, 
as it were, old bottles before the 
descent of the Holy Spirit upon 
them ; they were not capable 
either of comprehending, or of 
practising all that perfection 
which Jesus Christ came to 
teach mankind. The Psalmist, 
designing to exalt the power of 
God, says, that he holdeth the 
waters of the sea, shut up, as it 
were, in a bottle; and, speaking 
of the passage through the Red 
sea, he says, in like manner, 
that he shut up the waters as in a 
bottle. He locked them up, 
drew them back, bound them 
up. In another place, he com- 
pares himself to a bottle exposed 
to the frost, or, to the smoke; 
i. e. a bottle dried, blackened, or 
shrivelled. When Abraham dis- 
missed Hagar, he gave her and 
her son bread, and water in a 
bottle, for their journey. 

BOUGH, or Branch of a tree, 
see Judges ix. 43. Tne church 
of God is often spoken of in 
Scripture under the figure of a 
tree. Christ himself says, John 
xv. 1 — 5. lam the true vine, and 
you are the branches. We find 
him spoken of in a very distin- 
guished manner by the prophets, 
l<s the Branch, and the Branch 
of righteousness, which was to 
spring out of the root of Jesse, 
and to be beautiful and glorious. 

BOW, a weapon of war, made 
of horn, wood, steel, or the like ; 
which after being strongly bent 
by means of a string fastened to 
its ends, in returning to its na- 
tural state throws off an arrow 
with great force. It is one of 
the most ancient and general 
weaoons; is found in the most 
remote and barbarous countries; 
and is sometimes put for wea 
119 



BOZ 

pons of war in general, Ps. xliv. 
6. The Orientals carried their 
bows in cases, from which they 
drew them out when they in- 
tended to shoot with them, Hab. 
iii. 9. Probably the Hebrews 
learned the use of bows from the 
Philistines, and did not much 
practise it till the days of David. 

To Bow ; to bend downwards 
in giving homage, or for weak- 
ness or pressure, Gen. xxii. 12. 
Eccl. xii. 3. Hab. iii. 6. God 
bowing his heaven, or his ear, 
towards men, imports his in- 
finite condescension and regard 
to them. 

BOWELS, the inward parts 
ef the human body, 2 Sam. xx. 
10. Bowels, when ascribed to 
God, denote his infinite compas- 
sion and tender mercy. 

BOX-TREE. It is thought 
that the word translated " box- 
tree" in Isa xli. 9, Ix. 13. Ezek. 
xxvii. 6. must mean a much 
more stately tree than the com- 
mon box-tree. The Hebrew- 
word implies flourishing or per- 
petual viridity. 

BOZRAH, the same with 
Bezer in the wilderness. It be- 
longed to the Reubenites, and 
stood in a plain about the south- 
east border of their country, not 
far from the source of the river 
Arnon. 

Bozrah, called by the Greeks 
and Romans Bostra, stood 
about 24 Roman miles fiorn 
Edrei. It is commonly spoken 
of in the Old Testament, Gen. 
xxxvi. 33, Isa. xxxiv. 6, lxiii. 
1, Amosi. 12, Jer. xlix. 13, 2-2, 
as the capital city of Edom; 
but, since Jeremiah mentions it, 
(xlviii. 24,) as a city of the Mo- 
abites, it is probable that it. was 
taken from the children of Am- 
mon by the Edomites, and after- 
wards from them by the Moab- 
ite3, who kept possession of it. 
In later timas it was a bishop's 
see, and afterwards a strong 
hold of the Nestorians. Though 
for the most part in ruins, it is 



BRE 

still the largest place in Hauran 
or Auranitis. 

BRACELET, an ornamental 
chain of silver, gold, &c. to wear 
about one's wrist or leg^ Geo. 
xxiv. 30. 

BRANCH. See Bough. 

BRAND, a burning stick, 
Judg. xv. 5. Joshua the high- 
priest, and all other saints, are 
brands plucked out of the burn- 
ing ; from the furnace of their 
natural enmity against himself. 

BRASS, a hard, strong and 
shining metal. The brass used 
in the erection of the tabernacle 
and temple, may be an emblem 
of Christ in his strength, purity, 
and humiliation ; and of the out- 
wardly mean, but firm duration 
of his gospel ordinances, Exod 
xxv. xxvii. 

BRAVERY, finery of apparel, 
Isa. iii. 18. 

BRAY. (1.) To cry as an ass 
or thirsty hart, Job vi. 5. Psal. 
xlii. 1. (1.) To bruise small; 
torment unto utter extinction, 
Prov. xxvii. 22. 

BREAD, being a principal 
article of man's food, is put for 
the whole of it, Gen. iii. 19. The 
Hebrews baked their bread on 
the coals, or under the warm 
ashes, 1 Kings xix. 6. Gen. xviii. 
6. To this day, the Arabs, and 
some other eastern nations, bake 
their bread between two fires of 
cow's dung, which roast it very 
slowly. The crumb is very good, 
if eaten the same day; but the 
crust is black, burnt, and tastes 
of the fuel. 

Shew-bread, or bread of faces; 
that which stood before the 
Lord, on the golden table, in the 
inner end of ' the sanctuary. — 
Twelve loaves of the flour salted 
were set on it, it seems, in two 
rows, every Sabbath, and the 
stale ones taken away, and eaten 
by the priests in the holy place. 

Jesus Christ is called bread; 

by a believing application of his 

person and righteousness, are 

our souls spiritually nourished. 

120 



BRE 
He is the true bread, which was 
typified by the ancient manna, 
and on which our souls are 
truly supported and comforted. 

BREAK ; (1.) To dash a thing 
to pieces, or sever one part from 
another, Exod. xxxiv. 13. (2.) 
Tc punish, afflict, Job xiii. 25. 
And to break with breach on 
breach, is to afflict with one sore 
trouble after another, Job xvi. 
14. (3.) To destroy, render use- 
less, Psal. x. 15. (4.) To make 
void a covenant, or disobev a 
law, 1 Kings xv. 19. (5.) "To 
take away, Psal. cv. 16. The 
breaking of the heart, denotes 
great inward grief and trouble. 
To break up our fallow ground, 
is to study a deep conviction of 
gin and misery, and care to be 
reformed by means of God's 
word. The breaking of the day, 
signifies the first appearance of 
the morning light. Breaking of 
bread, signifies the giving and 
receiving of the Lord's Supper. 

BREASTPLATE. A part of 
the high-priest's sacred apparel 
It was about ten inches square, 
and consisted of a folded piece of 
the same rich embroidered stuff 
whereof the robe of the ephod 
was formed. It was set with 
twelve different precious stones, 
fastened in ouches of gold, one 
for every Hebrew tribe. These 
were set in four rows : in the up- 
permost were a sardius, topaz, 
and carbuncle, for Reuben, Si- 
meon, and Levi; in the second, 
an emerald, sapphire, and dia- 
mond, for Judah, Dan, and 
Naphtali ; in the third, a figure, 
an agate, and amethyst, for Gad, 
Asher, and Issachar ; in the low- 
est, a beryl, onyx, and jasper, for 
Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin, 
This was fastened on the high- 
priest's breast. By the two up- 
per corners, it was fastened to 
his shoulders ; by the two below 
it was fastened to the girdle of 
the ephod: by wearing it, he 
carried the twelve tribes, as on 
his heart before God. It is called 
F 11 



BR1 

the breastplate of judgment, as 
it contained the Urim and Thum- 
mim, whereby the Lord directed 
the Hebrews in difficult cases. 

It is also the name of a piece 
of defensive armour which was 
worn on the breast, 1 Thess. v. 8. 

BREATH, the natural re- 
ceiving and discharging of the 
air by our nostrils and mouth, 
Job ix. 18. Our natural life is 
called breath : by breathing of 
air it is maintained ; and as a 
puff of air it is easily extinguish 
ed, Psal. cxlvi. 4. Vigorous 
courage, and spiritual life, is 
called breath : it proceeds from 
the wind of God's Spirit, and 
renders men active and lively, 
Ezek. xxxvii. 5. 

BRIBE, a present given to a 
judge, to procure his favour to & 
cause ; or given to a witness, 
to entice him to swear falsely, 
Amos v. 12. Bribery is a high 
offence, and is severely punished 
by the laws of every commu- 
nity. It shows deep corruption 
in both parties. 

BRICK; clay kneaded or 
formed, and by fire hardened into 
a kind of stone. With bricks 
the tower of Babel was built, 
and pome altars to idols, Gem 
xi. 3. Isa. lxv. 3. They were 
much used for building in Egypt, 
and for paving and lining the 
sides of their many large canals, 
fcc 

BRIDE, a new married wife. 
The saints and church are a 
bride; they are betrothed and 
espoused to Jesus Christ ; they 
are adorned with the wedding 
garment of his righteousness, 
and rejoice in him, Rev. xxii. 17. 
xxi. 9. 

BRIDEGROOM, a new mar- 
ried man. Among the Arabs, 
brides appear with great reve- 
rence before their bridegrooms, 
and often cast themselves down 
at their feet, Comp. Gen. xxir. 
64, 65. Psal. xlv. 10, 11. 

BRIDLE. Instead of it, a 
cord drawn through the nose. 
121 



BUC 

was sometimes used for leading 
and commanding camels, mules, 
&c. Tne restraints of God's 

Eowerful providence, are called 
is bridle and hook. The bridle 
in the jaws of the people caus- 
ing them to err, is God's suffer- 
ing the Assyrians to be directed 
by their foolish counsels, that 
they might never finish their in- 
tended purpose against Jerusa- 
lem, Isa. xxxvii. 29. xxx. 28. 

BRIGANDINE, a coat of 
mail, composed of iron rings to 
protect from the sword of an 
enemv, Jer. xlvi. 4. li. 3. 

BROTHER. According to 
the ceremonial law, if an elder 
brother had left a widow child- 
less, his next youngest brother, if 
unmarried, was to espouse her ; 
if he refused, the widow was to 
spit on his face, and loose his 
shoe ; and his family was to be 
called the house of him that 
hath his shoe loosed. 

The scripture uses the word 
brother or brethren in a variety 
of senses. (1.) Some are pro- 
per brethren, by immediate de- 
scent from the same parent or 
parents, Genesis xlii. 13. (2.) 
Some are brethren by affinity, 
kindred, or nation : so Abraham 
and Lot were brethren ; all the 
Israelites, and even the Edom- 
ites, were brethren, Deut. xxiii. 
7. 19. (3.) By common partici- 
pation of the human nature; 
thus all men are brethren, 1 
Thess. iv. 6 I John v. 16. 

BUCKLER, shield, target. 
The Hebrews have two words, 
magen and tzivnah, for shield 
and buckler or target; but what 
was the difference we do not 
certainly know; as the greatest 
masters of the Hebrew language 
plainly confound them. It is 
certain the tzinnoth bucklers or 
targets, made by Solomon, con- 
sisted of 600 shekels of gold ; 
whereas the maginnoth, or 
shields, consisted but of 300, 1 
Kings x. 16. Perhaps all the 
difference might be, that the 



BUL 

one was larger than the other 
The buckler or shield was a 
piece of defensive armour r 
wielded by the left hand, to 
ward off the blows of arrows, 
sword, or spear, wherever they 
threatened to strike. The more 
common materials of the an- 
cient shields, was a roundish 
board of wood, overlaid with 
folds of leather ; but sometimes 
they were of gold, brass, or the 
like. 

BUFFET, to beat; harass, 
1 Cor. iv. 11. Satan and his 
agents buffet the saints, by strong, 
temptations, atheistical sugges- 
tions, and other afflictions of 
soul or body, 2 Cor. xii. 7. 

BUILD, to erect a house, wall, 
or any thing else, in a similar 
manner. God's building of all 
things, is his wise and powerful 
creation of them, in proper con- 
nection and order, Heb. iii. 4. 
His building up a person, im- 
ports his giving him children, 
wealth, or prosperity, Job xxii. 
23. His building up families, 
cities, and nations, denotes his 
increasing their number, wealth, 
honour, and power, 1 Chron. 
xvii. 10. Psalm Ixix. 35. Jer. 
xviii. 9. 

BUL, the eighth month of the 
Jewish sacred year, and second 
of their civil. It answers partly 
to our October, and has 29 days 

BULRUSH, a shrub growing 
in fen3, and easily bowed by the 
wind. What our translation 
calls so, is perhaps no other 
than the paper reeds, of which 
the Egyptians und Ethiopians 
made baskets and even boats, 
Exod. ii. 3. Job viii. 11. Isaiah 
xviii. 2, and xxv. 7. 

BULWARK, a strong fortifi- 
cation erected for the defence of 
a city, or to promote the taking 
of one, 2 Chr. xxvi. 15. Deut. 
xx. 20. The bulwarks of the 
church, are her laws, worship, 
discipline, and government, to- 
gether with the perfections, pro- 
mises, and providences of God, 
122 



BUR 

-which secure her salvation and 
deliverance. 

BURDENSOME, grievous, 
troublesome, 2 Cor. xi. 9. 

BURNING-BUSH, wherein 
the Lord appeared to Moses at 
the foot of mount Horeb, &x. 
Vide Moses. 

As to the person who appear- 
ed in the bush, Scripture, in 
several places, calls him by the 
name of God, Exod. iii. 2, 6, 13, 
14, &c. He calls himself the 
Lord God, the God of Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob; the God who 
was to deliver his people from 
their bondage in Egypt ; more- 
over, Moses, blessing Joseph, 
says, " Let the blessing of him 
who dwelt in the bush come on 
the head of Joseph." But, in 
the places of Exodu3 which we 
are examining, instead of the 
Lord appeared to him, the He- 
brew and the Septuagint im- 
port, the jSngel of the Lord ap- 
peared to him. Stephen, in the 
Acts, reads it in the same man- 
ner; Jerom, Austin, and Grego- 
ry the Great, teach the same 
thing. It was an angel, agent, 
messenger,who, representing the 
Lord, spoke in his name. The 
ancients generally held the Son 
of God to be the person who ap- 
peared in the bush. 

BURY. The Hebrews were 
careful to bury even their ene- 
mies, 1 Kings xi. 15. Ezekiel 
xxxix. 14, the troublesome pollu- 
tion of dead bodies required it. 
To be deprived of burial, or 
buried with the burial of an 
ass, cast into an unclean place, 
they reckoned a terrible cala- 
mity. Eccl. vi. 3. Jer. xxii. 18, 
19. When one died, if his friends 
were able, he was embalmed, 
and after a proper time, carried 
out to his grave on a bier, if 
poor ; or on a stately bed, if 
rich, and laid in a proper man- 
ner, as in a bed, in the grave. 
The dead bodies were arrayed 
in clothes ; but from the resur- 
rection of Lazarus and Christ, 



BUR 

and a variety of other evidence, 
it appears they were not buried 
in coffins, as is the manner with 
us. 

There was nothing determined 
particularly in the law as to the 
place of burying the dead. — 
There were graves in town and 
country, by the highways, in 
gardens, or mountains: those 
belonging to the kings of Judah 
were in Jerusalem, and the 
king's gardens. Ezekiel inti- 
mates that they were dug under 
the mountains upon which the 
temple stood : since God says, 
that in future his holy mountain 
should not be polluted with the 
dead bodies of their kings. The 
sepulchre which Joseph of Ari- 
mathea had provided for him- 
self, and wherein he placed our 
Saviour's body, was in his gar- 
den ; that of Rachel was adja- 
cent to the highway from Je- 
rusalem to Bethlehem. That 
of the Maccabees was at Mo- 
din, upon an eminence, whence 
it was visible at a great distance 
both by sea and land. The 
kings of Israel had their burying- 
places in Samaria. Samuel was 
interred in his own house; Mo- 
ses, Aaron, Eleazar, and Joshua, 
were buried in mountains; king 
Saul, and Deborah, Rebekah's 
nurse, were buried under the 
shade of trees. It is affirmed, 
that the sepulchres of the inha- 
bitants of Jerusalem were in the 
valley of Kedron. Here like- 
wise was the burying-place for 
foreigners. 

The Jews call what we term 
a church-yard or cemetry, the 
house of the living, to siiow 
their belief of the immortality 
of the soul, and of the resurrec- 
tion of the body; and when they 
come thither bearing a corpse, 
they address themselves to those 
who lie there, as if they were 
still alive, saying, "Blessed be 
the Lord who hath created you, 
fed you, brought you up, and at 
last, in his justice, taken you out 
123 



BUR 

of the world. He knows the 
number of you all, and will in 
time revive you. Blessed be the 
Lord who causeth death, and 
restoreth life. Baxtorf. Synag. 
Jud. cap. xxxv. Their respect 
for sepulchres is so great, that 
they build synagogues and ora- 
tories near those of great men 
nnd prophets. 

When the Jews come with a 
funeral to a burying-place, they 
repeat the blessing directed to 
the dead, as above mentioned ; 
the body is put down upon the 
ground ; and if it be a person of 
consideration, a kind of funeral 
oration and encomium is made 
over him ; then they walk round 
the grave, reciting a pretty long 
prayer. It begins with these 
words, Deut. xxxii. 4: "He is 
the rock, his work is perfect," 
&c. ; then a little sack full of 
earth is put under the dead per- 
son's head, and the coffin is nail- 
ed down and closed. If it be a 
man, ten persons take ten turns 
about him, and say a prayer for 
his soul; the nearest relation 
tears a corner of his clothes, the 
dead body is laid down into the 
grave, with his face towards 
heaven: and they ery to him, 
Go in peace, or rather, accord- 
ing to the Talmudists, Go to 
peace. The nearest relation first 
throws earth on the body; after 
them, all present do the same, 
with their hands or with shovels. 
This done, they retire, walking 
backwards ; and before they 
leave the burying-ground, they 
pluck bits of grass three times, 
and cast them behind their 
backs, saying, "They shall 
flourish like grass of the earth," 
Psal. lxxii. 16. 

To be buried with Christ in 
baptism, imports our regenera- 
tion, and continued mortifica- 
tion of sin, by virtue of fellow- 
ship with him in his death, 
represented, sealed, and applied 
to us in our baptism, Rom. vi. 
4. Col. ii. 12. | 



BUZ 
| BUSHEL, a corn measure. — 
The Roman bushel or modius 
I contained 552 solid inches ; 
which is near eight cubical 
inches more than an English 
peck, Matt. v. 15. 

BUTLER, one charged with 
the care of the wine-cellars, in 
the house of a great man. Pha- 
raoh's butler was also his cup- 
bearer, that filled out his wine 
to him and his guests, Gen. xi. 
1. xli. 9. His office was called 
butlership. 

BUTTER. Calmet will have 
it to be the same with cream, 
among the eastern nations ; but 
it is plain from Prov. xxx. 33, 
that it was brought forth by 
churning; whether in a skin, as 
is the custom at present among 
the Moors and Arabs, or other- 
wise, we know not. It was long 
before the Greeks knew any 
thing of butter. The Dutch 
were the introducers of it into 
the East Indies. The ancient 
Romans and modern Spaniards 
use it as a medicine, not for 
food. It is far otherwise in the 
Dutch and British dominions. 
Buttermilk is held as a delicate 
drink among the Arabs, Judg. 
iv. 19. v. 25. Butter and, honey 
were so plentiful in Canaan, as 
to be common provision, Isaiah 
vii. 15. 22. They are accounted 
a delicacy at the table of Ara- 
bian princes, joined or mingled 
together, and are by no means 
appropriated to children. To 
wash ones steps with butter, is 
to enjoy great and delightful 
prosperity, Job xxix. 6. Flat- 
tering speech is smoother than 
butter: is apparently very soft 
and agreeable, Psal. iv. 21. 

BUZ, the «v>n of Nahor by 
Milcah, and ancestor or Elihu, 
the companion of Job, Jer. xxv. 
23. 1 Chron. v. 14. 

BUZ, son of Abdiel, and father 
of Jahdo, of the tribe of Judah, 
1 Chron. v. 14. 

BUZI, the father of Ezekiel 
the prophet, Ezek. i. 3. 
124 



CAI 



CAL 



CAB, a measure containing the 
sixth part of a seah, and eigh- 
teenth of an ephah : it contained 
three pints and one third of our 
wine measure; or two pints and 
five-sixths of our corn measure. 
2 Kings vi. 25. 

CABIN, a small cell in a pri- 
son, Jer. xxxvii. 16. 

CABUL ; (1.) A city on the 
frontier of the lot of Asher, Josh. 
xix. 27. (2.) The name that Hi- 
ram, king of Tyre, gave to the 
country which Solomon present- 
ed him with, to mark his dis- 
pleasure with it, 1 Kings ix. 13. 

CAIAPHAS, the high-priest 
of the Jews, who succeeded Si- 
mon the son of Camith about 
A. D. 25, and married the daugh- 
ter of Annas. It is certain he 
was high-priest that year in 
which our Saviour suffered. 
When the priests and Pharisees, 
heartily vexed at the raising of 
Lazarus from the dead, consult- 
ed whether they should appre- 
hend Jesus or not, and put him 
to death, Caiaphas upbraided 
them with their stupidity, and 
told them, it was necessary Jesus 
should die for the people, that 
the whole nation might not pe- 
rish. Doubtless he meant, that 
his death was necessary to pre- 
vent the Romans destroying their 
nation; but the Spirit of God, 
who directed his lips in this sen- 
tence, intended to signify, that 
Jesus's death was necessary for 
the salvation of the children of 
God, Jews or Gentiles, John xi. 
49, 50. 

CAIN, the eldest son of Adam. 
When his mother Eve bare him, 
she seems to have imagined him 
the divine Man, who should de- 
stroy the head, the power of the 
devil. When grown up, he ap- 
plied himself to cultivate the 
ground, as his brother Abel did 
to feeding of flocks. On the Sab- 
batic last day of the week, or at 
the end of the year, Cain offered 



his flr3t-fruits, and Abel the best 
firstling of his flock. Cain hav- 
ing offered his oblation with an 
unbelieving and wicked heart, 
God did not respect it. Cain was 
angry and sullen when he saw 
his brother's offering accepted, 
and his own rejected. God told 
him that his offering was rejected 
because of his wickedness. But 
Cain remained incorrigible, and 
harboured in his breast deadly 
malice against his unoffending 
brother ; and, watching his op- 
portunity, fell upon him in the 
field, and slew him. The series 
of crimes in which this wicked 
man's envy involved him, and 
the dreadful punishment which 
followed them, will be found in 
Gen. iv. Of the place and cir- 
cumstances of his death we have 
no information. Ii is said, that 
he went out from the presence 
of the Lord, and dwelt in the 
land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 

CAINAN, or Kenan, the son 
of Enoch. He was born Jl. M. 
325. Seventy years after, he be- 
sat Mahalaleel ; and died aged 
910, Gen. v. 9—14. Luke iii. 37. 

CAKE. The cakes of the Jew- 
ish offerings were of fine flour, 
kneaded or fired with oil, Exod. 
xii. 39. The ten tribes of Israel 
were a cake not turned; while 
on the one side, they professed 
the true religion, on the other, 
they were practical idolaters. 

CALAH, an ancient city of 
Assyria, built soon after the 
flood, by Ashur, Genesis x. 12. 
Some suppose this place was 
built by Nimrod. 

CALDRON, a large vessel foi 
boiling in, 1 Sam. ii. 14. 

CALEB. 1. The son of Je 
phunneh, brother of Kenaz, and 
descendant of Judah. When tha 
spies returned from the search 
of the promised land, Caleb and 
Joshua, endued by the Spirit of 
the Lord, opposed the rest, re- 
presentedCanaan as a good land, 



11* 



125 



CAL 

and rending their clothes for 
grief, that the congregation, be- 
lieving the contrary, were on the 
point of returning to Egypt, ear- 
nestly endeavoured to persuade 
them, that, with the assistance of 
God, they could easily conquer 
it. To reward their piety, they 
alone, of all the twelve spies, sur- 
vived that day ; they only, of all 
the armed men that came out of 
Egypt, entered into Canaan. 

2. Caleb, or Chelubai, the son 
of Hezron, and brother of Jerah- 
meel. 

3. Caleb, the son of Hur, and 
grandson of the former Caleb. 
His sons were, Shobal, Salma, 
Hareph. 

4. Caleb, which is perhaps the 
same as Caleb- Ephrath, a city 
where it seems Caleb the son 
of Hezron and Ephrath had 
dwelt. 

CALF, Golden, which the 
Israelites worshipped at the foot 
of mount Sinai, Exod. xxxii. 4, 
&c. When the people saw that 
Moses delayed to come down 
from the mount, they assembled 
around Aaron, and said to him, 
" Up, make us gods which shall 
go before us." Aaron demand- 
ed their ear-rings; which were 
melted, and cast into the figure 
of a calf. When this was about 
to be consecrated, Moses, being 
divinely informed of it, came 
down from the mount, and call- 
ing to all who detested this sin : 
the sons of Levi armed them- 
selves, and slew of the people, 
who were utterly unprovided to 
resist an enemy, about twenty- 
three thousand men: but the 
Hebrew, Samaritan, Chaldee, 
LXX. and the greater part of 
the old Greek and Latin Fathers, 
instead of 23,000, read 3000. 

CALKERS; carpenters, who 
stop the chinks ofships ; masons, 
who repair the breaches of 
walls ; magistrates, who repair 
the breaches of order and safety 
in the state, Ezek. xxvii. 9. 27. 

CALNEH, Calno, a city built 



CAM 

by Nimrod in the land for Shinaiy 
Gen. x. 10. Isa. x. 9. 

CALVARY, or Golgotha, 
which signifies the place of a 
skull, so called, either from its 
resemblance to the skull of a 
man's head, or because it was 
the place where malefactors 
were beheaded, was a small 
hill to the west of Jerusalem. 
Luke xxiii. 33. It was without 
the walls of the city, agreeably 
to the law of Moses, Lev. iv. 

CAMEL, a four-footed beast 
without horns. It has no fore 
teeth in the upper jaw, and 
chews the cud. It has six or 
eight in the lower, broad and 
standing outward. It has three 
tusks in its upper jaw, and two 
in the lower, situate at some 
distance one from another. Ca- 
mels are covered with a fine fur, 
which they cast in the spring. 
Their neck and legs are long and 
slender. When they lift up 
their head, it is very high. 
Their ears are short, and their 
feet broad and exceeding sure ; 
their tail is about a foot long; 
some of them, notwithstanding 
excessive heat, can live without 
water four or five, nay, some 
say, nine or twelve days. They 
travel little more than two 
miles in an hour. They are not 
only used as beasts of burden in 
the hot and dry countries, but 
the Turks eat the flesh of young 
ones, and their milk is much 
used by the Arabs to prevent 
the dropsy. They kneel down 
to receive their burden, or to 
have it taken off. There are 
four kinds of camels : (1.) The 
camel with two hairy bunches 
on its back, which is principally 
produced about the east of Per- 
sia, and will bear 1300 weight. 
Of this kind the king of Persia, 
in 1676, had 7000; of which the 
Tartars carried orT 3000. Be 
fore his affliction, Job had 3000, 
and after it 6000. This is by 
some falsely called the dromeda- 
ry. (2.) The camel with one 
126 



CAM 

bunch, is chiefly used in Arabia 
and the north of Africa. The 
most handsome of this kind is 
the dromedary, which is of 
rounder shape, and has a smaller 
bunch than the others, is able to 
carry a far less burden, but is of 
prodigious swiftness, and said, 
by the Arabs, to run as far in 
one day as their best horses will 
do in three, and so chiefly used 
for riding, 1 Kings iv. 28. Esth. 
viii. 10. (3.) The Peruvian ca- 
mel, whose back is even, and its 
breast bunchy* (4.) The Pa- 
cos, which has no bunch at all. 
CAMELION, or Chameleon, 
a kind of lizard, with a long flat 
tail, and usually of a greenish 
yellow colour. On each of its 
four feet it has five toes, two or 
three of which adhere together 
Its snout is long; it has two 
small openings for nostrils 
eyes move much, and often with 
a contrary motion : it has no 
neck : its back is sharp, and its 
skin grained like shagreen. It 
can hang to the branches of 
trees, by its feet or tail. To 
catch flies, it can dart its tongue 
to the length of its whole body, 
and just contract it again. Some 
camelions in Egypt, the tail in 
eluded, are a foot long ; but 
those in Arabia are not much 
above the half. A camelion 
does not feed on air, as some 
have asserted, but it undergoes 
some changes of colour under 
certain circumstances. Lev. xi. 
30. 

CAMP, the lodgment of an 
army in the open air, 1 Sam. iv. 
7. Nothing could be more ex- 
actly regulated than the camp 
of the Hebrews in the desert. 
The tabernacle was placed in 
the midst of it. Moses, Aaron, 
and their families, had their 
tents on the east of it. On the 
south pitched the Kohathites : on 
the west, the Gershonites : on 
the north, the Merarites. Thus 
it was encompassed by the Le- 
vites, which did the service 



CAN 

thereof. Before the tabernacle, 
on the east side thereof, was the 
camp of Judah, Issachar, and 
Zebulun,containing 186,400 men 
fit for war; on the south, the 
camp o€ Reuben, Simeon, and 
Gad, containing 151,400 ; on the 
west, the camp of Ephraim,Ma- 
nasseh, and Benjamin, contain- 
108,100; on the north was the 
camp of Dan, Asher, andNaph- 
tali, containing ] 57,600. The 
camps of the Greeks, but espe- 
cially of the Romans, were pret- 
ty similar to that of the He- 
brews. When the Israelites 
marched, they had a triple warn- 
ing by the silver trumpets; one, 
to pack up their baggage ; a se- 
cond, to assemble to their stand- 
ard ; and a third, to begin their 
march. The camp of Judah 
marched first ; the tabernacle 
was then taken down ; and the 
Gershonites and Merarites, lay- 
ing the boards on wagons, fol- 
lowed. Upon a second alarm, 
the camp of Reuben marched; 
the Kohathites followed, with 
the more sacred furniture of the 
tabernacle on their shoulders. 
Next followed the camp of 
Ephraim, Psal. Ixxx. 1, 2. ; and 
that of Dan brought up the 
rear, Numb. i. ii. iv. x. 

CAMPHIRE, or camphor,is a 
drug useful in medicine, which 
extracted from a tree of the 
same name in the East, which 
sometimes grows to a very large 
size. The camphor of Java is 
coarse ; that of Borneo, Su- 
matra, Ceylon, and China, much 
finer, Song of Sol. iv. 13. 

CAN ; to be able, in respect 
of knowledge, authority, or 
strength, to do a thing, Gen. xli. 
38. 

CANA. See Kanah. 
CANAAN, the youngest son 
of Ham. Noah denounced a 
curse of the basest servitude a- 
gainst Canaan. It is certain the 
Lord is righteous in all his ways : 
it is certain that parents are pu- 
nished in the misery of their 
127 



CAN 

posterity; and from the subse- 
quent history, it will appear how 
the Canaanites were terribly en- 
slaved by the posterity of Shem 
and Japheth, according to the 
tenor of that curse. It is proba- 
ble that Canaan lived and died 
in, as well as gave name to the 
land of promise. His posterity 
were numerous : the Sidonians, 
Tyrians, Hittites, Jebusites, 
Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, 
Arkites, Sinites, Arva'dites, Ze- 
marites, Hamathites, Perizzites, 
and another tribe that were 
called Canaanites, though we 
know not how they had this 
name more than the rest de- 
scended from him. Seven of 
these tribes peopled Canaan; 
their situation will be seen under 
their respective articles; the 
other tribes peopled Phenicia and 
part of Syria. According to the 
then custom, they were divided 
into a vast number of kingdoms : 
scarce a town or city of note but 
had its sovereign. As Moses 
subdued two, Joshua thirty-one, 
and Adonibezek seventy, it is 
plain that sometimes these Ca- 
naanites were formed into above 
a hundred kingdoms. They were 
generally very wicked, given to 
the vilest idolatry : but we hope 
Melchisedeck's kingdom adher- 
ed to the true religion: it is cer- 
tain he did so himself. Five of 
their kingdoms on the south- 
east, Sodom. Gomorrah, Admah, 
Zeboim, and Zoar, appear to 
have introduced practices of the 
vilest kind. Chedorlaomer, king 
of Elam, rendered them his tri- 
butaries,aboutj?.jT/.20T8. After 
twelve years' servitude, thev re- 
belled. In^. J/.2092,he and his al- 
lies invaded Canaan, reduced the 
revolted kingdoms, and brought 
them and the places adjacent to 
the brink of destruction. By 
Abraham's means they recover- 
ed this disaster. The people of 
Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and 
Zeboim, had scarce lived sixteen 
years more in affluence and hor- 



CAN 

rible guilt, when God, by fire and 
brimstone from heaven, con- 
sumed their country, and turned 
it into a standing lake. For the 
sake of Lot, Zoar was preserved 
from a similar ruin, Gen. ix. 25. 
x. 6. 15 — 19. xiv. xviii. xix. 
Ezek.xvi.49, 50. 

About A. M. 2514, the Ca- 
naanites on the south frontiers 
of Canaan, assisted by the Ama- 
lekites, gave the rebellious He- 
brews a terrible defeat at Hor- 
mah. About 38 years after, Arad 
harassed them, but paid dear for 
his labour, the Hebrews utterly 
destroying his kingdom. The 
Canaanitish kingdoms of Sihon 
and Og, on the east of Jordan, 
were in a flourishing condition ; 
but on their refusal to give Israel 
a passage, were utterly destroyed 
by Moses. On the west of Jor- 
dan, Joshua conquered 31 king- 
doms, viz. Jericho, Jerusalem, 
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eg- 
lon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hor 
mah, Arad, Libnah, Addullam, 
Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah 
Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Ma 
don, Hazor, Shimron-meron, 
Achshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, 
Kedesh, Jokneam, Dor, Gilgal, 
Tirzah ; and the state of the 
Gibeonites submitted. The ter- 
ritories of these kingdoms, and 
of others, were divided to the 
tribes of Israel. After Joshua's 
death, the tribes of Judah and 
Simeon entirely expelled or re- 
duced the Canaanites, who wero 
left in their cantons. The tribes 
of Ephraim, and Manasseh too, 
expelled part of them that were 
in their lot. In most of the can- 
tons of the other tribes, the Ca- 
naanites kept possession of seve- 
ral principal cities, where they 
at once tempted the Hebrews to 
idolatry, and often harassed 
them. After hard struggling, se- 
veral of the tribes reduced them 
to a state of subjection. But, on 
the north parts of the promised 
land, the residue of the Canaan- 
ites formed themselves into tho 
128 



CAN 

verv powerful kingdom of Ha- 
2or"; and about A. M. 2720, un- 
der King Jabin, reduced the 
Hebrews to a twenty years' ser- 
vitude. Deborah and Barak 
gave such an overthrow to this 
6tate, that we hear no more of 
it. About 240 years after, David 
almost finished the conquest of 
the Canaanites, and took from 
them Jebus, or Jerusalem, one 
of their strongest places. Pha- 
raoh, king of Egypt, reduced the 
Canaanites of Gezer, and gave 
it to Solomon, his son-in-law. 
Above 153,300 Canaanites were 
employed in the servile work of 
building Solomon's temple : and 
on all of that race he laid a 
heavy tribute: nor ever after do 
that people seem to have had 
any freedom among the Israel- 
ites, though we find remains of 
them after the captivity. 

The Girgashites, and perhaps 
other Canaanites, fled from the 
sword of Joshua, and retired to 
the north of Africa, near Car- 
thage. Vast numbers followed 
them from Tyre, &c. in after- 
times. There they, for some 
ages, made a flourishing ap- 
pearance; but for almost 2000 
years past, the country has been 
made a scene of the most horrid 
slavery by the Romans, Vandals, 
Saracens, and Turks. Nor have 
the Canaanites of Tyre, Zidon, 
and other places in Phenicia, 
who planted themselves in the 
Mediterranean isles, escaped a 
similar fate. Such Canaanites, 
Hivites, or others, who escaped 
the sword of King David, and 
fled to Boeotia, on the south of 
Europe, were pursued by the 
curse of servitude. 

Canaan was the name of the 
country where Canaan and his 
posterity dwelt. It is about 200, 
or rather 160 miles in length, 
from Dan on the north, to Beer- 
sheba on the south, and from east 
to west about 80 : and so compre- 
hended in all, about 9,231,000 
acres of ground ; of which each 



CAN 

of the 601,730 Hebrew warriors 
who conquered it, might have 
about ]2 acres allotted him for 
his share. It lies in the 32d, 33d, 
and 34th degrees of north lati- 
tude, and in the 36th and 37th of 
east longitude, from London. It 
has the Mediterranean sea on the 
west ; Lebanon and Syria on the 
north ; Arabia the Desert, and 
the land of the Ammonites, 
Moabites, and Midianites, on the 
east; the land of Edom, and 
wilderness of Paran, on the 
south; and Egypt on the south- 
west. No more than this was 
wont to be called Canaan ; and 
this only was promised to the 
Hebrews in possession : but if 
we take in the whole extent of 
territory promised to them in do- 
minion, from the river Euphrates 
on the north-east, to the river 
Nile, on the south-west, Gen. 
xv. 18— 21. Numb, xxxiv. 31. it 
comprehended all those coun- 
tries which David reduced, Syria, 
Ammon, Moab, Edom,&c: and 
in this sense, it may be readily 
granted to the learned Dr. Shaw, 
that its south borders were the 
gulfs of the Red sea; and that it 
comprehended the land of Go- 
shen in Egypt. Whatever the 
land of Canaan, properly so call- 
ed, be now, when it lies under a 
curse, and lies almost wholly 
uncultivated, it was anciently a 
most beautiful and fertile coun- 
try. The Jordan running south- 
ward through it, an forming the 
lakes of Merom and Tiberias, 
and a multitude of brooks and 
rivulets crossing the country on 
both sides of the Jordan ; and a 
multitude of valleys and hills 
pleasantly diversified the form 
thereof. The rich pastures pro- 
duced prodigious quantities of 
milk and honey. The arable 
grounds, which, according to 
Hpcateus, amounted to about 
3,000,000 of acres, produced the 
richest crops. The mines of the 
mountains produced plenty of 
iron and brass. When God, by 
129 



CAN 

seasonable warmth and rains, 
concurred with the laborious 
improvers of this soil, it is abun- 
dantly credible, how it supported 
the numerous millions that dwelt 
therein, Deut. xi. 11. vi. 10. viii. 
7, 8, 9. 

C AND ACE, a queen of Ethi- 
opia, probably that southward of 
Egypt. It is said, that by the 
preaching of her eunuch, she was 
converted to the Christian faith, 
Acts viii. 27. 

CANDLE. God's searching 
Jerusalem with candles, imports 
his perfect knowledge of their 
conduct; his punishing their 
secret sins: and his searching 
their conscience by convictions 
and awakening providences, 
Zeph. i. 12. 

CANDLESTICK. That of 
the Mosaic sanctuary consisted 
of a talent of hammered gold, 
beaten out into seven branches, 
adorned with knops and flowers. 
Exod. xxxvii. It stood on the 
south side of the golden altar of 
incense, and being daily supplied 
with sacred oil, and its lamps 
lighted and trimmed by the 
priests, was the sole illuminator 
of the sanctuary. Solomon's 
temple being much larger, ten 
candlesticks were made for the 
illumination thereof. The figure 
of the sacred candlesticks is still 
to be seen at Rome, on the tri- 
umphal arch of Titus. 

CANKER, or gangrene, a 
terrible disease, which inflames 
and mortifies the flesh upon 
whieh it seizes ; spreads swiftly ; 
endangers the whole body ; and 
can scarce be healed, without 
cutting off the infected part. 

CANKER-WORM: we ge- 
nerally understand by it, a 
creeping inseet, wh'ch devours 
the fruits of the earth ; but it 
is plain, from Nah. iii. 15, 16, 
that the yelck is a flying insect, 
and so must be a kind of locust, 
probably the same with the 
eoekchafFer. 

C ANN EH. See Calneh. 



CAP 
' CAPERNAUM, a principal 
city of Galilee. It was not pro- 
bably built till after the Baby- 
lonish captivity; stood on the- 
westem shore of the sea of Ti- 
berias, in the border of Zebulurr 
and Naphtali. It received its- 
name from a clear fountain hard 
by. Here Christ resided and 
taught, Matt. iv. 13. Mark ii. 1. 

CAPHTOR, an island or 
country. Cal-met contends, that 
Caphtor was the isle of Crete. 
It is certain, Caphtor is called 
an island, Jer. xlvii. 4. Deut* 
ii. 23. 

CAPHTORD1, descendants 
of Caphtor, one of the sons of 
Mizraim. From a comparison 
of the testimonies of Scripture, 
it is very probable that the 
Caphtorim were the same people 
originally as the Philistines; and 
the same who are called Chere- 
thites, Gen. x. 14. Jer. xlvii. 4. 
Zepn. ii. 5. Amos ix. 7. 1 Sam. 

XXX. 

CAPPADOCIA, a country 
having the Euxine sea on the* 
north, Armenia the greater on? 
the south, Galatia and Panv- 
phylia on the west, and Cilicia 
on the east. Probably this coun- 
try was peopled by the descend- 
ants of Togarmah. Itwas famous 
for horses and flocks ; and traded 
with the Tyrians in horses and 
mules, Ezek. xxvii. 14. Cappa- 
docia was probably a province 
of the kingdom of Lydia. Ac- 
cording to Herodotus, it next 
passed to the Medes, and then 
to the Persians, whose worship 
the inhabitants embraced, and 
afterwards added to it part of 
the idolatry of the Greeks. Chris- 
tianity flourished considerably 
here, and it produced a number 
of famous bishops who laboured 
in the work of the Lord. We 
can trace the history of Chris- 
tianity in this country till the 
ninth century, nor is it yet alto- 
gether abolished. 

CAPTAIN, an officer of a 
troop or army, Deut. i. 15. A 
130 



CAR 

king, prince, or head of a family, 
or tribe, is called a captain. In 
due order, his inferiors are mar- 
shalled under him, and may be 
led forth to war by him, Num. 
ii. 3. Christ is the Captain of 
our salvation. To purchase our 
salvation, with what wisdom 
and courage he attacked and 
conquered sin, Satan, and the 
world ! 

CAPTIVITY. God generally 
punished the sins and infidelities 
of the Jews by captivities or 
servitudes. Six captivities are 
reckoned during the government 
by judges. But the greatest and 
most remarkable captivities of 
the Hebrews, were those of 
Israel and Judah, under their 
regal government. 

Princes of the Captivity. — 
Since the destruction of the 
temple by the Romans, the He- 
brews affirm, that they have 
alwavs had, both in the East 
audWest, their heads or princes, 
called princes of the captivity. 

CARBUNCLE, a very ele- 
gant jewel, of a deep red, min- 
gled with scarlet ; second in va- 
lue to the diamond, and of equal 
hardness with the sapphire. It 
is generally of an angular form. 
It is ordinarily about a quarter 
of an inch in length, and a sixth 
part of one in breadth. But the 
king of Ceylon in the East In- 
dies, where the finest carbuncles 
are found, hath one about four 
inches broad, and three thick, 
of the brightness of fire. Car- 
buncles bear the fire withoul the 
least alteration ; but when they 
are held up against the sun, they 
lose their beautiful tinge, and 
become like a burning charcoal. 
Tbey are very rare, found only 
in the East Indies ; but it seems 
the Tyrian king had his robes 
set thick with these sparkling 
stones of Jive, Ezek. xxviii. 13. 
The carbuncle was worn in the 
high-priest's breast-plate. 

CARCHEMISH, a city on the 
banks of the Euphrates, andpro- 



CAS 

bably the same with Circesium, 
on the east side of that river, 2 
Chron. xxxv. '20. It was taken 
by Pharaoh Necho, and then by 
Nebuchadnezzar. 2Kingsxxiii. 
29. Jer. xlvi. 2. 2 Chron. xxxv. 
20. Josephus Antiq. B. x. c. 6. 
It was called by the Romans, 
Circesium, and is now known 
as Kirkisia. It stood at the spot 
where the Chebar falls into the 
Euphrates. 

CARMEL, a city situate in a 
mountain of the same name, in 
the south part of the inheritance 
of Judah, about ten miles south- 
east of Hebron. 1 Kings xviii. 
Here were the possessions of 
Nabal, the husband of Abigail, 
to whom David made applica- 
tion for provisions. ] Sam xxr. 
2, &c. Abigail, whom David 
married after Nabal's death, is 
called (1 Sam. xxvii. 3,) a Car- 
melitess. 

CARNAL. The ceremonial 
ordinances were carnal; they 
related immediately to the bodies 
of men and beasts, Heb. vii. 16. 
ix. 10. Wicked men are carnal 
and carnally minded ; are under 
the dominion of sinful lusts; 
and habitually think of, desire 
after, and delight in, sinful plea- 
sures and enjoyments, Romans 
viii. 6, 7. 

CASEMENT, a window, or 
the <rate of it, Prov. vii. 6. 

CASIPHIA. To this place 
Ezra, when he came from Baby- 
lon to Judea, sent for some 
priests to attend him. It seems 
to have been near Babylon, Ezra 
viii. 17. 

CASSIA, a kind of the decan- 
dria monogynia class of plants. 
Its flower is composed of five 
petals, arranged in a circular 
form. The pistil, which arises 
from the midst of these, is a 
pod, sometimes roundish, and 
sometimes flatted, and having a 
variety of cells, wherein are 
lodged a vast many seeds. — 
Toumefort mentions ten kinds 
of cassia, five of them of a stink" 
131 



CAT 

nell. It grows in various 
places of the east, as well as in 
America. Exod. xxx. 24. 

CAST. To cast metal, is to 
melt and mould it into a parti- 
cular shape, Exod. xxv. 12. To 
cast off; cast away ; is to give 
up with; disdainfully or wrath- 
fully reject, Judg. xv. 17. Ezek. 
xviii. 31. Rom. xi. 15. God casts 
on men, and spares not, when 
he terribly punishes them, Job 
xxvii. 22. God's casting sin 
behind his back, or into the 
depths of the sea, imports his 
complete forgiveness of it, and 
his determined purpose never to 
punish us for it, [sa. xxxviii. 
17. Mic. vii. 19. To cast out, 
is to reject, Matt. vii. 12. John 
xv. 6; to excommunicate from 
the church, John ix. 35. 

CASTOR and POLLUX, 
were reckoned the sons of Jupi- 
ter : they were heroes who clear- 
ed the sea of pirates : and hence 
were worshipped by sailors and 
others, after their death. The 
fiery exhalations which some- 
times appear at sea, they took 
for them ; and if but one ap- 
peared at once, they thought 
the voyage was to be unlucky. 
Their images were the sign of 
the ship in which Paul sailed to 
Rome, Acts xxviii. 11. 

CATERPILLARS, soft or 
rough insects, that prey upon 
tind consume the leaves and 
fruits of trees, herbs, flowers, 
and grass. 

CATHOLIC. This term is 
Greek; signifying universal, or 
general. The church of Christ 
is called catholic, because it ex- 
tends throughout the world, and 
during all time. We call some 
truths catholic, because they are 
generally received, and are of 
general influence: so the catho- 
lic, i. e. the general, church. 

Catholic, general, or canoni- 
cal, Epistles. They are seven 
in number viz. one of James, 
two of Peter, three of Joint, and 
one of Jude. They are called 



CED 

catholic, because directed to 
Christian converts generally, 
and not to any particular church. 
There is some difference in the 
order wherein these epistles 
stand in our Bibles, from that 
wherein they stood among the 
Greeks. Among the ancients, 
some received all the seven p 
others three only, and rejected 
the second of Peter; the second 
and third of John ; and Jude. 
The principal design of these 
epistles is to warn the reader 
against the heresies of the times, 
and to establish Christian con- 
verts, against efforts made to se- 
duce them to Judaism, or to a 
mixture of legal notions with 
Christianity, or of idolatrous 
principles and practices with the 
gospel : such, having former in- 
fluence, and deep antiquity, and 
general reception to plead in 
their favour, were very preva- 
lent among many professors in 
countries recently converted. 

CATTLE often comprehends 
all four-footed beasts ; and some- 
times only those of the more 
tame kinds, as horses, camels, 
asses, oxen, sheep, goats, deer, 
Gen. i. 25. xxx. 43. 

CAVE, a hole of the earth, 
chiefly in rocks, for men to 
lodge in. Caves were pretty 
common in Canaan and the 
countries about. Strabo says, 
there were caves in Arabia 
sufficient to hold 4000 men. — 
Vansleb mentions one in Egypt 
sufficient to draw up 1000 horse- 
meti in. 

CAUL ; (1.) The midriff or 
net-work that covers the heart 
of some animals, Exod. xxix. 
13. (2.) a covering of net-work 
for women's heads, Isa. iii. 18. 

CEDAR-TREE. Linnaeus 
classes it among the junipers. 
Cedars spread their roots and 
branches exceedingly; they grow 
very high, and have a large and' 
delightful shade : their leaves 
are like those of rosemary, and 
continue always green : their 
132 



CEN 

top is larg e ; but in time of snow, 
is contracted into the form of a 
cone, that it may receive no 
more load than it may be able to 
bear. The stump or stock is 
sometimes about 35 or 40 feet 
round. Its wood is of a beauti- 
ful brownish colour, hath a fra- 
grant smell, and fine grain: and 
being bitter and distasteful to 
worms, is so incorruptible, that 
part of it was found fresh in the 
temple of Utica in Barbary, 
about 2000 years old. It distils 
a useful gum; and its sap is 
said to preserve dead bodies 
from corruption. Lebanon once 
abounded with cedars : a great 
many of them were cut down to 
build the temple, and a variety 
of other structures in Canaan, 
Phenicia, and Syria. 

M. Billardiere says of the ce- 
dars of mount Lebanon, which 
he visited in 1789, that only seven 
of them were left. The largest 
of these is 80 or 90 feet high, and 
the trunks from 8 to 9 feet in 
diameter. The Maronites cele- 
brate an annual festival under 
them, which is called the " feast 
of cedars." See more concern- 
ing the cedar, and a print of it, 
in Nevin's Biblical Antiquities, 
American S. S. Union edition, 
vol. i. p. 29. 

CEDRON. See Kidron. 

CEIL. See Ciel. 

CENCHREA. The port of 
the ancient city of Corinth, 
whence Paul sailed from Ephe- 
bus ; and where, on account of a 
vow, he shaved his head, Acts 
xviii. 18. 

CENSER, a golden vessel, 
perhaps somewhat of the form 
of a cup, with or without a han- 
dle. Therewith the priest car- 
ried fire and incense, to burn 
before the Lord in the sanctuary 
or oracle. 

CENTURION, a Roman of- 
ficer who commanded a hundred 
■oldiers. Acts x. He is called 
in the Old Testament chief of a 
hundred men. 

12 



CHA 

CEPHAS. See Peter. 

CESAR, the emperor of Rome*, 
such as Augustus, Tiberius, 
Claudius, Nero, &c. Luke ii. 1. 

CESAREA, anciently called 
Strata's Tower, was built by 
Herod the Great, in honour of 
Augustus, and called by his 
name. This city stood on the 
shore of the Mediterranean sea, 
about 75 miles north-west of Je- 
rusalem. Cesarea was adorned 
with many splendid edifices, but 
was most distinguished by a very 
capacious and excellent artificial 
harbour, constructed by Herod 
the Great, by the erection of a 
semi-circular mole, which was 
formed of immense blocks, 
brought from a distance, and 
sunk 20 fathoms in the sea. By 
this means the port was so com- 
pletely protected, that a fleet 
could ride there in perfect safety 
in all weathers. Here resided 
Cornelius, the centurion, the 
first convert to Christianity from 
among the Gentiles, Acts x. xi 
Here Paul was a prisoner for 
several years ; and here he plead- 
ed his cause, first before Felix, 
and afterwards Agrippa, Acts 
xxiv. xxvi. Here Herod Agrippa 
was smitten by an angel, for his 
vain-glory, Acts xii. 23. But at 
this time the site of this cele- 
brated city is a perfect desola- 
tion ; not a human being is to be 
found resident near the spot. 

CESAREA-PHILIPPI. See 
Dan. 

CEREMONIES, the external 
modes of religious service. They 
are not religion, but are design- 
ed to secure order and decency in 
the discharge of religious duties. 

CHAIN. With chains idols 
were fixed in their shrines, Isa. 
xl. 19; or criminals in their pri- 
son, or servitude, Jer. lii. 11. — 
Chains of gold were worn as 
ornaments of the neck, Genesis 
xli. 42. 

CHALCEDONY, a precious 
stone, of a misty grey colour 
Iclouded with blue, yellow, or 
133 



CHA 

purple. It much resembles the 
common agate. The best sort 
is that which hath a pale cast in 
blue. It was the third founda 
tion in the new Jerusalem, Rev. 
xxi. 19. 

CH ALDEA,a country inAsia, 
When largely taken, it compre- 
hended also Babylonia, and had 
the river Tigris on the east side, 
Mesopotamia on the north, and 
Arabia the Desert on the west 
the Persian gulf and part of Ara- 
bia Felix on the south. The soil 
was very fertile ; but had little 
rain, sometimes scarce any for 
eight months : nor is there much 
need for it, as the Tigris and Eu- 
phrates yearly water it ; and the 
inhabitants, by painful toil, sup- 
ply what is wanting. Its ancient 
name was Shinar, because the 
Lord,bythe confusion of tongues, 
did, as it were, shake the inha- 
bitants out of it, to people the 
rest of the world. 

The Chaldeans, or Chasdim, 
seem to have been partly de- 
scended from Arphaxad the son 
of Shem, and partly from Chesed 
the son of Nehor. It appears, 
both from Herodotus and scrip- 
ture, that the Chaldeans were, 
for some ages, given to robbery, 
in the manner of the Arabs. 
Three bands of them carried off 
Job's camels, Job i. 17. The 
Assyrians, under Pul, seem to 
have reduced them to order, and 
formed them into the kingdom 
of Babylon, for Nabonasser his 
younger son, Isa. xxiii. 13. The 
Chaldeans, so called in a strict 
sense, were a society of pretend- 
ers to learning, priests, philoso- 
phers, astronomers, astrologers, 
soothsayers, who, it is said, dwelt 
in a region by themselves, and 
the rest of the people were called 
Babylonians, Dan. ii. 2. 4. 

CHvVMBER, an apartment of 
a house. Some were inner cham- 
bers, to which one had to go 
through part of the house, and 
were more secret, 1 Kings xx. 
30. xxii. 25. Some were upper 



CHA 

chambers, or garrets, where it 
seems they laid their dead ; and. 
where the Jews sometimes had 
idolatrous altars; and where the 
Christians, in the apostolic age, 
had often their meetings for 
worship, Acts ix. 37. xx. 8. i. 13. 
2 Kings xxiii. 12. Some were 
for beds ; others for entertaining 
guests, at the three solemn feasts, 
or other occasions, Mat. ix. 15. 
2 Kings vi. 12. Isa. xxvi. 20. 

An upper chamber, just over 
the porch in the front part of the 
building, was generally, among 
the Jews, set apart to lodge 
strangers, IKings xvii.19. When 
the house had only one story, 
this room seems to have been 
raised above it, to the height of 
a second, with a door opening 
out upon the roof. 2 Kings iv. 
10. When fire was used, the 
smoke had no chimney to carry 
it away ; it went out "by a hole 
in the wall, though it is called 
a chimney in one place. Hosea 
xiii. 3- 

CHAMBERING, immodest 
behaviour, Rom. xiii. 13. 

CHAMBERLAIN; (1.) A 
keeper of the king's bed cham- 
ber, or a steward, Esth. i. 10.— 
(2.) City treasurer, Rom. xvi. 23. 

CHAMOIS, a kind of goat; 
at least, its erect and hooked 
horns, of the length of six or 
seven inches, refer it to that 
class, though the rest of its figure 
comes nearer to the deer kind.. 
Its whole body is covered with 
a deep fur, waved and some- 
what curled about the ears. Oi 
this animal's skin, the true cha 
moy leather is made. But whe 
ther this be tlie Zomer, declared 
unclean by the Hebrew law, we 
cannot determine. Dr. Shaw 
thinks it, is rather the Yerassa, 
or Camelopardalis. Deutero- 
nomv xiv. 5. 

CHAMPAIGN, a plain open 
country, Deut. xi. 30. 

CHAMPION, a strong and 
noted fi<?liter, 1 Sam. xvii. 51. 

CHANCELLOR, the presi* 
134 



CHA 

dent of the council for the king's 
affaire, Ezra iv. 8, 9, 17. 

CHANT, to sing merrily, 
Amos vi. 5. 

CHAPEL, a house for public 
worship. Bethel is called the 
king's chapel, because there the 
kings of Lssiiel worshipped the 
golden calf Amos vii. 13. 

CHAPITERS, ornaments on 
the top of pillars, walls, and the 
like, somewhat resembling a 
human head. 

CHAPT, rent with drought, 
Jer. xiv. 4. 

CHARGE ; (1.) To command 
solemnly, Ex. i. 22. Gen.xxviii. 
1. (2.) To exhort earnestly, ] 
Thess. ii. 11. (3.) To put an of- 
fice or business on one ; and so to 
nave the charge of any thing, is 
to have the care and manage- 
ment thereof committed to him 

CHARGEABLE, costly, ex 
pensive, 2 Sam. xiii. 25. 

CHARGER, a vessel for hold- 
ing provisions at table, Numb, 
vii. 13. 

CHARIOTS ; (1.) Light 
coaches to ride journies in, Gen. 
xlvi. 29. (2.) A sort of coaches 
for warriors to fight from, and to 
break the ranks of the enemy, 
1 Kings xxii. 31. Chariots of 
iron, were such as had iron 
scythes fixed to their sides, that 
when furiously driven they might 
mow down whoever stood in the 
way. 

God's chariots, are angels, 
providences, and clouds, in the 
agency and motion of which he 
displays his greatness and pow- 
•er, opposes and conquers his 
foes, and supports and protects 
.his people, Psal. lxviii. 17. Hab. 
iii. 8. Isa. lxvi. 15. Christ's cha- 
riot of tlie wood of I^ebanon, 
whose bottom is of gold, its pil- 
lars of silver, its covering of pur- 
ple, and its midst paved with 
love, is that by which he marks 
his glory, conquers his enemies, 
or carries his people to heaven. 

CHARITY. See Love. 

CHARM. See Divine. 



CHE 

To be charmed, is to be aflfectecf 
with charms or spells, Jer. viii. 17. 

CHASE, to follow hard after 
one with an intent to destroy, 
Deut. i. 44. To chase out; chase 
from; chase away; is angrily to 
drive, Job xviii. 18. Prov. xix. 26. 

CHASTE; (1.) Pure, Tit. ii. 5. 
(2.) Freed from the reigning 
power of worldly love and sin- 
ful corruptions, 2 Cor. xi. 2. 

CH ASTEX,chastise,corrcct; 
(1.) To strike or afflict one for 
his advantage and instruction. 
And to refuse or despise chas- 
tisement or correction, is to un- 
dervalue it, and be no way re- 
formed by it, Jer. ii. 30. v. 3. vii. 
28. Heb. xii. 5. 

CHE BAR, a river in Chaklea, 
where Ezekiel saw sundry of his 
visions, Ezek. i. 1. 

CHECKER- WORK, that in 
which the images of flowers, 
sprigs, leaves, and fruits are cu- 
riously wrought together, IKinj 

CHEDORLAOMER, king 
Elam, about A. M. 2078, subdu-. 
ed the kingdoms of Sodom, Go- 
morrah, Adinah, Zeboim, and 
Zoar. After they had served 
him twelve years, they rebelled. 
In the 14th, he resolved to reduce 
them. Assisted by Amraphel 
kimr of Shhar, Arioch kinsf of 
Eilasar, and Tidal king of Go- 
zim, or nations, he marched 
against them. Chedorlaomer and 
his allies, after ravaging the 
country, and carrying off a num- 
ber of captives, and a great booty, 
directed their march northward, 
intending to return home by the 
south-east of Syria. But, in- 
formed that Lot his nephew and 
family,were among the captives, 
Abraham, with a handful of ser- 
vants, and a few Canaanitish 
allies, pursued the conquerors, 
overtook them at Dan, and rout- 
ed them ; then pursued them to 
Hobah, a little to the north of 
Damascus, and retook their cap- 
tives and bootv. Gen. xiv. 1. 

The CHEEK, in the human 
135 




CHE 

face, is the special residence of 
comeliness and blushing. And 
to smile on the cheek, or pull off 
its hair, implied at once cruelty 
and contempt, 1 Kings xxvii. 24. 
Mic. v. 1. Nobody was allowed 
to touch it, except for the pur- 
pose of respectfully and affec- 
tionately kissing it, as intimate 
friends were accustomed to do 
when they met. 

CHEESE, among the Orien- 
tals, was little else "than pressed 
curds, formed, it would seem, in 
the shape of a small sugar-loaf, 
and yet is reckoned a delicate 
dish, 2 Sam. xvii. 29. Job x. 10. 
1 Sam. xvii. 18. In Barbary they 
press it in rush baskets or vats. 

CHEMARIM, the black ones, 
are by some thought the images 
of Chamar, Isis, or the moon ; 
perhaps rather the priests that 
were worshippers of the fire are 
meant, whose clothes, and often 
their faces, were black. Or why 
Wttight not the Chemarim be the 
agents that officiated as priests 
in the burning of children to 
Moloch? 

CHEMOSH. See Baal-peor. 

CHERETHIM, Cherethites; 
(1.) The Philistines, or a particu- 
lar tribe of them. See Caphlor, 
Zeph. ii. 5. Ezek. xxv. 16. (2.) 
David's life-guard were called 
Cherethites and Pelethites. 

CHERISH, to give one cor- 
dials, warmth, ease, and com- 
fort, 1 Thess. ii. 7. 

CHERITH, the river of which 
Elijah drank while he was nou- 
rished bv ravens, IKings xvii. 3,4. 

CHERUB, Cherubim. Angels 
are so called, because they often 
appeared as young men, mighty 
in power and knowledge, Psal. 
xviii. 10. Cherubim, or angels, 
with an appearance of a flaming 
b word, were placed at the east 
or entrance of the garden of 
Eden, after Adam's expulsion, 
to hinder his return: or God 
dwelt in the cherubims with a 
flaming sword, Gen. iii. 24. The 
cherubim, or winged figures that, 



CHI 

covered the sacred ark in the 
holy of holies, and those painted 
on the walls or hangings of the 
sanctuary, who seem each to 
have had the four faces of a man, 
a lion, an ox, and an eagle, 
might represent angels and mi- 
nisters, who, with great activity, 
wisdom, boldness, patience, and 
knowledge, view and admire the 
work of our redemption, and are 
employed in ministering to the 
church and people of God, Exod. 
xxv. 18. xxvi. 1. The cherubim 
that attended the wheels, or 
mingled with the palm-trees, m 
Ezekiel's visions, may denote 
either angels or ministers, as 
subservient to the operations of 
providence, and joined with and 
ministering to the saints, Ezek. 
i. 10. xli. 18. God's riding on 
cherubims, imports his majestic 
use of angels in the dispensations 
of providence, Psal. xviii. 10. 
His dwelling between the cheru- 
bims, imports his peculiar pre- 
sence in the Jewish holy of ho- 
lies ; and chiefly his peculiar 
satisfaction and pleasure in our 
Mediator, and his law-magnify- 
ing righteousness, and his readi- 
ness to be found of such as seek 
him, in him, Psal. lxxx. 1. The 
King of Tyre is called a cover- 
ing cherub ; he afforded his sub- 
jects an agreeable and glorious 
protection, while his fine apparel 
made him shine as an angel, or 
glitter as the golden cherubims 
over the ark, Ezek. xxviii. 14. 

CHESALON is thought to be 
the same as Jearim, Josh. xv. 10. 

CHESNUT-TREE. Suppos- 
ed to be the same with the plane- 
tree, Gen. xxx. 31. Ex. xxxi. 5. 

CHIDON and Nochon signify 
destruction. 

CHIEN; (l.J The principal 
person of a family, congregation, 
or tribe, &c. Num. iii. 30. Deut. 
i. 15. 1 Sam. xiv. 38. 2 Sam v. 8. 
2 Cor. xi. 5. (2.) The best or 
most valuable, 1 Sam. xv. 21 
(3.) The highest ; most honour- 
able, Matt, xxiii. 6. 
J36 



CHI 

CHILD, son, daughter. Child 
denotes, (1.) A son or a daugh- 
ter, young in age, 1 Sam. 1. 22. 
(2.) One weak as a child in 
knowledge and prudence, Isa. x. 
19. iii. 4. 12. 1 Cor. xiii. 11. (3.) 
One young or weak in grace, 1 
John ii. 13. (4.) Persons un- 
fixed in their principles, Eph. iv. 
14. (5.) It is sometimes used to 
express our affection to persons. 
To become as a Utile child, or 
be as a weaned child, is to be 
humble, teachable, void of ma- 
lice and envy. 

Children, or sons. (1.) Not 
only signify a man's immediate 
family, bat his remotest descend- 
ants, Isa. xix. 11. So the Jews 
are called children of Israel ; the 
Edomites, of Esau ; the Ammon- 
ites and Moabites, of Lot, &c. 
2 Kings xvii. 8. Psal. lxxxiii. 8. 
Mephibosheth is called the son 
of Saul, though but his grand- 
son, 2 Sam. xix. 21. And often 
descendants are called by the 
name of their progenitors. Be- 
lievers are commonly called chil- 



CHO 

CHITTIM, Kittim : the son 
of Javan, and grandson of 
Japheth, Gen. x. 4. Chittim, by 
some is taken for Cyprus; by 
others for Macedonia; and by 
some very learned men, for Italy: 
but the more probable opinion is, 
that it refers to all the islands 
and coasts of the Mediterranean; 
for, in different places of Scrip- 
ture^ where the word is used, 
it manifestly signifies different 
countries; but all of them are 
included in this general significa- 
tion. Isa. xxiii. I — 12. Num. 
xxiv. 24. Dan. xi. 30. Ezek. 
xxvii. 6. Jeremiah, ii. 10, re- 
proaching the Israelites with 
inconstancy in religion, says, 
" Pass over to the isles of Chit- 
tim. The prophet speaks of the 
isles of Chittim, of the country 
of Macedonia, under the name 
of an island, after the manner 
of the Hehrews, who give this 
name to peninsulas and maritime 
countries. 

[I do not see sufficient reason 
for restraining the word Chit- 



dren of God, by virtue of their tim to Macedonia, which was 
adoption into this spiritual fami- not particularly a maritime 
ly. Rom.viii. 14. Gal iii.26. The country: why not include all 
descendants of Jacob, Edom, < Greece 1 at least the islands of 



Moab, Ammon, &c. are called 
by their name. Eli called Samuel 
his son ; Obed is called Naomi's ; 
Timothy, Paul's; Benhadad, 
Eiisha's; the apostles, Christ's; 
those to whom they wrote, the 
apostles', 1 Sam. iii. 6. Ruth iv. 
17. 1 Tim. i. 18. 2 Kings viii. 9. 
John xxi. 5. Gal. iv. 19, &c. 

CHIMHAM, the son of Bar- 
zillai, the Gileadite. 

CHIOS, an island in the Archi- 
pelago, or north-east part of the 
Mediterranean sea. It is now 
called Scio. This place -was de- 
stroyed by the Turks in 1822, 
before which event, it was es- 
teemed the modern Athens. 

CH1SLEU, the ninth month 
of the sacred year of the Jews, 
and third of their civil. It con- 
sists of 30 days, and answers to 
part of November andDecember. 



f2 



the Archipelago, and perhaps 
up the Bosphorus, from whence 
vessels might navigate to Tyre, 
as they do now to Egypt, "&c. 
The Greek colonies, scattered 
about the Mediterranean, might 
also be included, consequently, 
Sicily, Sardinia, and much of 
Italy. Our translation is thas '. 
" Howl, ye ships of Tarshish. 
for it (Tyre) is laid waste, so 
that there is no house, no enter' 
ing in ; from the land of Chit- 
tim it is revealed to them.^] 

CHIUN ; either, (1) An idol, 
the same with Remphan, if not 
also with Moloch ; or Moloch 
represented the sun, and Chiun 
the moon. Or, (2.) A pedestal 
whereon images were placed, to 
render them more conspicuous, 
Amos v. 26. 

CHLOE, a noted Christian 



12* 



137 



CHR 

woman at Corinth; perhaps a 
widow, as she is represented as 
head of her family, from some 
©f which PauP received his in- 
formation of the divisions at 
Corinth, 1 Cor. i. 11. 

CHOLER, great anger, Dan. 
viii. 7. 

CHORAZIN, a town in Gali- 
lee, near Capernaum, not far 
from Bethsaida, Matth. xi. 21. 

CHRIST JESUS, the Lord 
and Saviour of mankind. He is 
ealled Christ, or Messiah, be- 
cause he is anointed, sent, and 
famished by God, to execute his 
Mediatorial office ; and called 
Jesus, because by his righteous- 
ness, power, and Spirit, he is 
qualified to save, to the utter- 
most, them that coins unto God 
through him, and appointed of 
God for that end, and freely 
given in the offer of the gospel, 
Isa. lxi. 1,2, 3. Matth. i. 21. 

That he is the eternal Son of 
God, and equal with the adora- 
ble Father, there is evidence 
enough from the Holy Scriptures. 
Of this evidence, the leading 
points and principal references 
are all that can be given. 

It may be observed that the 
same characteristics which be- 
long to God only, and are forbid- 
den by him to be applied to any 
other, are ascribed in Scripture, 
and often in the words of God 
himself, to the Son, Jesus Christ. 
And in the first place, the names 
and titles by which God is dis- 
tinguished are applied to Christ 
in the same unqualified manner 
in which they are applied to Je- 
hovah. Christ came, who is over 
all, God blessed forever, Rom.ix 
5. Even in his Son, Jesus Christ: 
this is the true God, and eternal 
Jife, 1 John v. 20. I am— the 
first and the last, Rev. i. 11 
Compare Isa. vi. 1 — 10. with 
John xii. 41. And, secondly, 
the peculiar attributes of God 
are ascribed to Christ in the same 
unqualified manner. — Eterni- 
ty. In the beginning was the 



CHR 

Word, John i. 1. I am — the be- 
ginning and the end, Rev. xxii. 
13. — Omniscience. I am He 
which searcheth the reins and 
the hearts, Rev. ii. 23. Compare 
1 Kings viii. 39. See also John 
viii. 58. — Omnipotence. He is 
able to subdue all things unto 
himself, Phil. iii. 21. — Omnipre- 
sence. Where two or three are 
gathered together in my name, 
there am I in the midst of them, 
Matth. xviii. 20. Lo, I am with 
you alway, Matth. xxviii. 20. 
See also John iii. 13. 
Jesus Christ is declared to be, 

I. The Creator, Isaiah xliv. 24. 
All things were made by him, 
and without him was not any 
thing made that was made. The 
world was made by him, John 
i. 1, 2. 

II. The Preserver and Up- 
holder of all things. All things 
were created by him and for 
him, and he is before all things, 
and bv him all things con- 
sist, Col. i. 16, 17. Uphold- 
ing all things by the word of his 
power, Heb. i. 3. 

What stronger terms is it pos- 
sible to use, than are here em- 
ployed in describing the creative 
and preserving power of Christ? 
Who would hesitate a moment 
to understand them of the Su- 
preme Jehovah, if they were un- 
connected with the name of 
Christ ? What then should hin- 
der them from being so under* 
stood, now that they are in- 
separably joined to his name? 
Certainly, if Christ is before 
all things, if all things in the 
universe were created by him, 
and are upheld by him, there 
must be a sense in which he i3 
not himself a creature; and if 
he is not created, who else can 
he be but the uncreated God? 
How irreconcileable are such 
passages as these with every 
theory which reduces the Lord 
Jesus Christ to the condition of 
a dependent and finite being ! 

HI. To have power to forgive 
138 



CHR 

sin. Claimed and exercised re- 
peatedly, Matth. ix. 2—6. with 
Daniel ix. 9. and Col. iii. 13. 

IV. To have power to raise the 
dead and judge the world. All 
that are in their graves shall 
hear his voice, and come forth, 
John v. 22, 29. We must all 
appear hefore the judgment seat 
of Christ, 2 Cor. v. 10. Matth. 
xxv. 31—33. Rom. xiv. 10. 

V. Christ is the object of reli- 
gious worship. So common was 
it among the early Christians to 
pay religious homage to Christ, 
that it was usual to distinguish 
them by this circumstance. 
Piiny, Governor of Bithynia, in 
a letter to the Emperor Trajan, 
says he made inquiries concern- 
ing the Christians, and learned, 
" that they were accustomed on 
a stated day to meet before 
day-light, and to sing- with one 
another a hymn to Christ as 
God.''' Eusebius, (Hist. Ecc. 
v. 25.) proving the opinion that 
Christ is a mere man to be a 
departure from the primitive 
faith, quotes a writer still more 
ancient as saying, " More- 
over, all the psalms and hymns 
of the Brethren, written from 
the beginning by the faithful, 
celebrate the praises of Christ, 
the Word of God, and attribute 
divinity to him.'''' In a still more 
explicit manner is Christ ac- 
knowledged to be the object 
of religious worship in the fol- 
lowing passages. — That at the 
name of Jesus every knee should 

boiC, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, 

and things in earth, and things 
under the earth, and that every 
tongue should confess that Jesus 
is Lord, to the glory of God the 
Father, Phil. ii. 10, 11. And I 
beheld, and I heard the voice of 
many angels round about the 
throne, and the beasts, and the 
elders, and the number of them 
was ten thousand times ten 
thousand, and thousands of 
thousands, saying, with a loud 
voice, Worthy is the lamb 



CHR 

THAT WAS SLAIN, to reCCV»6 

power, and riches, and wisdom, 
and strength, and honour, and 
glory, and blessing. And every 
creature which is in heaven, and 
on the earth,, and under the 
earth, and such as are in the 
sea, and all that are in them, 
heard I saying, Blessing, and 
honour, and glory, and power y 
be unto him who sitteth upon 
the throne,ANr>unto the lamb for 
ever and ever. Rev. v. 11 — 13. 
See also Heb.i. 6. What higher 
honours can creatures render to 
the Supreme Jehovah, than are 
here paid by the intelligent uni- 
verse to Christ 1 If to these ho- 
nours we add the divine names,ti- 
tles, attributes, and works, which 
we have seen are so abundantly 
given him in the Scriptures, and 
which the Scriptures themselves 
represent as descriptive of the 
only true God, the truth of the 
proposition which we are consi- 
dering must be not only con- 
vincing, but overwhelming. 

The reader will do well to ex- 
amine and compare the follow- 
ing, among many other passa- 
ges of Scripture which might be 
cited. 1 Tim. iii. 16. Isa. ix. 6. 
2 Cor. v. 15. Rom. ix.5. Phil.ii. 
6. Isa. xlv. 22, 23. Rom. xiv.10, 
11. Heb. i. 8. Ps. xlv. 6. Rev. 
xxii. 6. and 16. Isa. ▼iii. 13, 14. 
and 1 Pet. ii. 8. 1 Cor. x. 9. 
Exod. xvii. 7. Numb. xxi. 5, 6. 
Ps. lxxviii. 56. Ps. lxviii. 17, 18, 
Eph. iv. 8. 10, 11. John xx. 28. 
1 Cor. xv. 47. Rom. xiv. 9. Acta 
x. 36. Phil. ii. 9. John iii. 31. 
1 John v. 20. John xiv. 7. 9. 
Acts vii. 59, 60. 2 Pet. iii. 18. 
Matth. xiv. 33. Heb. i. 6. Matt, 
xxviii. 17. Luke xxiv. 51, 52, 
Rev. i. 5, 6. v. 8. vii. 9, 10. and 
v.11,12. John ii. 24, 2.5. Acts 
i. 24. John xxi. 17. John x. 18. 
Eph. i. 21. Col. ii. 9. Mark iv. 
39. and Ps. lxxxix. 8, 9. Heb. 
xiii. 8. Rev. xxi. 22, 23. 

The doctrine here established 
is important, First, as it is con- 
nected with religious worship. 
139 



CHR 

For, there is great error and sin 
in receiving the doctrine of the 
Trinity, or there is great error 
and sin in rejecting it. The sub- 
ject renders every thing like 
compromise impossible. Every 
one will indeed judge for him- 
self, and to his own master will 
stand or fall. But it is plain, 
that those who adopt and those 
who reject the views which it 
gives of the Supreme Being, 
possess different and opposite 
religions, and so far as relates to 
this point, can have no concord 
either in their faith or worship. 

In the second place, as it is 
connected with other truths and 
facts revealed in the Scriptures. 
To select but a single point for 
illustration. How different must 
be the views which men form 
of the mediation of Christ, par- 
ticularly of the greatness and 
moral value of those sacrifices 
which he made for tiie salvation 
of men, of his all-sufficiency to 
save, and of his intercession, 
according as they believe or re- 
ject the doctrine of his real and 
proper Divinity ! Who, there- 
fore, will say, that the moral in- 
fluence exerted by Jesus Christ 
is not most deeply affected by 
the manner in which this great 
article of our faith is determined? 
It is not too much to say, that 
this single circumstance makes 
an infinite difference in the cha- 
racter of him whom we are to ac- 
knowledge as our Saviour, and 
that it may lay a foundation for 
an infinite difference in the me- 
thod by which we apprehend 
that our salvation is to be ac- 
complished. Particularly is it 
true, that whatever views affect 
the dignity of Christ's person, 
affect in the same degree his 
qualifications to make an atone- 
ment for sin ; and the nearly 
universal rejection of this last 
doctrine, by those who reject the 
Divinity of Christ, proves that 
they are likely to stand or fall 
together. 



CHR 

And, thirdly, as it is deeply 
connected with our hopes as 
immortal beings. If the wor- 
ship of the only true God has 
any thing to do with our present 
character, or our future pros- 
pects ; if it can have any in- 
tluence on the question of our 
acceptance with God, whether 
we trust in Christ as the great 
atoning sacrifice for sinners, or 
rely upon some other ground for 
pardon and eternal liie ; then is 
the doctrine of the Trinity at the 
foundation or our hopes as im- 
mortal beings. Nor shouldit be 
forgotten, that if we refuse this 
way of salvation which God has 
provided through his Son, " there 
remained] no more sacrifice for 
sin." There is but one Saviour, 
and one way of salvation. From 
the time the promise of a Saviour 
was given, preparation was daily 
made for that astonishing event. 
By a multitude of typical and 
verbal predictions, every circum- 
stance of his future life was 
marked out, that the world 
might be qualified to give his 
character a thorough examina- 
tion whenever he should appear. 
To mark his readiness to invest 
himself with our nature, he often 
appeared in the form of a man; 
and almost every metaphoric re- 
presentation of God was taken 
from tilings pertaining to men. 

When the government was 
just departing from the tribe of 
Judah ; when the 490 years, 
mentioned by the angel to Dan- 
iel, drew to an end ; when the 
nations had been sufficiently 
shaken, by the overthrow of the 
Persian and Grecian empires, 
and the erection of the Roman ; 
while the second temple remain- 
ed in its glory ; when an alarm- 
ing rumour, of the sudden rise 
of a Jew to govern the world, 
had spread through a great part 
of it; and just six months after 
the conception of John the Bap- 
tist, our Saviour's forerunner, 
the Angel Gabriel intimated to 
140 



CHR 

the Virgin Mary, that, by the 
influence of the Holy Ghost, she 
should conceive, and bear the 
promised Messiah, Gen. xlix. 10. 
Dan. ix. 24, 25. Hag. ii. 6—9. 
21,22, 23. Mai. hi. 1. Gen. hi. 
15. Luke i. 32—35. This virgin 
was contracted to one Joseph, a 
carpenter. Both were sufficient- 
ly mean, butofthe now debased 
royal family of David. Accord- 
ing to the genealogy of Matthew, 
adding the three there omitted, 
Joseph was the 32d in descent 
from David, in the royal line 
of Solomon. According to Luke, 
Mary, by whose marriage Joseph 
was the son-in-law of Heli, was 
the 41st from David by Nathan, 
and the 74th from Adam. The 
two lines of Solomon and Na- 
than, sons of David, appear to 
have met in the persons of Sala- 
thiel and Zorobabel ; but Joseph 
sprung from Abiud, an elder son 
of Zorobabel ; and Mary from 
Rhesa, a younger. 

Joseph and Mary dwelt at Na- 
zareth; but this not being the 
place appointed for the birth of 
the* Messiah, an enrolment of 
the Roman subjects, on which a 
taxation was afterward founded, 
while Cyrenius was governor of 
Syria, obliged the Jews at this 
very time to repair to the places 
and families to which they origi- 
nally belonged. Joseph and 
Mary were obliged to travel 
about 82 miles southward, to 
Bethlehem ; where they, and 
probably their Son, were regis- 
tered in the public records of 
the empire, as descendants of 
David. Every inn at Bethlehem 
was so crowded with strangers, 
that Joseph and Mary were 
obliged to lodge in a stable. 
There she brought forth her 
Babe; and, for want of a cradle, 
laid him in the manger. That 
very night, an angel solemnly 
informed the shepherds, who 
watched their flocks on an adja- 
cent field, of the birth of Jesus ; 
and a multitude of other angels 



CHR 

sang an anthem of praise for 
God's grace and mercy to men. 
The shepherds hastened to Beth- 
lehem, and found the Babe in 
the debased condition the angel 
had said. To honour the ordi 
nance of God ; to avow himself 
a member of the Jewish church, 
nd a debtor to fulfil the whole 
law ; to receive his Father's 
seal of the new covenant made 
with him, and begin his shed- 
ding of blood for his people, this 
divine Babe was circumcised on 
the eighth day of his life, and 
called Jesus, or the Saviour, as 
the angel had directed before his 
birth. When, about thirty-three 
days after, his mother presented 
herself and her Babe at the tem- 
ple, Simeon, a noted saint, took 
the Child in his arms, blessed 
God for his appearance, and 
wished to die immediately, as 
he had seen the incarnate Sa- 
viour. He warned Mary, that 
her Son was set for the fall and 
rise of many of the Jews, and 
would, by the treatment he 
should suffer, occasion much 
grief to herself. At that very in- 
stant, Anna, an aged prophetess, 
discerned him to be the Mes- 
siah, and told her pious friends 
of his greatness. 

But warned by the ancient 
oracle of Balaam, and other 
predictions of scripture ; warned 
by the wide-spread rumour of 
the Messiah's immediate appear- 
ance ; alarmed by the sight of 
an uncommon star ; certain 
Magi, or wise men, came from 
Persia, Chaldea,or Eastern Ara- 
bia, to see and worship the new- 
born King of the Jews. At Je- 
rusalem, they inquired for him. 
Herod, and his subjects, were 
terribly troubled at the news of 
the Messiah's birth. A council 
was called, who agreed that 
Bethlehem was to be the place 
of it After a private inquiry 
when the star had appeared, and 
giving them orders to return, and 
inform him where the Babe was, 
141 



CIIR 
Herod dismissed them to go to 
Bethlehem. They had scarce 
left Jerusalem, when the star 
appeared to them in the lower 
region of the air, and conducted 
them to the very lodging of Jo- 
seph and Mary, With joy they 
proceeded on their journey ; 
and having found the Babe, wor- 
shipped him, and gave presents 
of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 
As Herod intended to murder 
the Child, an angel warned the 
wise men to return home with- 
out revisiting him ; and warned 
Joseph, now prepared for his 
journey by the late presents, to 
carry the Child and his mother 
to Egypt, and continue there till 
further orders. Joseph imme- 
diately obeyed. Herod, enraged 
that the wise men had not re- 
turned to inform him of the 
Child, sent forth his troops, and 
murdered all the children in 
Bethlehem, and the places about, 
under two years old, that he 
might make sure the murder of 
Jesus among them. After He- 
rod's death, an angel warned Jo- 
seph and his family to return to 
Canaan. They did so. Arche- 
laus's cruelty made them afraid 
of settling in Judea. By the di- 
rection of God, they went north- 
ward, and settled at Nazareth, 
which, unknown to them, ful- 
filled the ancient predictions of 
Christ's being the Notzer, Pre- 
server ; or the Netzer, Branch ; 
Matt. ii. Job vii. 20. Isa. xi. 1. 

It seems unnecessary to give 
even a sketch of the subsequent 
life of our Divine Redeemer. 
The interesting and sublime his- 
tory is given by four different 
individuals, who spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost ) 
and the volume which contains 
their testimony is, or may be, 
within the reach of all. 

CHRONICLES; a history 
that records what happened in 
former times. Two books of the 
Old Testament are so called 
They contain the history of 



CHU 
about 350!) years, from the crea- 
tion, till after the return of the 
Jews from Babylon ; and relate 
a variety of facts not mentioned 
in the histories before written; 
and add other circumstances ; 
and hence sometimes seem to 
contradict the former, though 
they do not really so. It is pro- 
bable Ezra wrote the most part 
thereof. But another book of 
Chronicles is often mentioned in 
the history of the kings, and 
which was but a human work, 
wherein the history of the He- 
brew nation was more largely 
delineated, 2 Kings xxiv. 5. 

CHRYSOLITE. That which 
the ancients so called was pro- 
bably the topaz. The jewel now 
called chrysolite is of a golden 
colour, hut of no great value. 
The Asian chrysolite is very 
beautiful in its pure state, and 
is seldom found bigger than the 
head of a large pin. The Ame- 
rican is larger, and the European 
of Silesia and Bohemia still lar- 
ger, but of least value. The 
chrysolite of the ancients, was 
the seventh foundation of the 
ne*w Jerusalem, and perhaps the 
tenth jewel in the high-priest's 
breast-plate, Rev. xxi. 20, 

CHRTSOPRASUS; a pre- 
cious jewel, of a beautiful green 
colour, mingled with yellow. It 
was the tenth foundation of the 
new Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 20. 

CHUB ; probably the country 
of the Cubians, on the north- 
west of Egypt: but the Arabic 
version, and others, will have 
them to be the Nubians, who 
settled on the south-west of 
Egvpt, Ezek. xxx. 5. 

CHURCH. The word so ren- 
dered was anciently used to sig- 
nify any public meeting of per- 
sons to consult the common wel- 
fare of a city or state : and some- 
times it was given to an unlawful 
assembly, Acts xix. 32. 39. 41. 
It has been contended, that the 
place of sacred meeting is so 
called, in 1 Cor. xi. 18. 22. xiv.34; 
142 



CIL 

but in both texts the word may 
very well be understood of the 
congregation assembled. With 
respect to sacred assemblies, the 
word is used to signify a society 
of men called of God by the gos- 
pel, out of the world that lieth in 
wickedness, into the faith, fel- 
lowship, obedience, and worship 
of the Lord Christ, and of Cod 
in him. With respect to which 
sense it is taken more or less 
largely. It signifies (1.) The 
whole body oJ'the elect, as united I 
under Christ their Head, Col. i. j 
18. (2.) The followers and wor- j 
shippers of Christ in a particular ; 
province or city, as Ephesus, 
Smyrna, Jerusalem, Rome, &c. ■ 
Rev. ii. iii. (3.) A particular bo- j 
dy of men, that are wont to meet | 
together in one place, to profess, j 
worship, and serve the Lord , 
-Christ. Thus we read of church- 1 
es in particular houses, Rom. | 
xvi. 5. Col. iv. 15. In both these ; 
last senses, the people, with or ] 
without their rulers, are called a j 
church, Acts viii. 3. xiv. 23. (4.) 
An assembly of sacred rulers 
met in Christ's name and autho- 
rity, to execute his laws, and 
govern his people, in a congre- 
gation, city, or province, &c. 
Matt, xviii. 17. 

CHURL ; an ill-tempered per- 
son, who hoards up his wealth 
as in a prison, and is utterly 
averse to live up to his station, 
or to bestow alms according to 
his ability, Isa. xxxii. 5. 

CHURN; to toss milk in a 
vessel of skin or wood, <S^c. till 
the butter be extracted, Prov. 
xxx. 33. 

CHUSHAN-RISHATHAIM, 
a king of Mesopotamia, who op- 
pressed the Israelites eight years, 
Judg. iii. 8—10. 

CIEL ; to overlay the inside 
of a roof with deals or plaster, 
Jer. xxii. 14. 

CILICIA, a country of Lesser 
Asia, on the north of Syria. It 
had Pamphvlia on the west; the 
Issic bay of the Mediterranean 



CIR 

sea on the south ; the mountain 
Amanus on the east, and p?irt 
of Cappadocia and Armenia the 
Less on the north. Acts xxi. 39. 

CINNAMON. The cinna- 
mon-tree grows in woods in the 
East Indies, in Java, Ceylon, 
&c. It has somewhat of the form 
of the bay-tree, or of our willow. 
Its flowers are ordinarily as red 
as scarlet, and it is said some- 
times blue. Its fruit is of the 
form of an olive ; and from it is 
extracted a kind of tallow for 
making of candles. The bark is 
the most valuable; when new 
stripped off, it has little taste or 
colour; but when dried, it, at 
least the middlemost bark, be- 
comes brown, and is a most 
agreeable spice, much used in 
weakness of the stomach. There 
is a wild cinnamon-tree in the 
West Indies ; but its bark is in- 
ferior to that of the former. It 
seems the cinnamon-tree an- 
ciently grew in Arabia; or else 
the cinnamon of the ancients 
was different from ours. The 
cinnamon-bark was used in the 
sacred oil, Exod. xxx. 23; and 
in perfuminjr beds, Prov. vii. 17. 

CINNERETH, Cinncroth; a 
city of the tribe of Naphtali, on 
the west of the sea of Tiberias. 

CIRCLE; a line surrounding 
a round body. The, circle on the 
face of the deep, is the boundary 
which God hath fixed for the 
sea ; or that crust of earth which 
surrounds tl>e mass of water 
supposed to be stored up in the 
bowels of our globe, Prov. viii. 
27. The circle of the earth may 
denote its whole surface, Is.xl.22. 

CIRCUIT; a roundish course 
of motion, 1 Sam. vii. 16. 

CIRCUMCISION. To dis- 
tinguish Abraham's family from 
others ; to seal the new covenant 
to them, and their obligation to 
keep the laws thereof; and to 
represent the removal of their 
natural corruption, by the blood 
and Spirit of Jesus Christ, in 
virtue of his resurrection, on the 
143 



cm 

eighth day, God appointed, that 
all the males in Abraham's fa- 
mily should be circumcised, and 
that his posterity should after- 
wards be circumcised on the 
eighth day of their life. The un- 
circumcised child was to be cut 
off from his people; but that 
threatening seems not to have 
affected the child, till he was 
grown up, and wilfully neglected 
that ordinance of God for himself, 
Gen. xvii. For the last thirty- 
eight years of their abode in the 
desert, the Hebrew children were 
not circumcised. It was not there 
so necessary to distinguish them 
from others ; and their frequent 
and sudden removals from one 
place to another rendered it less 
convenient: but I suppose the 
chief design of the interruption 
of this ordinance, was to mark 
the interruption of the fulfilment 
of God's covenant-promise, of 
giving them Canaan. Just after 
the Hebrews passed the Jordan, 
their males were all circumcised: 
this is called a circumcision of 
them the second time, as, on this 
occasion, the institution was 
again revived, after it had long 
gone into disuse: and it was a 
rolling away of the reproach of 
Egypt: God hereby declared 
they were his free people, and 
heirs of the promised land, and 
removed from them what they 
reckoned the shame of the Egyp- 
tians, Josh. v. 1—10. 

Circumcision had continued 
about 1930 years, but was* abo- 
lished, by means of our Saviour's 
death and resurrection, and the 
use of it as necessary to salvation 
became wicked and damnable, 
because it imported, that the 
true Messiah had not made satis- 
faction for sin, and was a prac- 
tical rejection of him and his 
atonement ; and he that was cir- 
cumcised was a debtor to the 
whole law; obliged to fulfil it for 
himself, and Christ could profit 
him nothing; and the r turning 
to it from the faith of the gospel, 



CIR 

was a falling from the doctrines 
of grace, and from a dependence 
on the free favour of God, as the 
ground of our salvation, 1 Cor. 
vii. 18. Gal. v. 2, 3. By preach- 
ing up circumcision, the false 
apostles shunned persecution 
from the Jews, Gal. v. 11. vi. 
12, 13. When Paul circumcised 
Timothy, whose mother was a 
Jewess, he did it merely to re- 
commend him to the Jews as a 
preacher: but he did not circum- 
cise Titus, that he might show 
his belief that circumcision was 
no more a binding ordinance of 
God, Actsxvi. 3. Gal. ii.3. 

As circumcision was a lead- 
ing ordinance of the ceremonial 
law, it is sometimes put for the 
observance of the whole of it, 
Acts xv. 1. As the Jews were, 
by this rite, distinguished from 
others, they are called the cir- 
cumcision, and the Gentiles the 
uncircumcision, Rom. iv. 9. 11. 
Circumcision profiteth; is use- 
ful as a seal of the covenant, if 
I one keep the law as a rule, and 
' so manifest his union with Christ; 
but if he be a breaker of the law, 
! his circumcision is made uncir- 
cumcision; is of no avail to his 
present or eternal happiness; and 
if uncircumcised Gentiles keep 
the law, their uncircumcision is 
counted for circumcisum; they 
are as readily accepted of God, 
and rendered happy, as if they 
were circumcised Jews, Rom. ii. 
25, 20. Neither circumcision nor 
uncircumcision availeth any 
thing; no man is a whit more 
readily accepted of God, or saved 
by him, that he is either a Jew or 
a Gentile, Gal. v. 6. vi. 15. 1 Cor. 
vii. 19. 

Besides the outward circum- 
cision of the flesh, we find an 
inward one mentioned, which is 
what was signified by the other. 
It consists in God's changing of 
our state and nature, through th« 
application of the blood and Spi- 
rit of his Son. By this we are 
madeGod's peculiar people,have 
144 



CIT 

our corruptions mortified, and 
our souls disposed to his service; 
and, for this reason, the saints 
are called the circumcision, while 
the Jews, with their outward cir- 
cumcision, are, in contempt, call- 
ed the concision, Phil. iii. 2, 3. 

Uncircumcised; (1.) The Gen- 
tiles, Gal. ii. 7. Eph. ii. 11. Such 
were detested of the Jews, and 
divinely prohibited to eat the 
passover, Judg. xiv. 3. 1 Sam. 
xvii. 26. Exod. xii. 48. (2.) Such 
as had not their nature changed, 
nor their inward corruptions sub- 
dued and mortified, nor their 
souls disposed to a ready hear- 
ing and belief of the gospel, are 
Galled uncircumcised in heart 
and ears, Jer. ix. 26. vi. 10. Acts 
vii. 51. 

CIRCUMSPECT; cautious; 
seriously advertent to every pre- 
cept of God's law, and every 
circumstance of things to be done 
or forborne, Exod. xxiii. 13. Eph. 
v. 15. 

CISTERN ; a large vessel or 
reservoir to retain water. Cis- 
' terns were very necessary in 
Canaan, where fountains were 
scarce ; and some of them were 
150 paces long, and 60 broad, 
2 Kings xviii. 31. The left ven- 
tricle of the heart, which retains 
the blood till it be re-dispersed 
through the body, is called a cis- 
. tern, Eccl. xii. 6. Idols, armies, 
and outward enjoyments, are 
broken cisterns that can hold no 
water; they can afford no solid 
or lasting happiness and com- 
fort, Jer. ii. 13. 

CITIZEN ; (1.) One that is 
born, or dwells in a city, Acts 
xxi. 39. (2.) One that has the 
freedom of trade, and other pri- 
rileges belonging to a city; so 
Paul was a citizen of Rome, 
Acts xxii. 28. (3.) Subjects, 
Luke xix. 14. The saints are 
called citizens, because they are 
entitled to all the privileges of 
the church militant and trium- 
phant, Eph. ii. 19. 

CITY; anciently, a walled 
G 13 



CLA 

town. The inhabitants of cities 
in the east usually enjoyed spe- 
cial privileges. The Orientals 
surrounded their cities with high 
walls, Deut.i.28. but their houses 
being many of them built of mud, 
it was easy to dig into them, Job 
xxiv. 16. and the rains washed 
them dowvi, and rendered the 
streets, and sometimes the hous- 
es, full of dust and mire. The 
most noted cities now destroyed, 
were Thebes, Memphis, and 
Alexandria, in Egypt; Jerusa- 
lem and Samaria, in Canaan ; 
Babylon, in Chaldea ; Nineveh, 
in Assyria; Shushan, Per3epo- 
lis, and Rey, in Persia ; Antioch, 
in Syria ; Ephesus, Philadelphia, 
Pergamos, and Troy, in Lesser 
Asia. The chief cities now exist- 
ent, are, Cairo, in Egypt ; Ispa- 
han, in Persia; Delhi, in India; 
Pekin, and Nankin, in China ; 
Constantinople, in Turkey ; 
Rome, Vienna, Berlin, Peters- 
burgh, Paris, London, &cc. in 
Christendom. Jerusalem was 
called, The holy city, city of God, 
city of Solemnities ; because 
there the temple of God was 
built, his holy and solemn ordi- 
nances observed, Matth. v. 35. 
xxvii.53. Isa. xxxiii. 20. She i3 
called faithful, a city of righ- 
teousness, or an oppressing city, 
from the temper of her inhabit- 
ants, Isa. i. 26. Zeph iii. 1. 

CLAUD A, a small island hard 
by Crete, and now called Gozo. 
Paul and his companions sailed 
by it in their voyage to Rome, 
Acts xxvii. 16. 

CLAUDIA ; a Roman lady, 
who, it is said, was converted to 
Christianity byPaul, 2Tim.iv.21 . 

CLAUDIUS CESAR, the 
fifth emperor of the Romans. 
He succeeded the mad Caligula, 
A. D. 41, and reigned thirteen 
years. The senate had designed 
to assert their ancient liberty ; 
but, by the army and populace, 
and the craft of Herod Agrippa, 
Claudius obtained the imperial 
throne. To mark his gratitude 
145 



CLE 

to Agrippa, he gave him the 
sovereignty of Judea, and gave 
the kingdom of Chalcis to bis 
brother Herod : he also confirm- 
ed the Alexandrian Jews in their 
privileges ; but prohibited those 
at Rome from holding any pub- 
lic meetings. Some time after 
lie again reduced Judea to a Ro- 
man province, and ordered ail 
the Jews to depart from Rome. 

Claudius Lysias, a tribune of 
the Roman guard at Jerusalem. 
With a great price he obtained 
his freedom of Roman citizen, 
Acts xxii. 28. Observing the 
tumult raised on account of Sr. 
Paul, whom the Jews had seized, 
and designed to murder, he res- 
cued Paul, and (Acts xxi. 27; 
xxii.) ordered him to be bound 
with two chains, and carried to 
fort Antonia, where was the 
Roman garrison. Then, being 
desirous to know the reason of 
this disturbance, he ordered him 
to be extended on the ground, to 
pat him to the question by whip- 
ping: but Paul having demand- 
ed whether it was lawful thus 
to treat a Roman citizen 1 Ly- 
sias was afraid, and forbad that 
treatment. The next day the 
tribune sent for the Jewish 
priests, and the council, to learn 
the reason of the commotion 
of the day before. 

CLEAN"; pune: (1.) Free from 
natural filth, chaff, or dross, Prov. 
xtv.4. Isa. xxx.24. (2.) Free from 
ceremonial defilement, Lev. x. 
14. Rom.xiv.20. (3.) Free from 
moral filth, corruption, and vani- 
ty, Job xiv. 4. xxv. 5. (4.) Inno- 
cent; rig]]teous; free from guilt, 
Acts xviii. 6. xx- 26. Wine is 
vure, when not mixed with wa- 
ter, Bsut. xxxii. 14. Metal is 
pure, when without dross. Oil, 
myrrh, and frankincense, are 
pare, when without refuse or 
mixture, Exod. xxv. 17. 31. — 
Provender or grain is clean,when 
it is without chaff or sand, lsa. 
xxx. 21. Meats are pure, when 
lawful to be used. Tho ancient 



CLE 

sacrifices, priests, and other per- 
sons, were pure, when without 
ceremonial pollution, Ezra vi.20. 
The purity of the saints lies in 
their having a clean heart and 
pure hands ; in having their con- 
science purged from guilt, by the 
application of Jesus 1 s righteous- 
ness ; their mind, will, and af- 
fections, sanctified by his Spirit, 
endowed with implanted grace, 
and freed from the love and 
power of sinful corruption ; and 
their outward conversation holy 
and blameless, Prov. xx. 9. Job 
xvii. 9. 1 Tim. i. 5. Mat. v. 8. 

CLEANSE, purge, purify ; 
to make pure or clean. (1.) To 
make free from natural filth or 
dross, Mark vii. 19. Mai. iii. 3. 
(2.) To consecrate to a holy use, 
and render free from ceremonial 
pollution, Ezek. xliii. 20. 28. 
Lev. viii. 15. Num. viii.21. (3.) 
To remove the guilt of sin, by 
the application of Jesus's blood, 
Keb. ix. 14. 1 John i. 9 ; and the 
power and pollution of it, by the 
regeneration and sanctification 
of our nature and life, John xv. 
2. Tit. iii. 5. Christ purges our 
sin, by making atonement for it 
by his blood, Heb. i. 3. He and 
his Father also cleanse men, by 
the powerful application of his 
blood and Spirit, by means of his 
word, Ezek. xxxvi. 25. Rev. i. 5 : 
and we cleanse ourselves, by re- 
ceiving and improving his word, 
blood, and Spirit, to promote the 
purity of our conscience, and the 
sanctification of our heart and. 
life, 2 Cor. vii. 1. 1 Pet. ii. 21. 

The method of purification 
from ceremonial defilement was 
very different in form; but ail 
represented the gradual purging 
of our conscience, heart,and life, 
by the word, the blood, and Spi- 
rit of Jesus Christ. He that of- 
fered the expiation-goat,or sprin- 
kled his blood ; he that led th« 
scape-goat into the wilderness ; 
he that burnt the flesh of a sin- 
offering for the high-priest or 
congregation ; and the person or 
146 



CLE 

farment merely suspected of lep- 
rosy, was purified by a simple 
washing in water. The brazen 
pot wherein the flesh of a sin- 
offering had been boiled, was to 
be washed and rinsed in water, 
Lev. xvi. vi. 28. xiii. He that 
burnt the red heifer, or cast the 
cedar-wood, scarlet, or hyssop, 
into the fire ; he that carried her 
ashes ; he that sprinkled, or un- 
necessarily touched the water of 
separation ; he that did eat or 
touch any part of the carcase of 
an unclean beast, washed him- 
self in water, and continued un- 
clean until the even, Lev. xi. 
xv. Deut. xiv. xxiii. 

To purify after child-birth, 
was to offer a lamb, turtle, or 
pigeon, for a burnt-offering, and 
a turtle or pigeon for a sin-offer- 
ing. To purge away the defile- 
ment contracted by dead bodies. 



CLO 

CLEFT, (1.) A rent in a rock 
or wall, Isa. ii. 21. Amos vi. 1L 
(2.) The dividing part of a 
beast's foot, Deut. xiv. 6. (3.) 
Laid open or spread out, Mic. i 
4. See also Cant. ii. 14. Jer 
xlix. 16. Obad. 3. Job xxx. 6 
2 Chron. xx. 16. 

CLEMENT, a noted Chris- 
tian, who preached the gospel 
along with Paul at Philippi. 
Phil. iv. 3. 

CLEOPHAS, probably the 
same with Alp'ieus, is said to 
have been the brother of Joseph, 
our Lord's supposed father, and 
the husband of Mary, the sister 
of the blessed Virgin, and father 
of Simon and James the Less, 
and of Jude and Joseph, or 
Joses, the cousin-german of 
Christ, Luke xxiv. 18. 

Cleophas did not understand 
fully why it was expedient that 



a house and furniture, after be- 1 Jesus should die and return to 
ing unclean seven days, were to ' the Father. Having beheld our 
be sprinkled with the water of i Saviour expire on the cross, it is 
separation; and a person was to 'said he gave up all hope of seer 
be sprinkled therewith on the ing the kingdom of God estar 
third and on the seventh day,iblished by him on earth; and 
Lev. xii. Num. xix. When one ■ whose faith would not haya 
was cleansed from leprosy, he been tried under under such cir- 
was to be seven times sprinkled 'cumstances. But of this there 
with a mixture of w r ater, blood is no positive evidence, 
of a slain bird, cedar-wood, I CLOTHES; clothing; ga*- 
scarlet, and hyssop. On the first ments ; vestments; raiment; 
day, he washed his whole body robes ; apparel. It is said, the 
and clothes in water, and shaved j Hebrews wore no other clothes 
off all his hair; on the seventh, 'than their linen coats, with large 
he repeated this washing and j sleeves, which were often, as 
shaving ; on the eighth, he offer- i they still are in the eastern coun 



ed three lambs for a burnt-offer- 
ing, a trespass-offering, and sin- 
offering ; or if poor, a turtle-dove 
or pigeon for a burnt-offering, 
and another for a sin-offering. 
The extremities of his right ear, 
thumb, and toe, were anointed 
with the blood of his trespass- 
offering, and then with part of 
the log of oil that attended it. 
The sprinkling of a leperous 
house with the above-mentioned 
mixture of water, bird's blood, 
cedar, scarlet, and hyssop, ren- 
dered it clean, Lev. xiv. 



tries, woven so as to need no 
seam ; and their woollen cloaks. 
These two made a change of 
raiment. Their coats which sup- 
plied the place of our shirU, 
hung down to the very ground, 
unless when they tucked them 
up for walking or work. The 
scribes wore theirs longer than 
ordinary, to mark their uncon> 
mon gravity and holiness, Luke 
xx. 46. Princes, especially great 
kings and priests, generally wore 
white garments ; such were aleo 
worn on the occasions of great 
147 



■ 



CLO 

joy and gladness, Eccl. ix. 8. 
In mourning, men generally wore 
sackcloth, or hair-cloth. Pro- 
phets being professed mourners, 
oft wore a mourning-dress of 
coarse stuff or skin, 2 Kings i. 7, 
8. Matt. iii. 4. False prophets, 
in order to deceive the people, 
clothed themselves after the 
same manner, Zech. xiii. 4. 
Among the Hebrews, neither sex 
was permitted to wear such 
form of apparel as was used by 
the other, as that tended to in- 
troduce confusion, Deut. xxii. 5. 
They were prohibited to have 
their garments of linen and 
woollen threads mixed together, 
Lev. xix. 19. Deut. xxi. 13. To 
distinguish them from other peo- 
ple, and cause them constantly 
to remember their state of cove- 
nant-subjection to God, they 
wore tufts or fringes of blue, 
on the four corners of their gar- 
ments: and a border or hem of 
galloon upon the edges, Num. 
xv. 38. Deut. xxii. 12. Matt. ix. 
20. These the Pharisees wore 
larger than ordinary, to mark 
their uncommon attention to the 
observance of the law, Matt, 
xxiii. 5. Great men's children 
had oft their garments striped 
with divers colours. Gen. xxxvii. 
3. 2 Sam. xiii. 18. Isaiah largely 
describes the apparel of the Jew- 
ish women in his time. It is 
plain, these ornaments, and parts 
of apparel, were gaudy and fine ; 
but we are now quite uncertain 
of their particular form, Isa. iii. 
24. 

This explains what is said in 
Matt. xxii. 11, 12. The sentence 
pronounced against the man 
who had not a wedding-garment, 
might at first sight seem severe. 
But when it is recollected, that 
at the marriages of the great, in 
the east, and of kings in particu- 
lar, stewards were appointed to 
furnish each of the guests with 
a dress suited to the occasion, his 
conduct, it must be apparent, 
must have proceeded from con- 



CLO 

tempt and obstinacy. He there- 
fore merited his doom. 

The priests had their sacred 
garments, all which signified the 
humanity, office, and righteous- 
ness of our Redeemer. 

In the metaphoric language, 
whatever cleaves close to one, 
or appears in his condition and 
work, is represented as a robe oi 
garment. Thus the light, glorv, 
majesty, strength, and zeal, that 
God manifests in his providential 
dispensations, are called his gar- 
ments, Psal. civ. 2. xciii. 1. Isa. 
lix. 17. His garments white as 
snow, denote theholiness,equity, 
and glory of his nature and 
works, Dan. vii. 9. Christ's cloth- 
ing °f a cloud, imports the ma- 
jesty and obscurity of his pro- 
vidential fulfilment of his work, 
Rev. x. 1. His red garments, 
and vesture dipped in blood, 
mark his victory over, and his 
ruin of, his incorrigible foes, Isa. 
lxiii. 1, 2. Rev. xix. 13. His 
linen garment, down to the foot, 
is his dignity and majesty, as 
King of his church, or rather his 
righteousness, which covers him- 
self and his people, Rev. i. 13. 
Jesus's imputed righteousness is 
a robe: when imputed to us, it 
beautifies, warms, and protects 
our souls, Isa. lxi. 10. 

CLOUD ; (1.) A collection of 
vapour, exhaled from the seas 
and earth, and suspended in the 
air, 2 Sam. xxii. 12. (2.) Fog or 
mist, Hos. vi. 4. (3.) Smoke, 
Lev. xvi. 13. (4.) Heaven, Psak 
xxxvi. 5. lxviii. 34. (5.) A great 
number, Isa. Ix. 8. Heb. xii. 1. 
Ezek. xxxviii. 9. God binds up 
the water in clouds, and thence 
pours it in rain on the earth, Job 
xxxviii. 9. In the east, small 
clouds, as well as squalls of 
wind, presage rain, 1 Kings xviii. 
44. Vrpv. xxv. 14. A cloud, in 
the form of a pillar, hovered over 
the camp of the Hebrews in tlie 
wilderness. In the day-time, it 
appeared as mist, protecting 
them from the scorching sun. In 
148 



COG 

the night, it seemed a pillar of 
fire, and gave them light and 
» warmth. When they encamped, 
it hovered about them on the 
tabernacle; when they marched, 
it went before them ; when they 
went through the Red Sea, it 
went behind them, giving them 
light ; and before the Egyptians, 
darkening the air to them, and 
filling them with terror and 
dread. Forty years it attended 
the Hebrews, till it had led them 
to the promised land, and, it 
seems, disappeared when Moses 
died. A cloud is mentioned as 
God's chariot, [and the Son of 
Man is to come in the clouds.] 

CNIDUS, mentioned Acts 
Kxvii. 7, was a city in the Penin- 
sula of Paria, celebrated for the 
worship of Venus. 

COAST. (1.) Border, bounda- 
ry, Num. xxiv. 24. (2.) Country, 
Exod. x. 4. 

COCKATRICE. It does not 
appear that any such creature 
exists. The word so translated 
in our Bibles ought to be trans- 
lated serpent. It seems to have 
been one of the most poisonous 
kind, who lurked in holes of the 
earth, and whose eggs were rank 
poison. 

COCK-CROWING. In the 
time of Christ, the Roman and 
Greek method of dividing the 
night into four watches, was in 
use among the Jews. It was 
also, like the day, measured into 
twelve equal hours, from sun- 
set to sun-rise. The first watch, 
or evening, lasted till about nine 
o'clock of our time; the second, 
or midnight, from nine to 
twelve ; the third, or cock-crow- 
ing, from twelve to three; the 
fourth, or morning, from three 
till it was day. All of them are 
mentioned in our Saviour's 
exhortation : " Watch ! for ye 
know not when the master of 
the house cometh : at even, or 
at midnight, or at the cock- 
crowing, or in the morning.' 1 '' 
Mark xiii. 35. The Jews were 



COM 

accustomed to distinguish th« 
last mentioned period, into the 
first, the second, and the third 
crowing. Thus it is foretold of 
Peter: "Before the cock crow 
twice, thou shalt deny me 
thrice," Mark xiv. 30 ; even as 
it accordingly happened: the 
cock crew directly after his first 
denial, and then crew a second 
time after the third. The other 
evangelists write: "before the 
cockcrow," or, "the cock shall 
not crow, till thou hast denied 
me thrice." They referred to 
the whole time "of cock-crow- 
meaning that this should 
not be over before this melan- 
choly fall would all take place, 
as it did in fact before it was 
half over. Or, it may have been 
so said, because the second 
crowing was the one principally 
regarded in the course of that 
watch, and so was readily un- 
derstood to be meant, when one 
only by way of distinction was 
mentioned. 
COFFER,a chest, 1 Sam.vi.8. 
COFFINS were not used by 
the ancient Jews ; nor by any 
but persons of distinction in 
Egypt, Gpn. 1. 26. 

COHORT; a company of 
600 foot soldiers. The number 
sometimes varied. 

COLLEGE, a school for 
training up young prophets or 
teachers, 2 Kings xxii. 14. 

COLOSSE, an ancient city 
of Phrygia, on the river Lycus, 
just where it began to run under 
ground, before it fell into the 
river Meander, Col. i. 2. 

COLLOP, a small piece of 
flesh. 

COMFORTER: one of the 
titles of the Holy Spirit, import- 
the consolation afforded by 
his presence. John xiv. 16. 26. 

COMMEND; (1.) To speak 
to one's praise, 2 Cor. iii. 1. (2) 
To render praise-worthy ; make 
acceptable, 1 Cor. viii. 8. (3.} 
To trust a thing to the care and 
management of another, Acts 



13* 



149 



CON 
xx. 33. God commends his love; 
he makes it appear glorious and 
unbounded in that, while we 
were yet sinners, Christ died for 
us, Rom. v. 8. 

COMMON, means sometimes 
profane, unclean. " To eat 
with common hands " without 
washing one's hands, Mark vii. 
2, 5. "I have never eaten any 
thing common" says Peter, Acts 
x. 14, 15 ; but he heard a voice 
from heaven, saying to him, 
u What God hath purified, that 
call not thou common" Rom. 
xiv. 14, " There is nothing in its 
own nature common" or pro- 
fane. 

COMMUNION. See Fellow- 
ship. 

COMPACT, regularly framed 
and joined, Psal. cxii. 3. The 
church is compacted together; 
every member has his own pro- 
per station and work, and yet 
all are so joined, as to add to 
her general glory and welfare, 
Eph. iv. 16. Col. ii. 19. 

To COMPASS ; (1.) To go 
round about a place ; to guard 
or beset it on every side, Psalm 
v. 12. (2.) To furnish plentifully, 
till one be, as it were, surround- 
ed therewith, Heb. xii. 1. Psal. 
xxxii. 7. 

CONCISION, cutting off.— 
The Jews are called the conci- 
sion, because, under pretence 
of zealous adherence to circum- 
cision, they, after it was abolish- 
ed by our Saviour's death, cut 
their bodies, rent the church, 
and cut off themselves from the 
blessings of the gospel, Phil.iii.2. 

CONCUBINE. This term, in 
western authors, commonly 
signifies, a woman, who, with- 
out being married to a man, yet 
lives with him as his wife: but, 
in the sacred writers, the word 
concubine is understood in an- 
other sense ; meaning a lawful 
wife, but one not wedded with 
all the ceremonies and solem- 
nities of malrimony ; a wife of a 
second rank, inferior to the ' 



CON 

mistress of the house. Children 
of concubines did not inherit 
their father's fortune ; but their 
father might provide for them, 
and make presents to them. 
Thus Abraham, by Sarah his 
wife, had Isaac, his heir ; but, 
by his two concubines, Hagar 
and Keturah, he had other 
children, whom he did not make 
equal to Isaac. As polygamy 
was tolerated in the East, it was 
common to see in every family, 
beside lawful wives, several 
concubines. Since the abroga- 
tion of polygamy by Jesus 
Christ, and the reduction of 
marriage to its primitive insti- 
tution, the abuse of admitting 
and maintaining concubines has 
been condemned among Chris- 
tians ; notwithstanding which, 
clandestine marriages were long 
tolerated, and women so mar- 
ried, were frequently called con- 
cubines by writers in the early 
periods of ecclesiastical history. 
CONCUPISCENCE; (l.)The 
corruption of our nature, from 
whence all our actual sin pio- 
ce.eds, Rom. vii. 7. James i. 14. 
(2.) Actual motions and incli- 
nations of our heart towards 
sinful deeds, Rom. vii. 8. (3.) 
Unchastity, Col. iii. 5. 1 Thess. 

CONDEMNATION; (l.)The 
judicial declaring of a person to 
be guilty, and sentencing him to 
punishment, Rom. viii. 1. John 
iii. 18, 19. 

CONY. Lev. xi. 5. Deut. xiv 
7. Psal. civ. 18. Prov. xxx. 26 
This curious animal is found in 
Ethiopia, and in great numbers 
on Mount Lebanon, &c. " It 
does not burrow and make holer 
as the rat and rabbit, nature 
having interdicted it this prac- 
tice by furnishing it with feet 
which are round, and of a soft, 
pulpy, tender substance; the 
fleshy part of the toes project 
beyond the nails, which are 
rather broad than sharp, very si- 
milar to a man's nails ill grown. 
150 



CON 

and these appear rather given 
for defence of the soft toes than 
for any active use in digging, to 
which they are by no means 
adapted. The total length of the 
animal as it sits, is seventeen 
inches and a quarier. It has no 
tail; and gives, at first sight, the 
idea of a rat rather than any 
other creature. The colour is 
gray, mixed with reddish brown 
and" the belly white. All over 
the body are scattered hairs, 
strong and polished, like musta- 
chios ; these are, for the most 
part, two inches and a quarter 
in length. The ears are round. 
not pointed. The upper jaw is 
longer than the other. It lives 
upon grain, fruit, and roots; 
and certainly chews the cud." 

Instead of holes, these ani- 
mals seem to delight in less close 
or more airy places, in the 
mouths of caves, or clefts in the 
rock. They are gregarious, and 
frequently several dozens of 
them sit upon the great stones at 
the mouths of caves, and warm 
themselves in the sun, or come 
cut and enjoy the freshness of 
the summer evening. They do 
not stand upright upon their 
feet, but seem to steal along as 
in fear, their belly being nearly 
close to the ground; advancing 
a few steps at a time, and then 
pausing. They have something 
very mild, feeble-like, and timid 
in their deportment ; are gentle 
and easily tamed, though when 
roughly handled at the first, they 
bite very severely. 

Many are the reasons to be- 
lieve this to be the animal called 
saphan in Hebrew, and erro- 
neously by our translators, ' the 
cony,' or rabbit. We know that 
the last mentioned animal is pe- 
culiar to Spain, and therefore 
could not be supposed to be 
either in Judea or Arabia. They 
are gregarious indeed, and so far 
resemble each other, as also in 
size ; but seek not the same 
place of retreat ; for the rabbit 



CON 

burrows most generally in the 
sand. Nor is there any thing m 
the character of rabbits that de- 
notes excellent wisdom, or that 
they supply the want of strength 
by any remarkable sagacity. — 
The saphan then is not the rab- 
bit; which last, unless it was 
brought him by his ships from 
Europe, Solomon never saw. 

'• He is above all other ani- 
mals so much attached to the 
rocks, that I never once (says 
Mr. Bruce) saw him on the 
ground, or from among large 
stones in the mouth of caves, 
where is his constant residence. 
He lives in families or flocks. 
He is in Judea, Palestine, and 
Arabia, and consequently must 
have been familiar to Solomon. 
David describes him very perti- 
nently, and joins him to other 
animals perfectly known; 'the 
hills are a refuge for wild goats, 
and the rocks for the saphan.'' 
And Solomon says, that ' they 
are exceeding wise,' that they 
are ' but a feeble folk, yet make 
their houses in the rocks.' Now 
this, I think, very obviously 
fixes the cony to be the saphan, 
for his weakness seems to allude 
to his feet, and how inadequate 
these are to dig holes in the 
rock, where yet, however, he 
'odges. From their tenderness 
these are very liable to be ex- 
coriated or hurt: notwithstand- 
ing which they build houses in 
the rocks, more inaccessible 
than those of the rabbit, and in 
which they enjoy greater safety, 
not by exertion of strength, for 
they have it not, but by their 
own sagacity and judgment." 

CONFECTION, a medicinal 
composition of gums, powders, 
frc. Exod. xxx. 35. 

CONFECTIONARIES, ma- 
kers of sweat-meats, 1 Sam. viii. 
33. 

CONFEDERACY, a cove- 
nant agreement between princes 
or nations. Isaiah was forbid- 
den to say. A confederacy ; Ire 
151 



CON 

was neither to approve nor trust 
in the alliance between Ahaz 
and the Assyrians, nor to be 
afraid of that between the Isra- 
elites and Syrians, Isa. viii. 12. 

CONFEDERATE, in league 
or covenant, Gen. xiv. 13. 

CONFESS, plainly to ac- 
knowledge : so an accused per- 
son confesses his crime before a 
judge, Josh. vii. 19. Jesus Christ 
will confess his people at the 
last day ; will publicly own them 
his children and faithful ser- 
vants, Luke xii. 8. They confess 
him before men, when, notwith- 
standing of danger and opposi- 
tion, they openly profess and 
adhere to his truth, observe his 
ordinances, and walk in his way, 
Matt. x. 32. To confess God, "is 
to praise and thank him, Heb. 
xiii. 15, To confess sin, is can- 
didly to acknowledge our guilt 
before God, who can pardon or 
punish us ; or to our neighbour, 
whom we have offended, or who 
can give us proper instruction 
and comfort, Ps. xxxii. 5. James 
v. 16. Matt. iii. 6. 

On the tenth day of the seventh 
month, the Jewish high-priest 
confessed the sins of the whole 
nation over the head of the 
acape-goat, which typically bore 
them into the wilderness, Lev. 
xvi. 21. During the ten preced- 
ing days, it is said, the Jews 
made particular confession, each 
of his own sins ; if they were 
breaches of the first table, they 
confessed them only to God; if 
they were breaches of the se- 
cond, they confessed them also 
to the party wronged. When a 
criminal was come within ten 
cubits of the place of execution, 
he was obliged to confess his 
dimes, and beg that his death 
might expiate them. At the be- 
ginning of the year, the modern 
Jews confess their sins, standing 
in a tub of water ; some of them, 
when sick, confess them to a 
Rabbin, who marks them down 
in an alphabetic order. On their 



CON 

daatn-beds they confess them 
with a great deal of vain cere- 
mony, much in the manner of 
the Papists. 

CONFIDENCE; (1.) Assur- 
ance ; certainty, 2 Cor. viii. 22. 
(2.) Boldness ; courage, Acts 
xxviii. 31. (3.) Trust ; hope, Job 
iv. G. (4.) The thing in which 
one trusts, Jer. xlviii. 13. (5.) 
Succour ; help, 2 Kings xviii. 19. 
(6.)Safety; security ,Ezek.xxviii. 
26. (7.) Due resolution, 2 Cor. 
x. 2. (8.) A bold and open pro- 
fession of Christ and his truth, 
Heb. x. 35. (9.) A well-grounded 
persuasion of God's accepting 
our persons and hearing our 
prayers, Eph. iii. 12. 

CONFIDENT; bold; assured, 
Psal. xxvii. 3. 

CONFIRM; (1.) To strength- 
en ; establish, 1 Chron. xiv. 2. 
Acts xiv. 22. (2.) To make sure ; 
ratify, Ruth iv. 7. (3.) To give 
further evidence of the certainty 
of, 2 Cor. ii. 8. 1 Kings i. 14. 
Phil. i. 7. (4.) To refresh ; en- 
courage, Psal. lxviii. 9. (5.) To 
fulfil ; continue to perform, Dan. 
ix. 12. Deut. xxvii. 26. God con 
firmed the covenant to Abra- 
ham, when he repeated the inti- 
mation of it; added his oath to 
it; and, by fire and darkness> 
marked the truth of it, Gal. iii. 
17. Gen.xv.xvii. God confirms 
the promises, in fulfilling the 
principal ones of the incarna- 
tion, death, and resurrection of 
his Son ; and in showing to our 
faith the absolute certainty of 
them all, Rom. xv. 8. He con- 
firms the saints, when he re- 
freshes, strengthens, and encou- 
rages them under fainting and 
weakness, 1 Cor. i. 8. He con- 
firmed Israel to himself, when 
he renewed his covenant with 
them, and heaped distinguishing 
favours on them, 2 Sam. vii. 24. 

CONFISCATION; a punish- 
ment, whereby a man's goods 
are taken from him, and appro- 
priated to the king's use, Ezra 
vii 26. 

152 



CON 

CONFLICT; (L) Warlike 
struggle or stroke, Psal. xxxix. 
10. (2.) Persecution; distress, 
Phil. i. 30. (3.) Deep concern, 
care, and anxiety to promote 
one's good, Col. ii. 1. 

CONFORMED, made like, 
Rom. xii. 2. The saints are con- 
formed to Christ ; they are made 
like him in their new covenant 
relations to God; and in their 
privileges, graces, and holy con- 
versation, Rom. viii. 29. 

CONFOUND; (1.) To disor- 
der, jumhle together, Gen. xi. 7. 
(2.) Mightily to baffle and con- 
fute, Acts ix. 22. (3.) To be 
ashamed, and vexed for sin or 
disappointment, Ezek. xvi. 63. 
Job vi. 20. (4.) To be perplex- 
ed, astonished, and troubled in 
mind, Acts ii. 6. (5.) To be 
fearfully destroyed, Jer. i. 17. 
Zech. x 5. 

CONGRATULATE, to ex- 
press joy to, or with one, for 
some happiness that has befallen 
him, 1 Chron. xviii. 10. 

CONGREGATION; an as- 
sembly ; church. The Israelites 
having encamped together forty 
years in the wilderness, and met 
thrice every year at their solemn 
feasts, are called the congrega- 
tion, Lev. iv. 15 ; and the con- 
gregation of the Lord, as they 
were peculiarly related to, de- 
pendent on, and subject to the 
Lord Christ, and to God in him, 
Num. xxxi. 16. To be cut off 
from the congregation, was to 
be removed from among the He- 
brews by death ; or to be excom- 
municated from their sacred pri- 
vileges, Num. xix. 20. 

CONQUER; to overcome, 
subdue. (1.) To prevail against ; 
take away the strength, and 
bring down the power of ene- 
mies, Dan. vii. 14. Mai. iv. 3. 
(2.) To bring into obedience and 
subjection, Phil. iii. 21. 1 Cor. 
xv. 28. (3.) To cultivate ; rule 
over, Gen. i. 28. Jesus Christ 
overcame the world. 

CONSCIENCE, that reflect-' 



CON 

ing power of our mind, which 
compares our qualities and ac- 
tions with the law of God, known 
to us, and approves what ap- 
pears good, and condemns and 
upbraids for what appears evil, 
Rom.ii. 15. Conscience is good, 
when, being sprinkled with 
Jesus's blood, it clearly discerns 
the will of God, and urges obe- 
dience to his law, from gospel 
motives, and approves for the 
same, 1 Tim. i. 5. It is pure, 
purged from dead works, when, 
by the application of Jesus's 
blood, it is freed from the sen- 
tence of death due to sin, de- 
livered from the slavery of in- 
dwelling corruption, and, by the 
instruction of the Holy Ghost, is 
rendered clear in its views, holy 
in its aims, and a vigorous op- 
poser of every thing sinful, 1 
Tim. iii. 9. Heb. ix. 14. x.2.22. 

CONSECRATE; dedicate; 
devote; solemnly to set apart a 
person or thing to the service of 
God. 

CONSIDER; (1.) To think 
of, 2 Tim. ii. 7. (2.) To view, 
observe, Lev. xiii. 13\ (3.) To 
resolve what to do, after delibe- 
rate thought on the affair, Judg 
xviii. 14. xix. 30. (4.) To re- 
member and call to mind, 1 Sam. 
xii. 24. (5.) To think on a thing 
with wonder, Job xxxvii.14. (6.) 
To think upon one with pity, 
and resolution to grant him re- 
lief, Psal. xii. 1. God considers 
men, in general, by a perfect 
knowledge and exact observa- 
tion of their works, Psal. xxxiii. 
15. He considers his people, in 
graciously observing and regard- 
ing their persons, prayers, and 
troubles, in order to deliver and 
bless them Psal. v. 1. ix. 13. 
xxv. 19. 

CONSIST; (1.) To lie, Luke 
xii. 15. (2.) To be supported 
and held together, Col. i. 17. 

CONSOLATION, comfort, 
joy, relief; Simeon waited for 
Christ, the consolation of Israel, 
Luke ii. 25. In prayer, a tiile 
153 



CON. 

of the Almighty, Rom. xv. 5, 
Ministers of Christ called sons 
of consolation, Acts iv. 36. The 
gift of God, 2 Thess. ii. 16. The 
promise of those who have fled 
for refuge, Heb. vi. 18. The or- 
dinances of the gospel are called 
the breasts of consolation. They 
furnish inward spiritual refresh- 
ing and strengthening of the 
heart, by the consideration and 
experience of God's gracious pro- 
mises in Christ, 2 Cor. i. 5. 

CONSTELLATION, a clus- 
ter of stars. About 3000 visible 
stars are classed into 53 constel- 
lations, 12 of which are in the 
Zodiac, or middle region of the 
firmament, 23 in the north part, 
and 24 in the south, Isa. xiii. 10. 
CONTEMN, despise; slight, 
undervalue, Psalm x. 13. Job 
xxxvi. 5. We despise the chas- 
tening of the Lord, and the 
riches of his goodness, when we 
are unaffected with it, as com- 
ing from the hand of God, Rom. 
ii. 4. 

CONTEMPT; shame, dis- 
dain ; slight, Job xii. 21. 

Contemptible, pitifully mean, 
unworthy of regard, Mai. i. 7. 

CONTEND ; (1.) To strive. 
(2.) To dispute earnestly, Acts 
xi.2. Jobix.3. (3.) To reprove 
a person sharply, in order to 
convince and reclaim him, Neh. 
xiii. 11. Prov. xxix. 9. Mic. vi. 
1. (4.) To punish severely. (5.) 
To fight, Deut. ii. 9. We con- 
tend earnestly for the faith, 
when, notwithstanding manifold 
suffering and danger, we are 
strong in the faith of God's truth 
contained in his word ; zealously 
profess and practise it, and ex- 
cite others to do so, Jude 3. 

CONTENTMENT is a dis- 
position of mind in which our de- 
sires are confined to what we 
enjoy, without murmuring at our 
lot, or wishing ardently for more. 
It stands opposed to envy, 
James iii. 16. to avarice, Heb. 
xiii. 5. to pride and vain glory 
Prov. xiii. 10. to anxiety of 



CON 

mind, Matt. vi. 25, 34. to mur- 
murings and repinings, 1 Cor. 
x. 10. Contentment does not im- 
ply unconcern about our wel- 
fare, or that we should not have 
a sense of any thing uneasy or 
distressing ; nor does it give any 
countenance to idleness, or pre- 
vent diligent endeavours to im- 
prove our circumstances. It im- 
plies, however, that our desires 
of worldly good be moderate ; 
that we do not indulge unneces- 
sary care, or unlawful efforts to 
better ourselves; but that we 
acquiesce with and make the 
best of our condition, whatever 
it be. Contentment arises not 
from a man's outward condi- 
tion, but from his inward dispo- 
sition, and is the genuine off- 
spring of humility, attended with 
a fixed habitual sense of God's 
particular providence, the recol- 
lection of past mercies, and a 
just estimate of the true nature 
of all earthly blessings. Motives 
to contentment arise from the 
consideration of the rectitude of 
the Divine government, Psal. 
xcvii. 1, 2. the benignity of the 
Divine providence, Psal. cxlv. 
the greatness of the Divine pro- 
mises, 2 Pet. i. 4. our own un- 
worthiness, Gen. xxxii. 10. the 
punishment we deserve, Lam. 
iii. 39, 40. the reward which 
contentment itself brings with 
it, 1 Tim. vi. 6. the speedy ter- 
mination of all our troubles 
here, and the prospect of eternal 
felicity in a future state, Rom. 

2. '2 Coiinth. iv. 17. 

CONTINUE; (1.) To perse- 
vere, abide constantly, James i. 
25. (2.) To manifest and be- 
stow as formerly, or more abun- 
dantly, Psalm xxxvi. 10. (3.) 
Constantly to fulfil more and 
more, 1 Kings ii. 4. Men con- 
tinue in Christ's word or doc- 
trine, by a constant perusal, be- 
lieving, and practising of it; 
and in their station declaring it. 
John viii. 31. 2 Tim. iii. 14. 

CONTRADICT, to speak 
154 



CON 



COR 



against, Acts xiii. 45. Without] a thing, Acts xviii. 28. 1 Cor. xiv. 



contradiction ; most plainly and 
certainly, Heb. vii. 7. 

CONTRITE, penitent and 
humbled under a sense of sin, 
and willing to submit to God's 
will, Psalm xxxiv. 18. li. 17 
Lsa. Ivii. 15. lxvi. 2. 

CONVERSION, a change 
from one state to another. Con- 
version may be 1. Merely exter- 
nal, or that which consists only 
in an outward reformation. (2.) 
Doctrinal, or a change of senti- 
ments. (3.) Saving, which con- 
sists in the renovation of the 
heart and life, or a turning 
from the power of sin and Satan 
unto God, Acts xxvi. 18. and is 
produced by the influence of 
Divine grace on the soul. (4.) 
Sometimes it is put for restora- 
tion^ as in the case of Peter, 
Luke xxii. 32. The instrumen- 
tal cause of conversion is usually 
the ministry of the word ; though 
sometimes it is produced by 
reading, by serious and appro- 
priate conversation, sanctified 
afflictions, &c. " Conversion," 
says the great Charnock, " is to 
be distinguished from regenera 
tion thus : Regeneration is a spi 
ritual change; conversion is a 
spiritual motion : in regeneration 
there is a power conferred ; con- 
version is the exercise of this 
power: in regeneration there is 
given U3 a principle to turn ; 
conversion is our actual turning. 
CONVERT; (1.) To turn 
men to the church, lsa. lx. 5. 
(2.) To renew their heart, and 
turn them from the power of sin 
and Satan to God, John xii. 40. 
(3.) To recover one from a. sinful 
fall or error, Luke xxii. 32. Jam. 
v. 19, 20 In the renewing of 
men's hearts, God is the author ; 
bis Spirit implants spiritual 
knowledge, faith, love, and eve- 
ry other grace in the heart, as 
abiding principles of virtuous 
actions, Jer. xxxi. 18. 

CONVICT, convince; (1.) 
To persuade one of tbe truth or 



24. (2.) To prove one guilty, and 
thoroughly persuade him of the 
truth and nature of his faults, 
Jam. ii. 9. Job xxxii. 12. The 
Spirit convinceth men of sin, 
when, by applying the precepts 
and threatenings of the law to 
their conscience, he gives them 
an affecting view of the facts, 
nature, aggravations, and un- 
happy fruits of their sin. 

CONVOCATION, a sacred 
meeting of multitudes for the 
solemn worship of God. On the 
sabbath, on the day of the pass- 
over, on the first and seventh 
days of unleavened bread, on 
the days of pentecost and expia- 
tion, on the first and eighth days 
of the feast of tabernacles, the 
Jews had their solemn convoca- 
tions, Lev. xxiii. Num. xxviii. 
Exod. xii. 16. 

COOS, an island in the Medi- 
terranean sea, a small distance 
from the south-west point of 
Lesser Asia. The chief city of 
it was Coos, which was over- 
thrown by an earthquake about 
400 years before Christ. This 
island was passed by the apos- 
tle Paul, in his voyage from 
Ephesusto Jerusalem, Actsxxi. 
1. It is now called Lango. 

COPPER, a hard and heavy 
metal, of a red colour, very so- 
norous, and, next to platinum, 
gold, and silver, the most ductile 
into threads or wire. 

COR, or chome; a measure 
equal to ten Cephas, or 17,468 
solid inches, which is 44 solid 
inches more than the English 
quarter, Ezek. xlv. 14. 
CORAL, a stony plant, which 
rows in the sea, and which is no 
less hard while in the sea than 
when out of it, Job xxviii. 18. 

CORB AN, a gift offered to the 
service of the Jewish temple. 
Mark vii. 11. Numb. xi. 7. 

CORIANDER; the fruit is 

a round berry, containing two 

half-round seeds, of an aromatic 

smell, and pleasant taste. They 

155 



COR 

are reckoned useful in medicine, 
(Ex. xvi. 31,) as a carminative 
and stomachic. 

CORINTH, a city, the capital 
of Achaia, seated on the neck of 
land which separates the Morea 
from Attica, Acts xix. 1. xviii. 1. 

CORMORANT, the water- 
raven. It is a kind of pelican, 
and of the size of a goose, Lev. 
xi. 17. 

CORNELIUS, a centurion 
belonging to the Italian band. 
He was a Gentile by birth, pro- 
bably of the Cornelii at Rome, 
but a devout man, perhaps a 
proselyte of the gate to the Jew- 
ish religion, and lived at Cesa- 
rea, Acts x. 1. It pleased God 
to favour him, in a miraculous 
manner, with an introduction to 
the knowledge of the gospel : an 
angel directed him to send for 
Peter, from whom to receive in- 
structions on that important sub- 
ject. This direction he obeyed ; 
and as the apostle was beginning 
to relate gospel truths, the Holy 
Spirit fell upon him and his fa- 
mily, and they were added to 
the Christian church, as the first 
fruits of the Gentiles. 

Usuardus, and other Latins, 
make Cornelius bishop of Caesa- 
rea, in Palestine. We have the 
Acts of Cornelius, but they are 
neither original nor authentic. 
The Greeks, in their Melologies, 
consider him as a martyr. Jerom 
says, that the house of Corne- 
lius, at Caesarea, was afterwards 
changed to a church, which Sta. 
Paula visited very devoutly. 

CORNET, a wind instrument 
of horn, or like one, for sound- 
ing in war, or at religious so- 
lemnities ; but as shopkar is or- 
dinarily rendered trumpet, I 
know not why it is ever rendered 
cornet, Hos. v. 8 ; but keren, 
or fcernak, is very properly ren- 
dered cornet, Dan. iii. 5. 7. 10. 

To CORRUPT; (I.) To 
waste; consume, Matt. vi. 19. 
(2.) To mar ; make bad, 1 Cor. 
xv. 33. (3.) To disobey ; per- 



COV 

vert; improve wickedly, Mai. 
ii. 8. (4.) To defile ; pollute, 
Exod. xxxii. 7. (5.) To entice 
from good, and allure to evil, 2 
Cor. xi. 3. (3.) To bribe ; make 
to dissemble, Dan. xi. 17. 32. 

COTES, huts, or houses, to 
shelter sheep amid storms, 2 
Chron. xxxii. 28. 

COTTAGE. A cottage was 
a little temporary hut covered 
with boughs, straw, turf, and 
other materials, to serve for a 
shelter from the wet and cold. 
In some parts of the world cot- 
tages are places of great com- 
fort, neatness, and even ele- 
gance ; but in Scripture it is 
never so used. The word occurs 
but three times in the Bible. 
Isa. i. 8. and xxiv. 20. Zeph. 
ii. 6. 

COVENANT, an agreement 
between two or more parties on 
certain terms. The obligation 
of all covenants ariseth from the 
self-binding act of the parties 
covenanting, even as the obli- 
gation of a law ariseth from the 
authority of the lawgiver. An- 
ciently covenants were made 
with great solemnity ; beasts 
were slain, with awful impreca- 
tions that God might deal so 
with the breaker. The Scrip- 
ture alludes to the solemnity of 
killing a calf, and rending it 
asunder, and passing between 
the parts, in token of a solemn 
wish, that so God might rend in 
twain the breaker of the cove- 
nant, Jer. xxxiv. 18. 

The two covenants which re- 
late to the everlasting happiness 
of mankind, are those of works 
and of grace, Gal. iv. 24. The 
covenant of works, as it was 
not between equals, but its whole 
terms were proposed by the 
sovereign Law-giver, is often 
called the law, or law of works y 
Gal. iii. 10. Rom. iii. 27. vi. 14. 
vii. 4. viii. 2. Gal. ii. 19. iv. 4. In 
this transaction the parties were, 
God, Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost, as our Creator and Su- 
156 



cov 

preme Ruler,infinitely holy,kind, 
and condescending ; and Adam, 
a holy and righteous man, per- 
fectly able to keep the whole 
law, and as the common father 
and representative of mankind. 
It was made by the self-obliga- 
tion of these parties. The con- 
dition was Adam's perseverance 
during his whole time of proba- 
tion, in the most perfect and un- 
spotted obedience to the whole 
law of God, written on his heart, 
and to the positive law of for- 
bearance of the forbidden fruit. 
The reward annexed to his obe- 
dience was the continuance of 
him and his posterity in such 
perfect holiness and happiness 
as he then had, while they re- 
mained upon earth, and the 
translation of them in due time 
to the celestial regions, where 



COU 
of God : it is impossible to ac- 
count for the imputation of hia 
first sin, his one offe)ice : moxe than 
of all his after transgressions : 
or for the imputation of his sin, 
more than of those of our inter- 
mediate ancestors, Rom. v. 12— 
19. 1 Cor. xv. 22. By Adam's 
eating of the forbidden fruit, 
which contained in it a most ag- 
gravated violation of every part 
of the divine law, this covenant 
was broken ; and Adam and all 
his posterity thereby ruined, 
Gen. iii. Rom. v. 12—19. 

The covenant of grace is that 
method of obtaining eternal life, 
agreed upon in the counsels of 
Jehovah before the foundation 
of the world ; and which is car- 
ried into execution by the incar- 
nation, obedience, death, resur- 
rection and intercession of the 



they should be for ever blessed Son of God. In this covenant 



with the full enjoyment of 
Three-One God. The penalty 
threatened for the least breach 
of any command, was an imme- 
diate sentence of condemnation, 
issuing in the spiritual death of 
the souls of him and his posteri- 
ty, and in the temporal death of 
their bodies, and the eternal 
death of both soul and body in 
hell for ever. The seals of this 
covenant, were the tree of know 
ledge and the tree of life ; if we 
may not also add, the Sabbath 
and Paradise. That such a co- 
venant was really made, is evi- 
dent. Here we find every re- 
quisite of a covenant ; parties ; 
condition ; penalty, which in- 
cludes the promise; and seals, 
Gen. ii. 16, 17. iii. Gal. iii. 10. 
12. It is expressly called a co- 
venant, Gal. ii. 12. Hos. vi. 7. 
marg. Adam is expressly paral- 
leled with Jesus Christ as our 
new covenant-head, Rom. v. 12 
—19. 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22, 45—49. 
Without the supposal of this 
covenant, it is impossible to ac- 
count for the imputation of 
Adam's sin to his posterity, in a 
way consistent with the justice 



salvation is granted to all true 
believers, not on account of their 
own works, but solely for the 
sake of what Christ has done and 
suffered. This method of salva- 
tion was revealed to our first pa- 
rents, and with increasing light 
to the patriarchs and prophets, 
until the Messiah came and ful- 
nlled all that he had engaged in 
the covenant of redemption, and 
all that had been predicted in 
the Scriptures ; in consequence 
of which a free salvation is of- 
fered to all men, and is actually 
bestowed on all who cordially 
receive the testimony of God 
concerning his Son. Since the 
fall of man, no one of the human 
race can obtain life by the cove- 
nant of works; but whosoever 
truly believeth in the Son of 
God, will be saved according to 
the gracious terms of the cove- 
nant of grace. 

By the old and new covenants 
in the Scriptures, we are com- 
monly to understand the two 
dispensations, the Mosaic and 
Christian, or the Law and the 
Gospel, Heb. viii. 13. Gal. iv. 24. 
But under both dispensations 
14 157 



cou 

of the covenant of grace, the 
method of obtaining salvation 
is precisely the same, viz. by 
faith in the Mediator; and the 
Old Testament saints were 
as completely justified as be- 
lievers under the New Testa- 
ment. 

COUNCIL, a meeting of ru- 
lers, to decide pleas, and other 
affairs, John xi. 47. See Sanhe- 
drim. 

COUNSEL ; (1.) Advice, 
Dan. iv. 27. (2.) A secret pur- 
pose or thought, 1 Cor. iv. 5. 
God's counsel is, (1.) His pur- 
pose or decree, Acts iv. 23. 
Isa. xlvi. 10. Psalm xxxiii. 11. 
Counsellor, is one who delibe- 
rates about affairs ; especially 
such an one as king3 used to 
advise with, Prov. xi. 14. Ezra 
iv. 5. Christ is called a Coun- 
sellor ; with him his Father 
deliberately fixed the whole 
plan of our salvation ; and he, 
possessed of infinite wisdom 
and knowledge, directs and ad- 
monishes his people in every 
case, Isa. ix. 6. 

COUNTENANCE; (1.) The 
face or visage, 1 Sam. xvi. 7. 
£2.) Love, favour, Gen. xxxi. 5. 
IJelshazzar's countenance was 
changed, when, instead of cheer- 
ful, he looked sad and affrighted, 
Dan. v. G. Cain's countenance 
fell, when he looked angry and 
surly, Gen. iv. 5. As by the 
show of our countenance, we 
manifest our love, hatred, grief, 
joy, pleasure, and anger ; the 
lifting vp, or shining of God's 
countenance, denotes the mani- 
festation of his favour and love ; 
and the hiding, frozen, or rebuke 
of his countenance, denotes the 
manifestation of his anger in 
just judgments, Psal. xliv. 3. 
lxxx. 16. 

COUNTERVAIL, to make 
ep the loss, Esth. vii. 4. 

COUNTRY; region; (1.) A 
kingdom or province, Gen. xiv. 
7. (2.) That part of a kingdom 
or province which lies without 



CRE 

the limits of cities, Isa. i. 7. (3.) 
The people that dwell in a coun- 
try, Matth. iii. 5. Heaven is 
called a country, in allusion to 
Canaan. 

COURSE ; (1.) The running 
of a stream, or the channel where 
it runs, Isa. xliv. 4. (2 ) Motion, 
voyage, journey, Acts xxi. 7. (3.) 
Success, progress, 2 Thess. iii. 
J. (4.) Order, proper station, 
Psal. lxxxii. 5. (5.) Paul calls the- 
term of this life a course, Acts 
xx. 24. 2 Tim. iv. 7. (6.) The 
manner of the world, Eph. ii. 2. 

COURT; (1.) An enclosed 
part of the entrance into a par 
lace, house, or tent, Esth. v. 1. 
Jer. xxxviii. 6. 

COZBI, a daughter of Zmy 
prince of Midian, Num. xxv. 15. 
L8. 

CRACKLING. The laughter 
of a fool, is like to the crackling 
noise of thorns burning; is senses 
less, base, and of short duration, 
Eccl. vii. 6. 

CRACKNELS, a sortofseed- 
cakes or buns, 1 Kings xiv. 3. 

CRAFT; (1.) Deceit, guile, 
Dan. viii. 25. (2.) Trade, occu- 
pation, Acts xviii. 3. xix. 25. 2X 
Craftsman,is one skilled in some 
mechanic trade, Deut. xxvii. 15. 
Acts xix. 24. Crafty, cunning, 
deceitful, Job v. 12. 2 Cor. xii.lG 

CRAG, the top or sharp point 
of a rock, Job xxxix. 28 

CRANE, a tall and Jong- 
necked fowl. 

CRASHING, a noise occa* 
sioned by treading down, break* 
ing, or justling. The great crash* 
ing from the hills, was the noise 
of the breaking down of the ten> 
pie, or palaces erected on hills, 
in Jerusalem, Zeph. i. 10. 

CRAVE, earnestly to desire 
or request. A man's mouth 
craveth his labour, he is obliged 
to labour, that he may have 
wherewith to satisfy his craving 
appetite, Prov. xvi. 26. 

CREATE; (1.) To make 
things from nothing, Gen. i. 1. 
(2.) To form tilings from unfi 
158 



CRE 

matter, Gen. i. 21. ii. 19. (3.) 
To implant saving graces, and 
endowments where they were 
not, Eph. ii. 10. (4.) To recover 
the heart from apostasy, and 
cleanse it from great pollution, 
Psal. Ii. 10. (5.) To bring things 
about in the course of providence, 
Tsa. xlv. 7. (6.) To restore to 
vigour and flourish, Ps. civ. 30. 

Creation, not only signifies the 
act of making things out of no- 
thing ; but also the creatures or 
tilings formed from nothing, 2 
Pet. iii. 4. Rev. iii. 14. Creature, 
sometimes denotes all created 
things, Rev. v. 13. and some- 
times only men, whom the Jews 
called the creature, by way of 
eminence, Mark xvi. 15. 

CREDITOR, one to whom 
we owe a debt, 2 Kings iv. 1. 7. 
God is our creditor; to him, we 
as creatures owe our existence, 
and all we have ; to him, as sin- 
ners, we owe infinite satisfac- 
tion for our offences. 

CREEK, a small bay of the 
sea, where it juts into the land; 
or a corner of a harbour, Acts 
xxvii. 39. 

CRESCENS, one of Paul's 
fellow preachers, who departed 
from him while he was at home, 
to go for Galatia, and perhaps 
carried the inspired epistle to 
that church, 2 Tim. iv. 10. 

CRETE, or Candia, an island 
in the Mediterranean sea, a good 
way north of Egypt, and west of 
Syria, about 230 miles long, and 
55 broad. The vessel of Alex- 
andria, in which Paul was sail- 
ing, a prisoner, to Rome, being 
put out of her course by contrary 
winds, was forced round the 
island of Crete. The ship first 
made the promontory of Salmo- 
ne, on the east side ; next she 
came into a pla.ce called theFair- 
Jfaven, near to Lasea. From 
this place, contrary to the advice 
of Paul, they sailed for Phenice, 
on the west of the island ; but 
meeting with a furious wind, 
called Euroclydon, they were 



CRO 

driven very far from the desired 
haven, Acts xxvii. Tit. i. 12. 

CRIB, a stall for cattle, Prov, 
xiv 4. Isa. i. 3. 

CRIMSON, one of the seven 
red colours. The Kermes, from 
whence crimson is derived, is a 
small round shell, thin, smooth, 
and shining, of a reddish brown 
colour, mixed with a white ash 
colour, and about a quarter of an 
inch in diameter, and generally 
divided into two unequal cavi- 
ties, the largest of which is fill- 
ed with eggs exceeding red, and 
the lesser with red liquor. These 
shells grow on the branches of a 
shrubby green oak, found in Pa- 
lestine, the south of France, See. 
When these shells are loosed 
from the leaves to which they 
hang, the worms formed therein 
come out at a hole made by 
them, and by sifting are sepa- 
rated from the shells, and after- 
ward lightly pressed into balls of 
the bigness of a small hen-egg, 
and so kept till they are used for 
dying, 2 Chr. ii. 7. See Scarlet. 

CRISPING-PINS, pins for 
curling the hair: but charitim, 
I suppose, rather signifies bags 
for the hair, or cla^s, Isa. iii. 22. 

CRISPUS, chief of the Jew- 
ish synagogue at Corinth, was 
converted and baptized bv Paul, 
Acts xviii. 8, about A. D. 52. 1 
Cor. i. 14. Some affirm that 
Crispus was bishop of ^Egina, 
an island near Athens. The 
Greeks observe his festival. 

CROOKED. Crooked ways, 
are practices and customs uiv 
constant, uncandid, uncomely, 
and disagreeable to the law of 
God, Prov. ii. 15. 

CROP, the craw of a fowl, 
Lev.i. 16. To crop, is to cutoff 
the top of a plant.Ezek.xvii.4.22. 

CROSS, a sort of gibbet, con- 
sisting of two pieces of wood 
placed crosswise, in the form of 
a T or X. That of our Saviour 
is said to have been of the for- 
mer kind. The death of the 
cross was called crucifying. 
159 



CRO 

With the Greeks, and sundry 
other nations, it was a common 
punishment. With the Jews it 
was not used at all, hanging on 
a tree being an execution of a 
different kind. With the Ro- 
mans, it was reckoned a horrid 
crime to execute any of their 
citizens in this manner. It was 
therefore no inconsiderable ef- 
fect of the divine providence, to 
order matters so as Jesus should 
Buffer this death of the cross. It 
was exceeding shameful, pain- 
ful, and lingering. First the cri- 
minal was ordinarily scourged 
with cords, often with bones at 
their ends. Next he bore his 
cross or part of it, to the place 
of execution. When he came 
thither, his clothes were stripped 
off, and either before or after the 
cross was erected, his hands 
were sometimes bound, but ordi- 
narily nailed to the cross beam, 
and his feet to the lower part. 
The nails driven through the 
most sensible parts of the body, 
and sustaining part, if not the 
whole weight of the criminal, 
rendered the pain very exqui- 
site. It is however said, apiece 
of wood between their legs often 
supported them. It was some- 
times two or three days before 
the person expired: hence the 
legs of the thieves crucified along 
with Christ were broken, that 
their death might be hastened. 
Sometimes persons were cruci- 
fied with their head downwards. 
In this manner, it is said, Peter, 
to honour his Master's death, de- 
sired to be crucified. An inscrip- 
tion, representing the cause of 
the punishment, was ordinarily 
written on a table at the top of 
the cross. It is observable, how 
the inscription on Christ's, in- 
stead of charging him with a 
crime, plainly hinted his inno- 
cence and Messiahship : nor 
could the heathen governor be 
prevailed on to alter it. Christ 
was crucified through the weak- 
ness of his humanity, but liveth 



CRY 

by the power of God ; was raised 
from the dead, and lives for eve'* 
by his own divine power, 2 Cor 
xiii. 4. compare 1 Pet. iii. 18. 

CROSSWAY,the place where 
one way passes through another, 
and where consequently fugi- 
tives and travellers are most 
readily met with, Obad. 14. 

CROUCH, to cringe towards 
the earth. The crouching of the 
wicked, in order to take the poor, 
signifies the low and base meth- 
ods he takes to oppress him, and 
the hiding of his designs till he 
accomplish them, Psal. x. 10. 

CROWN ; (1.) The top of the 
head, Is. i. 6. (2.) A cap of state, 
worn on the heads of sovereign 
princes, to mark their power and 
authority, 1 Chr. xx. 2. In al- 
lusion to this, our Saviour was 
crowned with thorns, John xix. 
5. Saints are a crown to minis- 
ters ; are the ornament and ho- 
nour of their labours, Phil. iv. L 
1 Thess. ii. 19. Saints' crown of 
glory, life, and righteousness, 
is that royal and truly honour- 
able state of glory, life, and holi- 
ness, given them through the 
righteousness of Jesus Christ, 
Rev. iii. 11. ii. 10. 1 Pet. v. 4 

CRUCIFY. See Cross. 

CRUSE, a small vessel of 
glass, &c. for holding water, oil, 
&c. 1 Sam. xxvi. 11. 

CRY; (1.) To make a loud 
noise with the voice, Eccl. ix. 
17. Matt. xxi. 15. (2.) Bitter 
lamentation and mourning, Ex. 
xii. 30. (3.) Horrible com- 
plaints of oppression and injus- 
tice, Isaiah v. 7. (4.) Earnest 
prayer, as in great straits and 
danger, and with strong desire, 
Exod. xiv. 15. Psal. xvii. 1. 

CRYSTAL, a hard, transpa- 
rent, and naturally colourless, 
fossil, of a regular angular form. 
It is composed of simple, not 
twisted, thready, plates; itisnot 
flexible nor elastic ; nor givei it 
any fire with steel. There are 
three kinds of pure crystal, be- 
sides various sorts mixed with 
160 



CUM 

other different substances. Crys- 
tal was anciently found in an 
island of the Red Sea, and the 
cups and other vessels made of 
it were reckoned very valuable. 
Pliny mentions one worth 12507. 
sterling. To punish the men of 
his generation, Nero furiously 
broke two crystal cups. But it 
is now of far less esteem. Job 
xxviii. 17. The firmament above 
the cherubirns, the sea of glass 
before the throne of God, the 
river of life, and the light of the 
new Jerusalem, are likened to 
crystal, to mark their purity, 
clearness, and illuminating in- 
fluence, Ezek. i. 22. Rev. iv. 6. 
xxii. 1. xxi. 11. 

CUBIT, the measure between 
the point of a man's elbow and 
the point of his middle finger. 
The cubit is commonly reckoned 
half a yard, or 18 inches ; but 
the Jewish sacred cubit was a 
hand-breadth more, amounting 
to 21.888 inches, Ezek. xliii. 13. 

CUD. Animals which chew 
the cud, or ruminate, are pro- 
vided with two, three or four 
stomachs. The ox has four : in 
the first or largest the food is 
collected, as the beast crops it 
from the earth. The food, by 
the force of the muscular coats 
of this stomach, and the liquid 
drink, is sufficiently macerated ; 
after which, formed into small 
balls, it is thrown up into the 
mouth, where it is made very 
small by chewing, and then sent 
down into the second stomach. 
This is termed chewing the cud. 

CUMBER, to trouble, vex. 
Barren sinners in the church, 



CUS 

CUP, a drinking vessel, made 
of gold, silver, glas3, wood, oi 
the like, Gen. xl. 13. To take thd 
cup of salvation, is, with cheer- 
ful joy, gratitude, and praise, to 
take hold of, and improve God's 
deliverances and eternal redemp- 
tion, Psal. cxvi. 13. There seems 
to be here an allusion to tht) 
drinking of the wine at the feas. 
of the peace-offering. To drink 
the cup of trembling, or of the 
fury of the Lord, is to be affiicte** 
with sore and terrible judgments, 
Isa. li. 17. Ps. lxxv. 8. Jer. xxv. 
15—29. Matt. xx. 23. 

CURIOUS ; (1.) Made with 
great art, Exbd. xxviii. 8. (2.) 
Mysterious,magical,Acts xix.19. 

CURRENT money, is what 
passeth well ; is readily received, 
Gen. xxiii. 16. 

CURSE, the just and awful 
sentence of God's law, condemn- 
ing one to suffer the full punish- 
ment of his sin. 

To curse, is to denounce evU 
against one, Judg. xvii. 2. God 
curselh persons, when he con- 
demns them to, and executes on 
them his just wrath for sin, Gen. 
xii. 3. 

CURTAIN; (1.) A hanging 
for a bed, court, tent, or house, 
&c. (2.) Dwellings, tents, Hab. 
iii. 7. 

CUSH ; (1.) The eldest son of 
Ham, and father of Nimrod, Se- 
ba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, 
and Sabtecha, and the grand- 
father of Sheba and Dedan. His 
posterity took up their primitive 
abodes on the east and west of 
the lower part of the Euphrates ; 
and in Arabia, chiefly that part 



cumber God's ground : they | f it called the Happy, Gen. x. 
offend God ; they grieve minis- , 6—8. (2.) The name of some 
ters and saints ; fill up room to J countries, where Cush or his 
no purpose ; and hinder the j posterity dwelt, called Ethiopia 



spiritual growth of others, Luke 
xiii. 7. 

CUMMIN, a plant somewhat 
like fennel, which produces its 



blossoms and branches in the Susiana, now Chuzestan, or the 



form of a nosegay. Matthew 
xxiii. 23. 



by the Greeks and other trans- 
lators. The Scriptures appear to 
mention a three-fold Cush or 
Ethiopia ; (l.)Cush, Cuth,Culka; 



62 



14* 



country of Cush in Persia, on 
the east of the lower part of 



161 



CUT 

the Hiddekel or Tigris, Gen. ii. 
13. (2.) Cash or Cushan, on the 
north-east of the Red Sea, near 
the point of the Elanitic gulf. 
(3.) Cush, Ethiopia, or Abyssi- 
nia, a country on the south-west 
of the Red Sea, and south of 
Egypt. 

The descendants of Cush, in 
aur version of the Bible, are 
uniformly called Ethiopians, and 
their place of residence, Ethio- 
pia. Now, as this name is by 
the Greeks and Romans, con- 
stantly applied to the country 
south of Egypt, error and con- 
fusion often arises. Most com- 
monly by Cush, or Ethiopia, in 
Scripture, a part of Arabia is to 
be understood. 

CUSTODY, charge, keeping, 
Num. iii. 36. 

CUSTOM; (1.) Ordinary prac- 
tice, Luke iv. 16. (2.) A prac- 
tice long used, or derived from 
ancestors, Judg. xi. 39. John 
xviii. 39. (3.) A tax upon per- 
sons or goods, demanded by civil 
magistrates, Rom. xiii. 7. 

CUT; (1.) To divide into 
pieces with a knife or like instru- 
ment, Exod. xxxix. 3. Lev. i. 6. 
(2.) To prick, pain, vex, Acts v. 
33. (3.) To destroy, Hab. iii. 16. 
2 Chron. xv. 16. Job xxiv. 24. 
Men's cutting- of themselves, 
imported, excess of grief and 
madness. 

The cutting off from the 
church, or casting out from the 
synagogue, was that which we 
call excommunication, whereby 
church-members evidently guilty 
of obstinate rebellion against 
the law of God, are separated 
from the fellowship ofthe church, 
and deprived of the spiritual pri- 
vileges proper to church mem- 
bers, John ix. 34. It is generally 
supposed the Jews had three 
kinds or degrees of excommuni- 
cation : the first was niddui, or 
separation of the person from 
things holy for the space of 30 
days : the second cherem or ana- 
thema, which ratified the former, 



CUT 

and excluded the offender from 
the synagogue, and from civil 
commerce: the third shamma- 
tha, which was published by 
300 or 400 trumpets, and im- 
plied a final exclusion from the 
synagogue. But Selden, that 
miracle of Jewish learning, has 
pretty fully evinced, that niddui 
and shammatha are promiscu- 
ously used, and often signify the 
same censure ; and consequently 
the Jews have but a lesser and 
greater excommunication. The 
form of the lesser is simple and 
short; "Let such an one be ex- 
communicated." If an offender 
continue three months under 
this, without manifesting his re-- 
pentance, the greater is inflicted. 
In it, the offender is charged 
with a multitude of terrible 
curses, by God, by angels, by 
heaven and earth, &c. The 
lesser excommunication debar- 
red the offender from approach- 
ing nearer any person than four 
cubits. The greater shuts him 
out from all converse ; his goods 
are confiscated, and sometimes 
himself imprisoned. Miserable 
was the case ofthe excommunir 
cated among the rigid sect ofthe 
Essenes. Their sentence debar- 
red them from all commerce with 
those of their own party ; their 
vow obliged them to receive no 
food from any other ; they were 
therefore forced to live like 
beasts on roots and herbs, till 
their body decayed or rotted 
away. The other Jews were 
wont to be more moderate. 
They allowed the excommuni- 
cated person to be present at 
their public worship, and ab- 
solved him, upon an apparently 
serious profession of grief for his 
sin, and a promise of amend- 
ment ; though, if the offence was 
immediately against God, abso- 
lution was never pronounced, 
till a month after the excom- 
munication was past. 

In the Christian church, there 
is a divine warrant for a prudery 
162 



CYP 

tial suspension of offenders from 
fellowship in sealing ordinances ; 
but excommunication, properly 
so called, secludes from the seals 
of the new covenant, and other 
Christian privileges, and from 
all unnecessary civil converse 
of fellow Christians ; renders one 
as a heathen and publican ; and 
delivers him up to Satan, the 
god of this world, as a visible 
member of his kingdom, that 
lieth in wickedness. Never, but 
for sins plainly prohibited by the 
divine law, and obstinately con- 
tinued in, ought this censure to 
be inflicted. Nor ought it to be 
inflicted, but in a prudent, im- 
partial, orderly, meek, and so- 
lemn manner. 

CYMBAL, a hollow vessel 
of brass, which, being struck 
against another of the same 
kind, made a sharp, shrill sound 
2 Sam.vi. 5. Such as have know- 
ledge and eloquence, without 
true love to God and men, are 
but as a tinkling cymbal; are 
noisy and no more, 1 Cor. 
xiii. 1. 

CYPRESS, a tree noted for 
its height, strength, and comeli- 
ness. It is always green, its 
wood heavy, fragrant, and al- 
most incorruptible. 

CYPRUS, a famed island in 
the Mediterranean sea, about 
100 miles north of Syria, and 60 
south-west of Cilicia. Its length 
from east to west is about 175 
miles ; and its breadth 60, and 
according to some only 46. It 
abounded with cypress-trees. 
According to Josephus, it was 
peopled by the descendants of 
Chittim. This island was fa- 
mous for the worship of Venus ; 
and still more so for a visit 
from the apostle Paul, and the 
subversion of idolatry by the 
preaching of the gospel. Cyprus 
was also distinguished as the 
oirth place of Barnabas, the 
companion of Paul. In 1820, 
this island, once so populous, 
contained no more than 40,000 



CYR 

Greeks, 14,000 Turks, and 500 
Maronites. Acts xiii. 4. 

CYRENE, a country at some 
distance westward of Egypt, and 
south of the Mediterranean sea. 
Its principal cities were Cyrene, 
Berenice, Arsinoe, Ptolemais, 
gfflrj Apollonia. This was the 
birth-place of Eratosthenes the 
historian, Callimachus the poet, 
and Simon, who assisted Jesus 
in bearing his cross. Acts xi. 20. 
Matt, xxvii. 32. Luke xxiii. 26. 

CYRENIUS, or Quirinus, 
the Roman deputy in Syria some 
years after our Saviour's birth : 
he obliged the Jews to pay the tax 
for which they had been enrolled 
at the time of it, Luke ii. 1, 2* 

CYRUS,the son of Cambyses. 
king of Persia, by Mandane, the 
daughter of Ahusuerus, king of 
the Medes. His parents were 
extremely careful of his educa- 
tion ; and he early discovered an 
uncommon sprightliness, sagaci- 
ty, and courage. About twelve 
years of age, his mother carried 
him to her father's court. His 
generous, obliging, and heroic 
behaviour, quickly gained him 
the affections of the Medes. Af- 
ter five years he returned to Per- 
sia. About the fortieth year of 
his life, he assisted Darius the 
Mede, his uncle, with 30,000 
Persian troops. He reduced the 
revoltedArmenians. Neriglissar, 
king of Babylon, then intended 
to reduce the kingdom of Media : 
his huge army bid fair to swal- 
low up Cyrus and his uncle : 
but this host was routed, and 
Neriglissar himself slain. 

Two years after the reduction 
of Babylon, Darius died, and Cy- 
rus having married his only 
daughter, fell heir to the crown. 
Having perhaps read the Jewish 
prophecies concerning himself, 
or only determined by the provi- 
dence of God, he, of his own 
accord, in the first year of his 
reign, issued a warrant for the 
Hebrew captives to return to 
theii country, and rebuild the 
163 



CYR CYR 

lemple of their God. About se- jDan. vii. 5. viii. 3. 20. ii. 39 
ven years after, in the 30th year Is a. xlvii. 11. xli. 2. 3. 25. xliv. 
of his reign over Persia, and 70th 26 — 28 xlv. 1—4. 13. Ezra i. 
of his life, he died, A. M. 3475. |ii. iii. 



DAL 
T\ ABERATH, a city near the 
f^ foot of Mount Tabor, in the 
great plain of Jezreel, Josh.xix. 
12. xxi. 28. 

DAGON, the principal idol 
of the Philistines. He is com- 
monly figured as a man in his 
upper parts, with the tail of a 
tisti ; and is thought to represent 
Noah, who long tloated in his 
ark ; and to have his name from 
dag, a fish ; but others will have 
his name derived from dagan, 
corn ; and reckon him a copy of 
the Egyptian Isis, who taught to 
cultivate fields, and grind meal. 
At Gaza, Samson pulled down 
his temple on the head of his 
worshippers, Judg. xvi. 21 — 30. 
At Ashdod, when the ark of 
God was placed in his temple, 
as if it had been his booty, his 
image fell before it: his head 
and hands were broke off on the 
threshold ; on account of which, 
his priests never after trode on 
the threshold, but jumped over 
it as they entered the temple, 1 
Sam. v. About A. M. 3840, 
Jonathan the Maccabee burnt it, 
and the remains of the Syrian 
ajmy which had fled into it, 
since which, we hear no more of 
the existence, of Dagon. Per- 
haps Odacon, the Chaldean dei- 
ty, was the same with him. 

DALMANUTHA, a city on 
the east side of the sea of Tibe- 
rias. It is either the same with 
Magdala, or near it ; and hence 
one Evangelist says, Christ and 
his disciples landed in the parts 
of Dalmanutha, and another, 
that he landed in the coasts of 
Masdala, Mark viii. 10. Matth. 
xv. 39. 

DALMATIA, a province of 
old Illyricum, and east of the 
gulf of Venice. With no small 



DAM 

difficulty, the Romans subdued 
it. Since Titus preached the 
gospel here, Christianity has ne- 
ver been wholly extirpated, 2 
Tim. iv. 10. 

DAM, a mother among ani- 
mals, Deut. xxii. 6, 7. Lev. xxii. 
27. 

DAMAGE, loss, hurt, Ezra 
iv. 22. To drink damage, is to 
ruin one's self, Prov. xxvi.6. To 
end am age, to do hurt,Ezraiv.l3 

DAMASCUS, a noted city, 
long the capital of Syria, about 
160 miles north-east of Jerusa- 
lem, in the pleasant plain be- 
tween Mount Lebanon, on the 
w r est, and Hermon, on the south.. 
As its name, with some, signi- 
fies the blood of a righteous per- 
son, they imagine Abel was here 
murdered. It was in being in 
the days of Abraham, Gen. xiv. 
15. 

Damascus is the only one of 
the cities of a very early period 
of the world, which continues to 
be rich and populous at this 
time. It is situated on the bor- 
ders of an extensive plain, open 
I to the south and east, but en- 
closed on the west and north by 
the mountains of Antilibanus. 
The present source of its pros- 
perity is the resort of northern 
pilgrims on their way to Mecca. 
Of these, there are annually as 
many as 50,000, many of whom 
remain here three or four months, 
before they set out on the jour 
ney through the desert. 

DAMN, to condemn to, or 
punish in hell, Mark xvi. 16. 
Damnation, the punishment of 
hell, or the sentence binding 
over to it, Matth. "xxiii. 33. 1 
Tim. v. 12. Such as believe not 
the truth, shall be damned ; ad- 
judged to, and tormented in heh\ 
164 



DAN 

2 T'3es3. ii. 12. He that does 
what he doubts the lawfulness 
of, is damned ; is self-eondemn- 
ed, and deserves to be cast into 
hell, Rom. xiv. 23. 

DAN, the fifth son of Jacob, 
and eldest of Bilhah. He had 
but one son, viz. Hushim, or 
Shuam, Gen. xlvi. 23; yet when 
his tribe came out of Egypt, 
about 2] years afterwards, they 
amounted to 62,700 under the 
command of Ahiezarthe son of 
Amishaddai ; and in the wilder- 
ness they increased to 64,400. 
Their spy to search the promis- 
ed land, was Ammiel the son of 
Gemalli ; and their prince to di- 
vide it, was Bukki the son of 
Jogii. They, with the tribes of 
Asher and Naphtali, formed the 
fourth division of the Hebrew 
camp, and marched last, Numb, 
i. 12. 39. xxvi. 43. xiii. 12. 
xxxiv. 22. viii. 25. They had 
their inheritance on the north- 
west of Judah: but the Amo- 
rites retained a great part of the 
low country, particularly Ajalon 
and Shaalabin, till the neigh- 
bouring tribe of Ephraim obliged 
them to be tributaries, Josh. xix. 
40—48. Judg. i. 34, 35. 

Dan, a city on the east of the 
springs of Jordan, and south of 
Mount Lebanon. It was early 
built by the Canaanites, and 
called Laish or Leshem. After 
the end of Joshua's wars, the 
inhabitants became extremely 
secure, and connected them- 
selves with no people. This 
tempted the Danites, who lived 
about 140 miles distant to the 
south-west, to come and seize 
on it. Near to this place, Abra- 
ham routed Chedorlaomer and 
his allies, Gen. xiv. 14. Here 
the idolatry of the Hebrews had 
its first public establishment, 
Judg. xviii. 29. 30, 31. Here 
Jeroboam fixed one of his golden 
calves, 1 Kings xii. 29. Benha- | 
dad, king of Syria, took and pil- '[ 
laged it, 1 Kings xv. 20. After 
the captivity of the ten tribes, it | 



DAN 

seems to have made some f]gur§, 
and it, or perhaps the tribe of 
Dan in general, carried on a 
trade with the Tyrians, Eze- 
kiel xxvii. 12. Nebuchadnezzar 
marched his troops this way to 
invade Judea, Jer. iv. 15. viii.16. 
During our Saviour's debase- 
ment, Philip the Tetrarch finely 
built this place, or one very near 
it, and called it Ces area- Philip- 
pi, which lay about a day's jour- 
ney eastward from Sidon, and 
some more westward from Da- 
mascus, Mark viii. 27. 

Dan is called Paneas by hea 
then writers ; and at present Ba- 
nias. 

DANCE. The original words 
so rendered in our Bibles do not 
always bear such a sense, but 
merely to leap for joy, or great 
joy, Psal. xxx. 11. Luke xv. 25 ; 
or to praise God by playing on 
an organ, 2 Sam. vi. 14 : and the 
word rendered the dance, signi- 
fies no more than a company of 
singers, Psal. cxlix. 2, &cc. 

DANIEL ; (1.) A son of Da- 
vid by Abigail, and perhaps the 
same with Chileab, 2 Sam. iii. 3. 
1 Chron. iii. 1. (2.) A priest of 
Ithamar's family, who attended 
Ezra to Judea, A. M. 3550; 
and, about 20 years after, pro- 
bably sealed Nehemiah's cove- 
nant of reformation, Ezra viii. 2 
Neh. x. 6. 

(3.) Daniel, the prophet, was 
of the royal family of Judah, and 
along with others was carried 
captive to Babylon, A. M. 3398 
By Nebuchadnezzar's order, he > 
and three other boys, were edu- 
cated in the learning of Chaldea, 
They all four had new name* 
imposed on them, importing re- 
lation to the idols of Babylon. 
Daniel was called Belteshazzar % 
Hananiah, ShadracJi, Misheal, 
Meshach, and Azariah, Abed- 
nego. 

Daniel's renown for piety and 

wisdom was very great while 

he was but a youth, Ezek. ^iv, 

14. 20. xxviii. 3. Repeated oo* 

165 



DAR 

casions famished him with op- 
portunity to manifest his wis- 
dom. 

Daniel lived to extreme old 
age, for he survived the taking 
of Babylon, by Cyrus the Per- 
sian, and Darius the Mede. 
Supposing, then, that he was 16 
years of age when he was car- 
ried captive, as 70 years had 
now elapsed since that event, he 
must have been at this time 
above 86 years old. 

During his whole life he was 
held in great honour for his ex- 
traordinary wisdom, which was 
manifestly more than human. 

He was too old to return with 
his people to Jerusalem, and it 
is probable did not long survive 
the restoration of Israel to their 
own land, for we never hear of 
him after this event ; but where 
or how he died, we know not. 

DARIUS, or Cyazares, the 
Mede, was the son of Ahasue- 
rus or Astyages, and the brother 
of Mandane, mother of Cyrus, 
and of Amyit, the mother of 
Evil-merodach, king of Baby- 
lon. After a long Avar with the 
Babylonians, he got possession 
of their empire, on the death 
of Belshazzar,his grand-nephew. 
He appointed 120 governors over 
his kingdom, and three principal 
ones to direct them, of whom 
Daniel was one. Upon the oc- 
casion of Daniel's marvellous 
deliverance from the lions, he 
published an edict, that all his 
subjects should mark a reveren- 
tial regard for the God of the 
Jews, Dan. v. 31. vi. ix. 1. xi. 1. 
He had scarce reigned two years 
at Babylon, when he died, aged 
64, and was succeeded by Cy- 
/us, his nephew and son-in-law. 

Darius Hystaspls. S^e Aha- 
suerus, the husband of Es'her. 

Darius Codomannus, the ^ast 
of the Persian kings of that age, 
Neh. xii. 22. was indeed of a roy- 
al descent, but very remote from 
the throne, and of a very debas- 
ed condition. He had been cou- 



DAR 

rier to Darius Ochus ; but for de- 
feating a bold duellist of the ene- 
my's host, was made governor 
of Armenia. After murdering 
Ochus and Arses, kings of Per- 
sia, one after another, Bagoas 
the eunuch set him on the Per- 
sian throne. He had not long 
possessed it, when Alexander, 
king of Macedonia, with a small, 
but brave army of Greeks, in- 
vaded his empire, and in three 
great battles overthrew his 
troops, and seized on his family 
and empire. 

DARK ; (1.) Without natural 
light, Gen. xv. 17. (2.) Black- 
ish ; hindering light, Job xxii. 13. 
(3.) Mysterious ; obscure, Psal. 
Ixxviii. 2. (4.) Unhappy; per- 
plexing; without the light of 
prosperity, Psal. xxxv 6. Mic. 
iii. 6. Job xii. 25. xviii. 6. Isa. v. 
30. Eccl. ii. 14. 

Darkly, obscurely, imperfect- 
ly, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. 

Darkness signifies, (1.) the 
absence or want of natural light, 
Matt, xxvii. 45. Such darkness 
surrounded the deep or chaos on 
the first day of the creation, Gen. 
i. 2. Job xxxviii. 9 ; and in part 
returns every night. Thick 
clouds of black and moist va- 
pour so overspread the land of 
Egypt for three days, that no man 
could see his fellow, nor could 
their fires or candles burn, Exod. 
x. 21, 22. While our Saviour, 
the blessed Sun of righteousness, 
hung upon his cross, a similar 
darkness covered Judea and 
places around, Matt, xxvii. 45. 
(2.) Ignorance, unbelief, error, 
which bewilder men, bereave 
them of true comfort, and unfit 
them for proper exercise, John 
iii. 19. Nay, sin, especially a 
state of it, is called darkness, to 
denote how uncomely, dreadful, 
and bewildering it is, 1 Pet. ii. 9. 
Col. i. 13. Jude 13. 

DARLING, a beloved one. 
The soul i3 so called, as we 
ought chiefly to care for it, Psal. 
xxii. 20. xxxv. 17. 
166 



DAY 

DART, a kind of destructive 
weapon, that may be flung to 
gome distance, and stab one. 
The javelin is a kind of it, 2 
Sam. xviii. 14. 1 Sam. xx. 33. 
Num. xxv. 7. 

DATES, the fruit of the palm- 
tree: they are 'extremely sweet 
and nourishing, 2 Chr. xxxi. 5. 

DATHAN, son of Eliab, one 
who conspired with Abiram and 
On, against Moses and Aaron. 



DEA 

do the same. The Chaldeans, 
Persians, Syrians, and modern 
Greeks, begin it at the rising of 
the sun; the ancient Umbri, and 
Arabians, at noon. The Egyp- 
tians, and almost all the moderns 
in Europe, begin their day at 
midnight. As in the polar cir- 
cles, the sun continues 24 hours 
or more above the horizon, at 
some lime3 there must be fewer 
artificial days in these places ; 



Dathan and his accomplices' nay, under the poles, the whole 

were swallowed up in an earth- j year is but one artificial day, the 

sun being six months above, and 

other six below the horizon. In 



quake, Num. xvi. 1 — 31. Psalm' 
cvi. 17" 



DAVID, the son of Jesse, and ! prophetic language, a day is put 
descendant of Judah, was born for a year, and so a week is seven 
at Bethlehem, A. M. 2919. No ' years, a month 30, and a year or 
sooner had the Lord rejected i time, 360; Ezek. iv. 5, 6. Dan. 
Saul, than, to comfort Samuel, ix. 24. vii. 25. Rev. ix. 15. xi. 3. 
he sent him to anoint one of Jes- j One day is with the Lord as a 
ee's sons to the kingdom. Da- thousand years ; and athousand 
vid's seven elder brethren were years as one day. God's dura- 
presented to that prophet, but tion is without succession of mo- 
he was instructed of God, that ' ment£ ; so that a longer period is 
none of them was the intended no more in his account, and in 
sovereign. David was brought; comparison with his eternity, 
heme from the sheep, and by the than a shorter one, 2 Pet. iii. 3. 
direction of God, anointed to be I As a day is a noted period proper 
king over Israel,lSam.xvi.l3. Da- 'for work, so any noted occasion 
vid did not immediately become- of mercy or judgment is called a 
king, upon being anointed; but' day; Psal.xxxvii. 13. MaLiv.l. 
was greatly persecuted by Saul, • Jer. 1. 4. 30. The day of the 
through envy and jealousy, un- j Lord, often signifies, the period 
til, after the death of that unfor- ' when he will execute his fearful 
tunate monarch, he became first judgments, Isa. ii.12. xiii. 6. Ps. 
the king of a part, and soon, of xxxvii. 13. Job xxiv. 1. Zeph. 
all the tribes of Israel. i. 14. 18. The day of Christ, is 

DAY. A day is that space 'either the days of his humilia- 
which intervenes between the '' tion, and time of the powerful 
rising and-settingofthesun, and, spread of the gospel, John viii. 
by the light thereof, is fit for la- \ 56 ; or the period of the Jewish 
hour. A" natural day is the pe- ; destruction, and of the last judg- 
riod between one midnight, or^ment. The season is fixed; and 
noontide, and another, consisting \ great is, or will be, the work and 
of 24 hours. The civil day is discoveries therein made, 2 Pet 



much the same, but itbegins and 
ends according to the different 
humours of different ffations. 
The Hebrews began their sacred, 
if not their civil day, from the 
evening, Lev. xxiii. 32. The an- 
cient Athenians, Austrians, Bo- 
hemians, Marcomans, Silesian3. 
modern Italians, and Chinese, 



iii. 12. 1 Cor. iii. 13. v. 5. PhiL 
i. 6. Or the Christian Sabbath, 
which is set apart to commemo- 
rate the memory of his birth, 
Rev. i. 10. The day of persons, 
is either their birth-day, Job iii. 
1 ; or the season of merciful op- 
portunities and prosperity, Luke 
xix. 42. Amos v. 8 ; or their day 
167 



DEA 

or season of ruin and trouble, 
Psal. xxxvii. 13. cxxxvii. 7. Job 
lii. 8 ; or the eternal period of 
their complete happiness, Rom. 
xiii. 12. 

DEACON. The word so ren- 
dered, is applied to such as per- 
form service in the church or 
state ; as to Christ, Rom. xv. 8 ; 
to gospel ministers, ordinary or 
extraordinary, 1 Cor. iii. 5. Col. 
i. 23. 25 ; to every follower of 
Christ, John xii. 26 ; and to ma- 
gistrates, Rom. xiii. 4 : but it is 
chiefly used, to signify an officer 
in the church, whose business it 
is to serve in distributing the 
dements at the Lord's table, 
and to provide for, and duly dis- 
tribute provision to ministers, 
and to the poor, Phil. i. 1. 

DEAD; (1.) Deprived of natu- 
ral life, 1 Pet. iv. 6. Ruth i. 8. 
(2.) Without spiritual life ; under 
the dominion of sin ; void of 
grace ; incapable to perform any 
spiritual exercise, Eph. ii. 1. 1 
Tim. v. 6 ; or even desperately 
obstinate in wickedness, Luke 
xv. 24. (3.) What never had 
life, as idols, &c. Job xxvi. 5. 
Isa. viii. 19. (4.) What has no 
continued existence, no living 
soul to be reunited to its body, 
Matt xxii. 32. (5.) In a state of 
mortality ; condemned or signal- 
ly exposed to death, Rom. viii. 
10. Gen. xx. 3. (6.) In a state of 
oppression, slavery, and despe- 
rate-like wretchedness, Is. xxvi. 
19. Ezek. xxxvii. 1—14. (7.) 
Unfit for generation, according 
to the power of nature, Rom. iv. 
19. Heb.xi.12. (8.) Formal hypo- 
crites; or much decayed in grace, 
Rev. iii. 1. (9.) The resurrection 
of the dead, 1 Cor. xv. 29. Let 
the dead bury their dead : let 
men, dead in sin, bury those na- 
turally dead ; or let the dead lie 
unburied, rather than the preach- 
ing of the gospel be hindered. 

DEAD SEA, called also, the 
Sea of the plain; the Salt Sea; 
and in Ezek. xlvii. 18, the East 
Sea; also, the Sea of Sodom. 



DEA 

This lake is confined by rough 
mountains on all sides, except 
on the north, where it receives 
the waters of the river Jordan. 
It is about 70 miles in length, 
and 20 in breadth. Like the Cas- 
pian sea, it has no visible com- 
munication with' the ocean. Be- 
ides the Jordan, this inland sea 
receives six other streams ; but 
none of them are of large size. 
The four cities of the plain, 
which were destroyed, were co- 
vered with the waters of this 
lake, and their ruins were for 
many ages visible. Whether any 
animal lives in their waters, is 
still a matter not decided ; dif- 
ferent travellers giving an oppo- 
site testimony respecting the fact 

DEAF ; (1.) Without natural 
hearing. The Hebrew word sig- 
nifies also dumb or silent; be- 
cause such as are born deaf, are 
usually, if not invariably dumb. 
Of late years the deaf and dumb 
have been educated and admit- 
ted to most of the privileges of 
those who can hear and speak. 
According to the ancient predic- 
tion, Christ healed many who 
were deaf and dumb, Isa. xxxv. 
5. xxix. 18. xlii. 18. Matt. xi. 5. 

DEAL; (1.) To act; to be- 
have. Jesus deals prudently in 
the work of our redemption, al- 
ways employing the most proper 
means to gain the most noble 
ends, Isa. lii. 13. Men deal with 
one another wisely, falsely, de- 
ceitfully, subtilely, foolisldy, 
corruptly, perversely, treachc 
rously, proudly, truly, with 
knowledge, or with a slack, pro- 
digal, and careless hand, Exod. 
i. 10. Lev. xix. 11, &c. (2.) To 
distribute by parts, Isa. lviii. 7. 
Rom. xii. 3. And a deal signi- 
fies a part, Exod. xxix. 40. Num. 
xv. 4 — 9. God deals bountifully 
and in mercy, when he gracious- 
ly bestows his favours on men 
worthless and miserable, Psal. 
cxvi. 7. cxix. 17. 124. cxlii. 7. 

DEATH, the punishment 
threatened to the disobedience 
168 



DEB 

of man. " Adam having eaten 
the forbidden fruit, incurred the 
penalty of death for himself and 
his posterity." — Calmet. Jesus 
Christ by his death, has subdued 
him that had the power of death. 
Death, in scripture, signifies, (1.) 
The separation of soul and body. 
(2.) Separation of the soul from 
God. (3.) Eternal misery, which 
is the second death. (4.) The 
plague, and other great calami- 
ties. Jer. xv. 2. Uohniii. 14. 
Eph. ii. 1. Jude 13. Rev. xx.6. 
14. Jer. xv. 2. 

To DEBATE, to dispute. A 
man ought to debate his cause 
with his neighbour ; he ought 
privately and meekly to reason 
the point of difference between 
them, Prov. xxv. 9. 

DEBIR ; a city of the tribe 
of Judah, near Hebron. It was 
also called Kirjath-sepher, and 



DEC 

other, 1 Sam. xxii. 2. Sin is 
called a debt; it consists in with- 
holding from God his due honour 
and love ; and by suffering, must 
his justice be satisfied for its of- 
fence, Matth. vi. 12. A debtor, 
is one who, by promise or equity, 
owes somewhat to another. 

DECAPOLIS, a country, ac- 
cording to Lightfootjonthe north 
and east of -the sea of Tiberias : 
but if Bethshan was one of the 
cities of it, part of it lay on tha 
south-west of that sea. It was 
called Decapolis, because there 
were ten cities in it, viz. Beth- 
shan, Gadara, Hippo, Pella, Ca- 
phar-tzemach, Beth-gubron, Ca- 
phar-carnaim, Cesarea-Philippi, 
Orbo, and another, whose name 
I find not, Matth. iv. 25. 

The ten cities of Decapoli?, 
according to Josephus, were, Da- 
mascus, Otopos, Philadelphia, 



Khjath-sannah; because there Raphana, Gadara, Hippos, Deos, 
the Canaanites had a seat of j Palla, Gerasa, and Scythopoiis. 



learning, Josh. xv. 15, 16. and 
xxi. 15. 

DEBORAH, (1.) Rebekah's 
nurse, who came along with her 
from Padan-aram. After her 
mistress's death, she continued 
with her country-women in Ja- 
cob's family. 

She died near Bethel, in a very 
advanced age, and was buried 
under an oak tree, thence called 
Allon-bachuth,the oak of weep- 
ings Gen. xxxv. 8. 

(2.) Deborah, a prophetess 
and judge of Israel, and wife of 
Lapidoth. She dwelt under a 
palm-tree between Ramah and 
Bethel. She was associated 
with Barak,the son of Abinoam, 
in leading the army of Israel 
against the forces of Jabin, king 
of Canaan. No more than 
10,000 men followed them, while 
those under the command of 
Sisera, the captain of Jabin'a ar- 
my, were exceeding numerous. 
But the Lord overthrew this 
multitude, and Sisera fell by 
the hand of a woman. Jud.iv.4,5. 



DEDAN; (1.) The son of 
Raamah, and grandson of CusJi. 
It is probable his posterity had 
their residence on the west of 
the Persian Gulph in Arabia 
Felix, where the city Dadan is 
yet to be found, Gen. x. 7. (2.) 
The son of Jockshan, and grand- 
son of Abraham. He was the 
father of the Dedanim, Letu- 
shim, Ashurim, and Leummmi 
tribes, in Arabia the Desert, 
Gen. xxv. 3. 

DEDICATION, the conse- 
cration of a place, altar, or tem- 
ple, to the worship of God, Ex. 
xl. Numb vii. 1 Kings viii. 

The temple rebuilt by Herod 
wa3 dedicated with great so- 
lemnity ; and in nrder to make 
this festival more august, Herod 
appointed it on the anniversary 
of his accession to the crown. 
Now this was towards the end 
of A. M. 3964, ante A. D. 40 ; 
and the temple which he boilt 
was dedicated at the end of his 
32d year, four years before the 
true birth of Jesus Christ. Some 



DEBT, what one owes to an- J think it probable this was the 



H 



15 



169 



DEF 

dedication mentioned John x. 
22. Not only sacred places were 
thus dedicated, hut also cities, 
their walls, and their gates, and 
even the houses of private per- 
sons. When Nehemiah had 
finished the walls and gates of 
Jerusalem, he dedicated them, 
Neh. xii. 27. The title of Psahn 
xxx. implies, that it was sung at 
the dedication of David's house. 
Moses ordered proclamation to 
be made on the day of battle at 
the head of the army, What man 
is there thai hath built a new 
house, and hath not dedicated 
it? let him return, &c. Deut. 
xx. 5. This dedication was per- 
formed, principally, according to 
the Rabbins, by pronouncing a 
certain blessing, while some 
particular words of the law 
written on parchment, rolled up 
in a cane, or hollow stick, were 
fastened on the door-post. 

Feast of dedication, men- 
tioned John x. 22. was in com- 
memoration of the cleansing of 
the temple by Judas Maccabeus , 
for it occurred in winter, which 
was not the time of the dedica- 
tion of Solomon's or Zerrubba- 
bel's temple. 

DEER, fallow, a wild quad- 
ruped, of a middle size between 
the stag and the roe-buck ; its 
horns turn inward ; the main 
horn and branches are lar-ge and 
flat, not round. The deer is na- 
turally very timorous: it was 
reputed clean, and good for 
food ; young deer were particu- 
larly esteemed for their delicacy, 
&c. They are noticed in the 
Canticles, "Proverbs, and Isaiah, 
as beautiful, lovely creatures, 
and very swift. 

DEFAME, to reproach. 

To DEFEND, is to protect 
from enemies and wrongs, Psal. 
lxxxii. 3. 

Defence ; (1.) Protection ; re- 
fuge, 2 Chron. xi. 5. (2.) What 
one has to say in vindication of 
himself, against his accusers, 
Acts xix. 33. God and Christ 



DEG 

are a defence ; they protect the 
saints from enemies, wrath, dan- 
ger, and hurt, Psal. xxxi. 2. Isa. 
iv. 5. xxxiii. 16. Ministers are 
set for the defence of the gospel; 
to maintain it in its purity and 
honour, against heretics, and 
every other opposer, Phil. i. 17. 

DEFILE, to render unclean, 
(1.) By disgraceful usage, 2 
Kings xxiii.^8, 10. Ezek. xxviii. 
7. (2.) With ceremonial pollu- 
tion, as the leprosy, the touch- 
ing of a dead bodv, &c.Lev. xiv. 
46. Numb. v. 2. '(3.) With sin- 
ful filthiness, by following Hea- 
thenish customs, by seeking wiz- 
ards, by idolatry, apostasy, er- 
ror, 1 Cor. viii. 7. Tit. i. 15. 
Lev. xviii. 24. xix. 31. Ezek. 
xx. 7. Heb. xii. 15. 1 Tim. vi. 5. 
i. 10. Gen. xxxiv. 2. Ezek.xviii. 
11. Jam. iii. 6. God's name is 
defiled, when those who profess 
to be his people bring a reproach 
on him with their untender car- 
riage, Ezek. xliii. 7, 8. His 
priesthood was defiled, when 
men invested with it, walked un- 
worthy of it, or by marriage 
with Heathens, brought in a 
strange brood to officiate, Neh. 
xiii. 29. 

DEFRAUD, deceitfully to 
withhold or take one's just due 
from him, 1 Cor. vii. 5. 7. vi. 7. 

DEFY, to boast against one, 
that he is incapable to fight with 
us, or do something we mention, 
1 Sam. xvii. 10. 36. 45. 
DEGENERATE,grown worse 
than it was originally. The Jews 
were turned into the degenerate 
plant of a strange vine, when, 
leaving the example of their 
pious ancestors, they gradually 
became almost as wicked as 
Heathens, Jer. ii. 21. 

DEGREE ; (1.) A part, or 
division of a dial ; or a step of a 
stair, 2 Kings xx. 9. (2.) Con- 
dition ; order, rank, 1 Chron. xr. 
18. Psal. Ixii. 9. 

Degrees. Fifteen Psalms are 
distinguished by the title of 
Psalms of degrees, viz. from the 
170 



DEM 
120th to the 134th inclusive. 
Some suppose they were so call- 
ed, because they were sung with 
an exalted voice, or because at 
every psalm the voice was rais- 
ed. Or, more probably, because 
the Levites sang them as they 
ascended the steps of the tem- 

P DEHAVITES, a tribe of the 
Samaritans ; perhaps the same 
with the Avites ; or they might 
come from about ihe river Dia- 
ba in Assyria, Ezra iv. 9. 

DELECTABLE, precious ; 
comely ; delightful : idols are 
so called, Isa. xliv. 9. 

Delicacies : delicates ; most 
precious things, wealth, &c, 
Rev. xviii. 3. Jer. li. 34. 

DELICIOUSLY, in wealth, 
pleasure, and luxury, Revela- 
tions xviii. 7. 

DELIGHT, to take pleasure, 
•Esth. vi. 6. God's not delight- 
ing in the ceremonial services 
of the wicked Jews, imports his 
abhorrence of them, because of 
the wicked, manner and end for 
which they were performed, Isa, 
i. 11. Jer. vi. 20. His people are 
a delightsome land, when their 
piety, glory, and happiness are 
verv jrreat, Mai. iii. 12. 

DELILAH. See Samson. 

DELIVER; (1.) To give into 
one's hand ; sive up, Gen. xl.13. 
Exod. v. 18. (2.) To free from 
diseases, danger, enemies, &c. 
Exod. iii. 8. Heb. ii. 15. 

Deliverance denotes, (1.) A 
rescue from outward danger and 
distress, Gen. xxxii. 11. (2.) 
A rescue from sin and misery, by 
the blood and Spirit of Christ, 
Luke iv. 18. 

DELUSIONS, errors and in- 
fluences of Satan, calculated to 
deceive men. 

DEMAND, to ask humbly, 
Luke iii. 14. Job xlii.4; or au- 
thoritatively, Job xxxviii. 5. 
xl. 7. 

DEMAS, an early professor 
of Christianity ,perhaps a preach- 
er, that was for awhile very ser- 



DES 

viceable to Paul in his confine- 
ment ; but about A. D. 65, he 
forsook him to follow some more 
gainful worldly business, 2 Tim. 
iv. 10. Col. iv. 14. 

DEMETRIUS, a silversmith 
of Ephesus, who made little mo- 
dels of Diana's temple there, 
wi th her image included therein ■ 
and who, vexed at the success 
of Paul's preaching, and fearing 
lest his craft w r ould fall into dis- 
repute, raised a dreadful tumult 
in the city, which the town clerk 
with some difficulty allayed, 
Acts xix. 24—40. 

DEN, a hole, or hollow place 
in the earth, where lions and 
other wild beasts lodge, Judg. 
i. 2. Job xxxvii. 8. Rev. vL 
15. God's temple became a den 
of thieves, when multitudes of 
wicked men officiated in it, and, 
to the robbing God of his honour, 
prostituted it to be a place of 
dishonest merchandise, Jer. vii. 

11. Matth. xxi. 13. 
DENOUNCE, solemnly to 

declare a threatening, Deut. xxx 
18. 

DENY; (1.) Not to confess, 
Gen. xviii. 15. Job xxxi. 28. 
Matt. xxvi. 70. Mark xiv. 70- 
Luke xii. 9. John xiii. 38. 2 Pet. 
ii. 1. (20 To renounce, Tit. iL 

12. (3.) To refuse, 1 Kings ii. 16, 
DEPART ; (1. ) To go from a 

place or person, John vii. 3. (2.^ 
To die, go out of this world ana 
life into an eternal state, Luke 
ii. 29. (3.) To cease, Nah. iii. 1 

DEPOSE, to put out of office, 
Dan. v. 20. 

DEPUTED, constituted in 
ferior judge, 2 Sam. xv. 3. A 
deputy is a ruler, appointed by 
a superior one, Acts xiii. 7. xviii 
12. 1 Kings xxi. 47. 

DERBE, the birth-place of 
Gaius the fellow-traveller of 
Paul, Acts xx. 4. It was east of 
Iconium, at the foot of the range 
of mountains calledAnti-Taurus. 

DESCEND, to go down from 
a higher place to a lower, whe- 
ther from heaven, or the cloud* 
171 



DES 

to the earth; or from a place 
higher in situation, to one lower 
in the same country, or a dif- 
ferent one, Matt, xxviii. 2. Psal. 
cxxxiii. 3. Acts xxiv. 1. 

Descent, is, (1.) A place bend- 
ing downward, Luke xix. 37. (2.) 
A coming from parents and an- 
cestors. Heb. vii. 3. 6. 

DESCRIBE. To describe a 
country, is to draw a plan of it, 
Josh, xviii. 4. To describe per- 
sons, is to declare their names, 
marks, and places of abode, 
Judg. viii. 14. 

DESCRY, to view ; 6py out, 
Judg. i. 23. 

DESERT, wilderness. The 
Hebrews called the places a wil- 
derness,where the cities or towns 
were more distant one from ano- 
ther, as well as where there were 
no towns at all. The most noted 
deserts we read of in Scripture, 
are that of Egypt, on the north 
east of that country, Ezek. xx. 
3(5; the wilderness of Etham, 
on the west of the Red Sea ; the 
wilderness of Shur, Sin, and 
Sinai, on the east side of the 
western gulf of the Red Sea ; the 
wilderness of Paran, northward 
of the former, and of Zin, at the 
east end of it. The wilderness 
of Edom, is perhaps the same 
with that of Paran, or Zin ; or 
rather one at the south end of 
the Dead Sea. The wilderness 
of Kadesh, might be the north 
part of the wilderness of Paran. 
The wilderness of Moab, Ar- 
non, and Kedemoth, might be 
the same, near the head of the 
river Arnon. The wilderness of 
Tadmor lay to the north-east of 
Canaan. The wilderness of 
Judah, of Zip h, Jeshimon, and 
Maon, lay on the west of the 
DeadSea. The wilderness where 
Jems was tempted, was proba- 
bly the mountains of Q,uaranta- 
na, to the east of Jerusalem, 
which now have an appearance 
most rugged and unsightly; or 
that near Pisgah, on the east of 
Jordan. A great many wilder- 



DEV 

nesses were named from the 
cities next adjacent; as the wi> 
derness of Diblah, Engedi, Jen*- 
el, Tekoah, Gibeon, Bethaven, 
&cc. The wilderness of Arabia 
comprehends the deserts of Shur, 
Sin, Paran, Zin, and Kedemoth, 
and was a very terrible and 
waste howling wilderness, Deuk 
i. 19. xxxii. 10. The whole north 
parts of Arabia are called a 
desert, because so little of it was 
cultivated, or had cities built in 
it, Jer. xxv. 24. 

DESERVE, to be worthy o$ 
Ezra ix. 13. Job xi. 6. 

DESIRE; (1.) A longing; 
wishing, 1 Sam. xxiii. 20. (2.) 
The request, or prayer of a bou^ 
for the supply of its wants, spi- 
ritual, temporal, or eternal, Psak 
cxlv. 19. 

DESPAIR, to grow hopeless, 
1 Sam. xxvii. 1. 2 Cor. iv. 8. 

Desperate; without hope, Job 
vi. 28. 

DESPITE, or spite; (l.)Envy, 
malice, Ezek. xxv. 6. Psal. x. 14. 
(2.) The object of envy or ma- 
lice, Neh.iv.4. Despiteful; fuQ 
of envy and malice, Ezek. xxv. 
15. To entreat one spitefully 
is maliciously to expose him to 
the most cruel and shameful 
abuse, Luke xviii. 32. Matt. v. 
44. 

DETERMINE; (1.) To tte- 
cide or judge a cause, Exod. xxi. 
22. (2.) Firmly to resolve, 1 
Sam. xx. 7. lCor.ii.2. (3.) Un- 
changeably to appoint, Job xir. 
5. Dan. ix. 24. The determinate 
counsel of God, is his fixed and 
immutable decree, Acts ii. 23. 

DEVIL, a fallen angel, esp»» 
cially the chief of them : a mali- 
cious accuser of God and hi5 
people, Rev. xii. 9, 10. John vk 
70. vii. 20. See also Satan. 

DEVISE; (1.) To contrive, 
Ex. xxxi. 4. (2.) To plot some- 
thing hurtful, 2 Sam. xxi. 5. 

Device; (1.) Curious work of 

an artificer, 2 Chron. ii. 14. (2.) 

Contrivance, purpose, Eccl. ix. 

10. (3.) Crafty projects, Ys.x.% 

172 



DEU 

To DEVOTE ; (1.) Solemnly 
to set apart to the service and 
honour of God, Lev. xxvii. 21. 
(2.) To set apart for destruction, 
Josh, vi. 17. Deut. xiii. 13. See 
Accursed. 

Devotions, religious obser- 
vances, Acts xvii. 23. Devout, 
much given to religious exercise, 
whether lawful or not, Luke ii. 
£5. Acts x. 2. xiii. 50. xvii. 4.17. 

DEVOUR; (1.) To eat up 
greedily, Gen. xxxvii. 20. (2.) 
To spend riotously, Luke xv. 30. 
(3.) Cunningly to defraud God 
or men of their due, and seize on 
it for our own use, Matt, xxiii. 
14. Prov. xx. 25. 

DEUTERONOMY, the last 
of the five books of Moses. Its 
name signifies, repetition of the 
law. As the generation who 
came out of Egypt were gene- 
rally dead, Moses, a few days 
before his death, in this book, 
repeats the substance of their 
history in the wilderness, and a 
variety of die laws that had been 
given them, and adds some new 
ones ; as of cutting off false pro- 
phets and idolatrous cities ; of 
making battlements around the 
roofs of their houses; of expiat- 
ing uncertain murder; of taking 
down hanged malefactors in the 
evening; of punishing rebellious 
children; of distinguishing the 
sexes by their apparel ; of the 
marriage of captives, and the 
wives of deceased brethren ; of 
divorce; of men-stealing; of run- 
away servants, &c. chap. i. xxv. 
He then directs them to surren- 
der themselves to God at Ebal 
nnd Gerizzim : solemnly lays be- 
fore them the blessings that 
would follow on their obedience 
to the divine laws, and the mise- 
ries that would attend their 
apostacy and rebellion; and 
which have, or do take place on 
that unhappy nation, in their 
ancient calamities, and present 
dispersion, chap. xxvi. xxxi. It 
next contains the song of Moses ; 
hia blessing of the twelve tribes ; 



DIA 

and the account of his deaths 
the last of which perh aps was 
written by another hand, chap, 
xxxii — xxxiy. The manner of 
this book of Moses is more su- 
blime, and its matter, chiefly the 
commands, more plain and prac- 
tical, than of the rest. 

DEW, a thick moist vapour 
that falls on the earth, chiefly 
when the sun is below the hori- 
zon. In warm countries, where 
it seldom rains, copious dews do 
exceedingly refresh and moisten 
the ground: hance the fall of 
dew was reckoned a great bless- 
ing, and the withholding of it a 
grievous curse, Deut. xxxiii. 13, 
2 Sam. i. 21. Dews, in Palestine, 
are very copious, resembling in 
the morning a small shower of 
rain. As dew was all- important 
to vegetation, in summer, when 
it rarely rained, it became the 
emblem of the richest blessings 
of heaven. Gen. xxvii. 28. Judg. 
vi.38. Hos. vi.4. xiii. 3. xiv.5. 
Mic. v. 7. 

DIADEM, a crown. 

DIAL, an instrument for mea- 
suring of time by the shadow of 
the sun. Whether the people on 
the east of the Euphrates, or the 
Jews or Phenicians, first invent- 
ed this instrument, we know not. 
The Greeks knew nothing of 
dials till the time of Anaximan- 
der, the contemporary of Cyrus. 
Nor in history do we find a dial 
more ancient than that of Ahaz. 
Nor is there any mention of 
fiours till the time of Daniel's 
captivitv in Babvlon, Dan.iii,6. 

DIAMOND, 'the hardest of 
gems, and the most brilliant and 
valuable of precious stones. It 
is a combustible substance, and 
is found, by analysis, to consist 
principally of carbon. Thus, 
charcoal and the diamond, the 
one the darkest, and the other 
the most brilliant of earthly 
things, are constituted of the 
same ingredients. 

The diamond was the third 
jewel, in the second row, of the 
fc 173 






DIP 

high-priest's breastplate. The 
largest diamond ever found, was 
that which belonged to the Great 
Mogul. The diamond becomes 
phosphorescent, or shines in the 
dark, after being exposed to the 
rays of the sun. Figuratively, 
it is in Scripture, the emblem of 
invincible courage, and of hard- 
ness of heart. Ezekiel was com- 
manded to set his face as an 
adamant ; and the hearts of the 
wicked are compared to ada- 
mant. As the diamond was used 
for making indelible inscriptions 
on hard substances, the sin of 
Judah is said to have been writ- 
ten with a pen of iron, and with 
the point of a diamond, Jer, 
xvii. 1. 

DIANA, a celebrated goddess 
of the heathens. She was espe- 
cially renowned at Ephesus. She 
was one of the twelve superior 
deities, and was called by the 
several names of Hebe, Trivia, 
Hecate, Diana, and Lucina. In 
heaven, she was the moon, or 
queen of heaven, and perhaps the 
same with Meni, the numberer, 
or goddess of months, Jer. vii. 
18. Ezek. xvi. 25. Isa. lxv. 11. 
On earth, she was Diana and 
Trivia, the goddess of hunting 
and highways : in hell, she was 
Hecate: she was also called 
Lucina. She was said to be the 
daughter of Jupiter, and sister 
of Apollo: and was figured as a 
young huntress, with a crescent 
or half-moon on her head: or as 
wholly covered with breasts, and 
her pedestal ornamented with 
heads of stags, oxen, and dogs, 
to mark her bounty, and power 
over hunting. She was wor- 
shipped with great solemnity at 
Ephesus, Acts xix. 27—35. 

DIBON, or Dibon-gad, per- 
haps the same with Dimon. Si- 
hon took it from the Moabites, 
Num. xxxii. 34. xxxiii. 45, 46. 
Josh xiii. 9. 17. 

DINAH, daughter of Jacob 
and Leah: Gen. xxx. 21. She 
was born after Zebulon, about 



DIO 
A. M, 2250, ante A. D. 1754. 
When Jacob returned into Ca- 
naan, Dinah, then about the 
age of fifteen or sixteen, had the 
curiosity to attend a festival of 
the Shechemites, to see the 
women of thecountry,Gen.xxxiv. 
1, 2. Shechem, son of Hamor 
the Hivite, prince of the city, 
having seen her, conceived a 
great desire for her, and ravished 
her. Afterwards, he desired his 
father Hamor to procure this 
young woman for his wife. Di- 
nah's brothers being informed 
of what had passed, were strong- 
ly exasperated at it: they made 
insidious proposals to Shechem, 
to his father Hamor, and to the 
inhabitants of their city ; whom 
they afterwards slew and plun- 
dered ; carried off Dinah, and 
thus revenged the affront offered 
to their sister : all this they did 
without the knowledge or con- 
sent of their father Jacob ; who 
afterwards cursed them for it. 

What became of Dinah after 
this affair we cannot tell. The 
Hebrews assert, that she was 
married to Job; whereof there 
is no proof. Certainly if Job and 
Johab, the fourth son of Esau, 
Jacob's brother, be the same 
person, there is no probability 
that Dinah could live so long as 
to become his wife. 

DINAITES,See Samaritans. 

DIONYSIUS the Areopagite, 
or judge in the court of Areopa- 
gus. In his youth, it is said, he 
was bred in all the famed learn- 
ing of Athens, and went after- 
ward to Egypt, to perfect him- 
self in astronomy; being at On 
when our Saviour died, and ob- 
serving the miraculous dark- 
ness, he cried out, Either th» 
God of nature suffers himself, 
or sympathizes with one that 
suffers. He was converted at 
Athens by Paul, and, it is said, 
became an evangelist, and was 
burnt as a martyr in his own 
citv, A. D. 95. 

DIOTREPHES, a pretended 
174 



DI3 

Christian, that was ambitious of 
being preferred to every body 
else. He did all he could to op- 
pose the reception of the mes- 
sengers sent by the apostle John, 
and said what he could to dis- 
parage that great man, 3 John 9. 

DISCERNING of Spirits.— 
A divine gift, mentioned 1 Cor. 
xii. 10. It is considered discern 
ing among those who professed 
to be iuspijed by God, whether 
they were inspired by a good or 
an evil spirit ; whether truly or 
falsely. This gift was of very 
great importance, both under the 
Old Testament, wherein we find 
that false prophets often rose 
up, and seduced the people; 
and under the New Testament, 
in the primitive ages of the 
church, when supernatural gifts 
were frequent ; when the mes- 
senger of Satan was sometimes 
transformed into an angel of 
light ; and false apostles, under 
the meek appearance of sheep, 
concealed the disposition of 
ravening wolves. 

DISCHARGE, to unload; 
give up, 1 Kings v.. 9. There is 
no discharge in the warfare of 
death ; no way of escaping it, 
Eecles. viii. 8. 

DISCIPLE, one that learns 
from a master, a scholar, John 
ix. 28. In the Gospel, it gene- 
rally signifies the twelve apos- 
tles, who learned under Jesus 
Christ as their Master ; but in 
the Acts and Epistles, it signifies 
any follower of Christ, who is 
careful to learn his truth. 

DISCIPLINE, instruction, 
correction, Job xxxvi. 10. 

DISEASES and death are 
consequences of sin; this idea 
of them we receive from Scrip- 
ture. The ancient Hebrews, 
not much accustomed to recur 
to physical causes, often imput- 
ed them to evil spirits. If their 
infirmities appeared unusual, 
arrd especially if the cause were 
unknown to them, they con- 
cluded it was a stroke from the 



DIS 

avenging hand of God ; to him 
the wisest and most religious 
had recourse for cure ; and king 
Asa is blamed (2 Chr. xvi. 12.) 
for placing his confidence in 
physicians, under a very painful 
fit of the gout in his feet ; and 
not applying to the Lord. Job's 
friends ascribed all his distem- 
pers to God's justice. Leprosies 
were treated as sacred diseases; 
the priests judged of their na- 
ture and qualities ; shut up the 
diseased, declared the disorder 
healed, or still existing in the 
patient, &c. Miriam, Gehazi, 
and king Uzziah, were smitten 
suddenly with a leprosy; the 
first as a punishment for ue- 
traction ; the second for' ava- 
rice ; and the third for presump- 
tion. 

DISPENSATION, an autho- 
rity to administer the ordinances 
of the gospel, 1 Cor. ix. 17. It 
is called a dispensation of grace, 
because it is freely given, and 
given in order to confer the grace 
of God to men, Eph. iii. 2; and 
a dispensation of God, as it is 
ffiven bv him, and for his glory, 
Col. i. 25. 

DISPERSION. St. Peter and 
St. James wrote to the Jews of 
the dispersion, 1 Pet. i. Jam. i. 
1. St. Peter directs his letter to 
those who were dispersed in the 
countries of Pontus, Galatia, 
Bithynia, Asia, Cappadocia ; 
St. James still more uncertainly 
addresses the twelve tribes scat- 
tered abroad. Not that all the 
tribes were then dispersed ; for 
Judea was yet filled with Jews ; 
(these epistles being written be- 
fore the war between the Jews 
and the Romans) but after the 
captivities into Assyria and 
Chaldea, there were many Jews 
of all the tribes constantly resi- 
dent in various places through- 
out the East. This was called, 
The Dispersion. Nehemiah 
prays God to collect the disper- 
sion of the people. And the 
Jews said of Jesus Christ, John 
175 



DOC 

*ii. 35. Will ye go unto the dis- 
persed among the Gentiles ? 
' DIVINE, belonging to God, 
excellent and godlike, Heb. ix. 
1. Prov. xvi. 10. 2 Pet. i: 4. 

To DIVINE. The word nah- 
hash properly signifies to search 
carefully, or to try ; and when 
mentioned in the history of Jo- 
seph, may import no more, than 
that he would carefully search 
for his cup, or had sufficiently 
tried his brethren's honesty by 
it. Gen. xliv. 5. 15. But ordi- 
narily it signifies, to find out and 
foretel secret or future things 
by some pretended or diabolical 
power. 

DaVORCE, the separation of 
married persons. Divorce seems 
to have been common before 
the time of Moses; and he, on 
account of the hardness of the 
people's hearts, did not attempt 
to extirpate it, but gave a law 
to regulate it, requiring in all 
cases, the formality of a bill. 
But our Saviour taught, that ex- 
cept in one specified case, it was 
nnlawful, Matthew v. 3-2. and 
xix. 9. 

DOCTOR, teacher,somewhat 
like our teachers in colleges, 
Luke ii. 46. 

DOCTRINE; (1.) Know- 
ledge, learning, Isa. xxviii. 9. 
(2.) A tenet of opinion, Matth. 
xvi. 12. (3.) The truths of the 
gospel in general, Tit. ii. 10. 
(4.) Instruction in gospel truth, 
2 Tim. hi. 16. (5.) Act, manner, 
and matter of teaching, Mark 
iv. 2. Matth. vii. 23. (6.) Di- 
vine ordinance, Matth. xv. 9. 
The truths of the gospel are the 
doctrine of God, and according 
to godliness, and sound doc- 
trine. God in Christ is their 
author, matter, and end, and 
they are pure, solid, substantial, 
and uncorrupted with error, 1 
Tim. vi. 1. 3. Heb. vi. 1. 2 Tim. 
iv. 3. And they are Christ's 
doctrine, as he is the chief 
preacher, and great substance 
of them. 



DOV 

DODANIM, Rodanim, the 
youngest son of Javan ; perhaps 
the same with Dorus the son of 
Neptune, and father of the Do- 
rian tribe of Greeks, who pos- 
sessed part of Greece in Europe, 
and part of the west of Lesser 
Asia, Gen. x. 4. and 1 Chr. i. 7. 

DOEG, the accuser of Ahim- 
elech the high-priest, and the 
murderer of him and 84 other 
priests ; probably he came to 
some unhappy end, 1 Sam. xxi. 
xxii. Psal. lii. cxx. cxl. 

DOG, a domestic animal well 
known. By the law the dog 
was unclean, and this animal 
was despised among the Jews. 
To compare a person to a dog, 
living or dead, was a most de- 
grading expression ; so David 
uses it, 1 Sam. xxiv. 14. 

DOM INION,authority,power 
to rule and dispose of, Gen. i. 26. 
Ministers have not dominion 
over the faith, of their hearers, 
to require them to believe any 
thing not founded in the word 
of God, 2 Cor. i. 24. 1 Pet. v. 3. 
(2.) Kingdom, nation, Psal. ciii. 
22. 2 Kings xx. 13. (3.) Govern- 
ors and their subjects, Dan. vii. 
27. (4.) Angels, who have great 
power and authority to execute 
God's commission, Col. i. L6. 

DOR, a city of the tribe of 
Manasseh, on the sea-coast, 9 
miles north of Cesarea. It is 
often mentioned in the books of 
Joshua and Judges. At pre- 
sent, according to Buckingham, 
it is a small village, with 40 or 
50 houses, and about 500 inha- 
bitants. 

DOTHAN, a city and couq- 
try about 12 miles north from 
Samaria, and, according to 
Bunting, 44 north of Jerusalem, 
and 6 westward of Tiberias. 
Here Joseph was sold to the- 
Ishmaelites; and here Elisha 
smote with blindness the Syrians 
who came to apprehend him, 
Gen. xxxvii. 17. 2 Kings vi. 13. 

DOVE, a tame bird, by the 
law declared pure. The dove is 
176 



JDRA 

used as a symbol of simplicity 
and innocency. The Holy Spi- 
rit appeared at the baptism of 
Jesus, in the form of a dove, 
Matth. iii. 16. Jesus Christ re- 
commends to his disciples the 
wisdom of the serpent, with the 
harmlessness ofthe dove, Matth. 
x. 16. The prophet Hosea, vii. 
11, compares the Israelites to a 
silly dove, which hath no heart, 
or understanding. 

The spouse in the Canticles is 
compared to a dove, by reason 
of her innocence, gentleness, 
and fidelity. Noah sent the dove 
out of the ark, to discover whe- 
ther the waters of the deluge 
were abated, Gen. viii. 8,10. He 
chose the dove, as a tame bird, 
an enemy to carrion and ordure. 

DOWRY; (l.) A portion 
brought by a husband to his 
wife, or given to her parent, to 
obtain her in marriage, Gen. 
xxxiv. 12. 1 Sam. xviii. 25. (2.) 
A portion brought by a wife to 
her husband, Exod. xxii. 17. 

DRAGON; it generally an- 
swers to the Hebrew word tanin, 
which signifies either a large 
fish, as the whale, crocodile, 
dolphin, &c. Gen. i. 21. Job vii. 
12 ; or, secondly, a serpent of a 
large size, some of which have 
feet, claws, and crests. Some 
writers speak of dragons in 
Greece, that are not venomous, 
and may be tamed: but those 
of which the prophets speak are 
represented as wild, hurtful, and 
dangerous. 

DRAM, aweightof 60 grains, 
or the eighth part of an ounce, 
and .the fourth part of a shekel ; 
but Prideaux thinks it heavier; 
and that a dram of silver is equal 
to ninepence, and a dram of gold 
about twelve times as much ; 
and so a thousand drams of gold 
will amount to about 4502. ster- 
ling, IChr. xxix. 7. Ezra ii. 69. 

DRAUGHT ; (1.) All the fish- 
es taken at one drawing of the 
net, Luke v. 9. (2.) A sink or 
drain, Matth. xv. 17. 



DUK 

DREAM. Natural dreams 
proceed much from the business 
men are intent upon, or from the 
constitution and habit of their 
body ; and hence, diseases, la- 
tent or beginning, are often dis- 
cernible from them. It is pro- 
bable they often begin from 
some outward sensation of the 
body, in which spirits, good or 
bad, have no inconsiderable 
influence. By supernatural 
dreams, God of old informed 
men of his mind. .Gen. xx. 6. 
xxxi. 11—24. Dan. ii. vii. Job 
xxxiii. 15. 

DRESS. See Clothes.— 
To dress ground, is to dig, sow, 
and otherwise cultivate it, Gen. 
ii. 15. Heb. vi. 7. To dress meat, 
is to make it ready for eating, 2 
Sam. xii. 4. xiii. 5. To dress the 
lamps of the sanctuary, was to 
light, snuff, and trim them, Ex. 
xxx. 7. 

DROMEDARY. Is. ix. 6 
Esth. viii'. 10. See Camel 

DROPSY, a very dangerous 
disease, produced by a preter- 
natural abounding of a kind of 
water in the body, or mingled 
with the blood. It affects differ- 
ent parts. Luke xiv. 2. 

DRUSILLA, the youngest 
sister of x\grippa, Bernice, and 
Mariamne, Acts xxiv. 24. 

DRY, without sap. Christ 
grew as a root out of dry ground; 
he sprung out of the Jewish na- 
tion, when very sinful, and re- 
duced, to bondage and slavery, 
Isa. hii. 2. 

Drought is common through 
the whole summer in Palestine, 
and countries eastward and 
northward from it, P3. xxxii. 4. 

DRYSHOD ; without wet 
feet; without treading above 
the shoes in water, Isa. xi. 15. 

DUE: (1.1 What is owing, 
Rom. xiii. 7. (2.) What is pro- 
per and fit, Lev. xxxvi. 4. Deut. 
xxxij. 35. 

DUKES, a kind of princes 
that governed among the Hot, 
rites, Edomites, and Midianites . 
177 



EAG 

and these last are called dukes 
of Sihon ; because he had ren- 
dered them tributary, Gen.xxxvi. 
15. 21. Exod. xv. 15. Joshua 
xiii. 21. 

DUMAH, a son of Ishmael, 
who, it seems, gave name to a 
country of Arabia the Rocky, 
Gen. xxv. 14. Isa. xxi. 11. 

DUMB ; (1.) Such as cannot 
speak for want of natural abili- 
ties, Exod. iv. 11. 1 Cor. xii. 2. 
(2.) Such as cannot teach others, 
for want of grace, knowledge, 
and courage, Isa. lvi. 10. (3.) 
Submissive and silent under the 
dispensations of Providence, Ps. 
xxxix. 9. 

DUNG ; Doves' 1 dung. It is 
said, 2 Kings vi. 25, that, during 
the siege of Samaria, the fourth 
part of a cab (little more than 
half a pint) of doves 1 dung was 
sold for five pieces of silver 
(about two dollars.) It is well 
known, that doves' 1 dung is not 
a nourishment for man, even in 
the most extreme famine. Jose- 
phus and Theodoret were of 
opinion, that this doves' 1 dung 
was bought instead of salt, to 
serve as a kind of manure for 
the purpose of raising esculent 
plants of quick vegetation. The 
Rabbins think it was not the 



EAR 

dung of pigeons, but the corn in 
their crops, which they brought ^ 
back filled out of the fields whi- 
ther, during the siege, they went 
to feed. Junius and Fuller 
suppose the doves' 1 belly to be 
meant: but Bochart is of opi- 
nion, that we should understand 
a sort of moss growing on trees. 
It might be a kind of tare, or 
cicer, so called from its resem- 
blance, when dried or parched, 
to the dang of pigeons,Phil.iii.8. 
DUST. The putting of dust 
and ashes on the head; roll- 
ing one's self in the dust; 
sitting in the dust ; putting the 
mouth in the dust, imports great 
mourning and distress, Josh. vii. 
6. Mic. i. 10. Job xlii. 6. Isaiah 
xlvii. 1. Lam. hi. 29. The Jews 
throwing dust in the air against 
Paul, indicated their contempt 
and malice, and their desire of 
his destruction, Acts xxii. 23. 
The Apostles shaking off the 
dust of their feet, against those 
who refused to receive them, im- 
ported that they separated them- 
selves entirely from them, that 
they desired no connexion with 
them, and that they gave then* 
up to their stupidity, misery and 
wickedness. Matth. x. 14. Luke 
x. 11. 



EAG 

EAGLE, one of the principal 
birds of prey. It has a beak 
strong and hooked. Its feet have 
three toes before, and one be- 
hind- It is a very ravenous fowl. 
It sees or smells dead carcases 
at a prodigious distance. It 
breaks the bones of its prey, to 
come at the marrow. Every 
year it moults, and becomes al- 
most naked and bald, and then 
renews its youth, by producing a 
set of new feathers. Eagles are 
extremely tender of their young ; i 
take them on their wings when 
weak and fearful. They fly I 
high and quick, have their nest ! 
in rocks, and are generally long [ 



EAR 

lived. Psalm ciii. 5. Deutero- 
nomy xxxii. 11. 

EARNEST. An earnest, is 
somewhat given in hand, to give 
assurance that what more is 
promised shall be given in due 
time. It differs from a pledge, 
as it is not taken back when full 
payment is made. 

EARTH; (1.) The dry land, 
or that huge and gross body of 
dust, stones, &c. which supports 
our feet, and affords us nourish- 
ment, Gen. i. 10. (2.) The whole 
globe of earth and sea joined to- 
gether, Gen. i. 1. (3.) The in- 
habitants ofthe earth, Gen.vi.13. 
xi.l. Psal.xcvi. 1 ; or the wicked 
178 



EAS 

part of them, Isa.xi.4. Rev.xiv. 
3. (4.) A part of the earth, such 
* as the land of Judea ; the em- 
pire of Assyria, Babylon, or Per- 
sia; and in some of these cases, 
it had been more distinct, if the 
word eretz had been translated 
land, Rom. ix. 28. Psal. xlviii. 
2. Isa. x. 14. Jer. li. 7. 25. 49. 
Zech. i. 11. Ezra i. 2. (5J A 
low and debased condition, Rev. 
vi.13. xii.13. (6.)Carnal schemes, 
projects, tempers, and enjoy- 
ments, Rev. xii. 4. xiii. 11. John 
hi. 31. 

Earthen, made of earth or 
dust, 2 Cor. iv. 7. Earthy, or 
earthly, belonging to the earth, 
carnal, John iii. 12. Jam. iii. 15. 
Adam and his posterity are call- 
ed earthy, or earthly, because 
formed from the dust, and mor- 
tal and corruptible, 1 Cor. xv. 
47, 48. 2 Cor. v. 1. 

EARTHaUAKE ; is a terri- 
ble shake of the earth, occasion- 
ed by the motion of air or water, 
or by the kindling of sulphur, in 
its bowels. Earthquakes are a 
kind of thunder under ground. 
If an equal quantity of filings of 
iron and sulphur be mixed to- 
gether, and moistened with a 
little water, and hid in the earth, 
it will occasion a small shock, 
similar to that of an earthquake. 
Countries where the bowels of 
the earth abound with sulphur, 
nitre, or pyrites, and where 
there are plenty of hollow cavi- 
ties of the rocky kind, are most 
subject to earthquakes. 

Fearful appearances of Provi- 
dence, and terrible inflictions of 
judgments, are represented as 
earthquakes; as, by them,states, 
nations, rulers, and laws, are 
quite overturned, Psal. xviii. 7. 
xlvi. 2. civ. 32. Isa. xxix. 6, 
Rev. viii. 5. xi. 13. 19. vi. 12. 
xvi. 18. 

EAST. The Hebrews ex- 
press the East by before, the 
West by behind, the South by 
the right hand, the North by 
ihe left hand, according to the 



EAT 

position of a man who had hit 
face toward the sun rising. By 
the East, they not only meant 
Arabia the Desert, where the 
Midianites, Moabites, and Am- 
monites, &c. dwelt, Judg. vi. 3. 
Job i. 3 ; but also Mesopotamia, 
Chaldea, Persia, Assyria, Me- 
dia, Armenia, and other coun- 
tries that lay eastward of Ca- 
naan. Balaam, Cyrus, and the 
wise men, are said to come from 
the East, Numb, xxiii. 7. Isa. 
xlvi. 11. Matth. ii. 1; and the 
Assyrians and Chaldeans are 
called an east wind, Hos. xii. L 
Jer. xviii. 17. 

EASTER. A season observed 
by a portion of the church of 
Christ in commemoration of his 
resurrection. 

EBAL and GERIZIM, are 
two hills near Shechem, with a 
valley of about 200 paces be- 
tween them. Ebal is on the 
north, and has a top extremely 
bare and barren ; Gerizim is on 
the south, and was extremely 
verdant and fertile. On these 
mountains the Hebrews were 
ranked, six tribes on each, who 
echoed Amen to the blessings 
and curses pronounced by the 
priests, in the valley between 
the two, Deut. xxvii. xxviii. 
Josh. viii. 30 — 33. On Gerizim 
the Samaritans afterwards built 
a temple, where they sometimes 
professed to worship the true 
God ; and sometimes the Jupi- 
ter-Olympius of the Greeks. Our 
Saviour talked with the Samari- 
tan woman near this mountain, 
John iv. 20. 

The ceremony of consecrating 
the commonwealth of the He- 
brews, is thought to have been 
performed in this manner. The 
Chiefs of the first six tribes went 
up mount Gerizim, and those 
of the other six tribes went up 
Mount Ebal. The priests with 
the ark, and Joshua at the bead 
of the elders of Israel, stood in 
the middle of the valley, be- 
tween the mountains. The Le- 
H9 



EBE 

rites formed a circle about the 
ark, and the elders were with 
the people at the foot of each 
mountain, six tribes on a side. 
Thus disposed, the priests faced 
towards mount Gerizim, and 
pronounced a blessing, as, Bless- 
ed be the man that maketh not 
any graven image. The six 
princes upon the mountain, and 
the six tribes at the foot of it, 
answered, Amen. Afterwards, 
the priests, turning towards 
mount Ebal, proclaimed, Curs 
ed be the man who maketh any 
graven image, To which the 
six princes, who were upon thv 
mountain, and the six tribes be 
low, answered, Amen. 

Scripture seems at first to in 
timate, that there were six en 
tire tribes on one mountain, and 
fix on the other ; but, besides, 
that the tribes were too nume- 
rous to stand upon these two 
mountains, it was not possible 
for them to see the ceremony, 
nor to hear the blessings and 
curses, in order to answer to 
them. The Hebrew particle 
aignifies, near, over-against, as 
well as at the top of it. Joshua 
viii. 33. See Geography of the 
Bible, published by the Ameri- 
can S. S. Union, p. 83. 

EBED-MELECH,seruan« of 
d king. He seems to have been 
a man of humane disposition; 
for when Jeremiah was shut up 
in a filthy dungeon, he interpos- 
ed in his behalf, and so effec- 
tually represented his case to 
the king, that he was ordered to 
take 30 men and draw him up 
by means of ropes, which were 
prevented from injuring the pro- 
phet, by old rags placed under 
the arms. As a reward for this 
act of kindness, Jeremiah was 
commanded to promise to him, 
that when the Chaldeans should 
take the city he should be safe, 
Jer. xxxviii. xxxix. 

EBENEZER, the stone of 
help ; the name of a field, where 
th© Philistines defeated the He- 



EDE 

brews, and seized on the sacred 
ark ; and where, afterwards, at 
Samuel's request, the Lord dis- 
comfited the Philistines with 
thunder and hail, and gave the 
Hebrews a noted deliverance, 1 
Sam. iv. 1. 

EBER. See Heber. 

ECCLESIASTES, an inspir- 
ed book, written by Solomon in 
his old age, when he repented of 
his idolatry. 

EDEN, pleasure; (1.) A 
country on the banks of the Eu- 
phrates, a little northward of 
where it runs into the Persian 
gulf, and near Haran and Go- 
zan, 2 Kings xix. 12, 13. Here 
is still the richest soil in the 
Turkish empire, and one of the 
most pleasant places in nature, 
were it properly cultivated. 
Here probably the earthly para- 
dise stood, on the spot where 
the Euphrates and Hiddekel or 
Tigris are joined into one river; 
and which a little below is part- 
ed into two streams, the Pison, 
which compasseth, or rather 
runs along the east of Havilah, 
a country on the north-east of 
Arabia Felix; and Gihon, which 
runs along the west of Cushy 
Ethiopia, or Chuzestan in Per- 
sia. Here the Assyrians extend- 
ed their conquests. The chil- 
dren of Eden, which were in 
Thalassar, may signify the in- 
habitants of Eden which were 
in the province of Elassar; or 
who had posted themselves in 
a strong tower, to defend them- 
selves from the Assyrian ra- 
vages. The people of Eden trad- 
ed with Tyre, Gen. ii. 8— 15. Isa. 
xxxvii. 12. Ezek. xxviii.13. (2.) 
That fruitful spot in Syria, be- 
tween Libanus and Antilibanus :■ 
and was called Ccelo-Syria, or 
Hollow-Syria. The houses of 
Eden might be pleasure-palaces 
of the Syrian kings, Amos i. 5^ 
Because Eden was so pleasant 
and fertile, any country pleasant 
and fruitful is likened to it, o» 
called by its name, Iaa. Ii. 3. 
180 



EDO 

Ezek. xxviii. 13. xxxi. 9. 1G. 18. 
Joel ii. 3. 

The opinion here given of the 
situation of Eden, is maintained 
by the learned Bochart, and by 
Dr. Wells, and is the one most 
generally received ; but another 
opinion, which would place the 
earthly paradise at the source, 
instead of the mouth of the Eu- 
phrates, has been defended with 
great plausibility by Faber, 
Rosenmuller, and others. 

Many other regions of the 
earth have been fixed upon for 
the original residence of man ; 
but the sacred history undoubt- 
edly limits its situation to a 
country watered by the Euphra- 
tes and the Tigris. 

EDGE; (1.) Outside; border, 
Exod. xiii. 20. xxvi. 10. (2.) 
Sharp side or point of a sword, 
or other cutting instrument, Gen. 
xxxiv. 26. 

EDIFY, to build up one in the 
saving knowledge and love of 
Christ, and cause him make pro- 
gress in the practice of holiness, 
1 Cor. viii. 1. 

EDOM, Esau, the elder son 
of Isaac. He was called Esau, 
because he was as hairy as a 
grown man at his birth; and 
Edom, perhaps, because his hair 
and complexion were red; and 
chiefly because he sold his birth- 
right for a meal of red pottage. 
He was born A. M. 2173. When 
he grew up, he applied himself 
chiefly to hunting. His supply- 
ing of his father so often with 
venison, made him conceive a 
peculiar affection for him ; while 
Jacob being of a more gentle 
disposition, and staying much at 
Lome in the tent, was the darling 
of Rebekah their mother. One 
day when Jacob had prepared 
for himself a little pottage of red 
lentiles, Esau returned from his 
hunting ; at the point of death 
with hunger. He begged that 
Jacob would give hirn a little of 
his pottage. Jacob refused, un- 
less Esau would immediately re- 



EDO 

nounce his birth-right in favouf 
of him. Esau contemning the 
privileges annexed to the birth- 
right, renounced it, did eat his 
pottage, and went his way un- 
concerned, Gen. xxv. 24 — 34. 

Edom, or Idumea; the cour> 
try of the Edomites. It lay on 
the south and south-east of the 
inheritance of Judah, and ex- 
tended sometimes to the Eianitic 
gulf of the Red Sea. It was very 
mountainous, including mount 
Sen* and Hor. Its principal citie3 
were Selah, Bozrah, Elath, and 
Eziongeber ; and included the 
provinces of Uz, Dedan, Teman, 
&.C. When the Edomites seized 
on the south parts of Canaan, 
that was called Idumea, Mark 
iii. 8. Anciently Idumea was 
well moistened with the dew of 
heaven, and was a land of corn 
and wine. Now, and for many 
ages past, it has been a frightful 
desert, so parched with drought, 
that scarce either flocks can 
feed, or the hardiest vegetables 
grow ; and so stocked with dra- 
gons and vipers, that a passenger 
i3 every moment in danger of 
being bitten by them. Gen. xxvii 
39. Mai. i. 3, 4. 

Edomites ; during the Baby- 
lonish captivity, the Edomites 
seized on the southern part of 
Judea, and afterwards retained 
possession of it under the name 
of Idumea. But in the time of 
John Hyrcanus, they were sub> 
dued, 129, B. C. and were re» 
duced to the alternative, eitherr 
of embracing the Jewish relic 
gion, or quitting the country. 
They chose the former ; and bet- 
ing incorporated into the Jewish 
church and nation, were hence- 
forth considered as one people 
with the Jews ; and by the close 
of the first century of the Chris* 
tian era, the name of Idumeaia 
had become extinct. 

The prophecies relating to 

Edom are numerous, and the 

fulfilment of some of them very 

remarkable. This country was 

16 181 



EGY 

a kingdom long before Israel, 
and was rich in its soil, and al- 
most impregnable in situation ; 
and was inhabited by a warlike 
and commercial people; yet it 
was foretold that it should be- 
come utterly desolate. "I will 
cut off from mount Seir," says 
the Almighty, " him that passes 
Gut and him that returneth." 
Isa. xxxiv. 10. Ezek. xxxv. 7. 
The truth of which, is remarka- 
bly verified at this day ; for every 
traveller who has made the at- 
tempt to pass through this once 
populous country, has met with 
the utmost difficulty and danger. 
Formerly, it was traversed by 
caravans of camels laden with 
costly merchandize ; now it is 
guarded by bands of robbers, who 
refuse a passage through it. 

EDREI; (l.)Tbe capital of 
the kingdom of Bashan, near to 
which Og was defeated. It was 
given to the half- tribe of Manas- 
seh. and for some ages after 
Christ, was the seat of a bishop, 
Num. xxi. 33 — 35. Josh. xiii. 31. 
(2.) A city in the tribe of Naph- 
tali, Josh. xix. 37. 

To EFFECT, is to .finish ; ac- 
complish. An effect is, (1.) The 
accomplishment; product, Mark 
vii. 13. (-2.) Purpose; end, 2 Car. 
xxxiv. 22. Quietness and assur- 
ance are the effect of righteous- 
ness, are purchased by the righ- 
teousness of Christ, and to be 
enjoyed in the way of exercising 
holiness of life, Isa. xxxii. 17. 

EGLON. See Ehud. 

EGYPT, a country on the 
north-east of Africa, and south- 
west of Canaan. It is situate be- 
tween the 24th and 33d degree 
of north latitude, and between 
the 29th and 34th of east longi- 
tude from London. Its greatest 
length from north to south is 000 
miles, and its greatest breadth 
from east to west, 300. It is 
bounded by the Mediterranean 
Sea on the north; by the deserts 
of Lybia on the west ; by Abys- 
ainia on the south; and by Lhe 



EGY 

Red Sea on the east. It was 
anciently called Chemia, or the 
land of Ham ; and the present 
Copts call it Chemi, perhaps be- 
cause Ham resided here. The 
Hebrews called it Mizraim; and 
the Arabs to this day call it 
Mesr, from Misraim the son of 
Ham, who peopled it. Its pre- 
sent name Egypt was given it by 
the Greeks, and signifies either 
the land of the Copts, a name 
which the ancient inhabitants 
gave to themselves; or the laud 
of blackness, because the soil 
and water are of a blackish 
colour. The river Nile runs 
through it northward, and yearly 
waters it, so that rain is scarce 
requisite; and indeed seldom 
happens in Upper Egypt. Egypt 
was anciently extremely fertile ; 
but as the Nile has sunk its 
channel lower, or rather by year- 
ly additions raised the surface 
of the earth a great deal higher, 
and now overflows to a less 
height, and brings worse mud 
along with it, and as the enslav- 
ed inhabitants are disheartened 
from their ancient care and in- 
dustry, it is now but moderately 
fertile, and in time may become 
barren enough. Egypt was once 
very populous, and contained 
about 20,000 cities, the chief of 
which were, Syene, No, Mem- 
phis, Zoan, Sin, On, Phibeseth, 
Pitbom, Rameses, Migdol, Ta- 
phanes, Pathros, &c. The coun- 
try was divided into three large 
provinces ; Upper Egypt or The- 
bais, which, according to most 
authors, is Pathros, whose capi- 
tal Avas No; Middle Egypt, 
whose capital was Noph, Moph, 
or Memphis ; Lower Egypt, 
whose ancient capital seems to 
have been Zoan ; this included 
all between the branches of the 
Nile, now called Delta, as well 
as the land of Goshen on the 
east, and the territory of Ma- 
reotis on the west ; and by means 
of the mud of the Nile, has 
gained considerable additions 
182 



EGY 

from the sea. Moreover, Egypt 
was divided into about 36 nomes, 
or counties, which were gene- 
rally named after the chief city 
in each. 

The Egyptians were a people 
exceedingly given to divination 
and idolatry. Their chief idols 
were Osiris and Isis, or the 
sun and moon, Jupiter Amnion, 
Serapis, Anubis, Harpocrates, 
Ovus, and Canopus, &c. The 
bull, in the worship of which 
so much of their religion con- 
sisted, was the representative 
of Osiris. They also worship- 
ped sheep, goats, cats, and 
even leeks and onions. Many 
of their civil regulations, how- 
ever, were very reasonable — 
and they were reckoned by the 
more ancient Greeks, as the 
most noted for philosophy. They 
were no less famous for building 



EGY 

pass over without mention. Ac- 
cording to Manetho, the gods 
reigned in Egypt 20,000 years, 
and thirty dynasties of men 5300 
years before the time of Alexan- 
der the Great: but some other 
ancient historians make the 
whole to amount to 36,525 years. 
This computation is most ab- 
surd, invented by pride of an- 
tiquity, or affectation of the 
marvellous. The reign of the 
gods and demigods, I take to be 
the 1656 years before the flood. 
The thirty dynasties ought not 
to be taken as successive, but aj 
reigning jointly, two or three at 
a time, in the different provinces 
of Egypt, which may bring down 
the whole reckoning to about 
2000 years. 

Mizraim, or Menes, the son of 
Ham, peopled Egypt after the 
flood; and he was the first king 



The three pyramids, of about, of it, and was succeeded by a 
3000 years' standing, are to the ; vast number of Pharaohs, some 
south-west of Grand Cairo. The say to the number of 60. One 
largest is 499 feet high, and 693 j of them, A. M. 2031, took Abra- 
at the bottom on each side, | ham's wife into his palace, in- 
which makes the whole area of tending to make her his bride; 
its foundation to be 430,249 but plagues, that marked the 
square feet, or some more than ; cause, obliged him to restore her. 
11 acres of English measure :; Two hundred years after, there 
this building is gradually carried happened seven succeeding crops 
up to a point. What use these surprisingly plentiful, which were 
pyramids served for, whether as followed by seven years of fa- 
repositaries for their dead mon- mine, in which the Egyptians 
archs, we know r not. It is said had mostly perished, had they 
360,000 or more persons were [not been saved by the wipe 
employed in building the largest. \ management of Joseph. About 
The Labyrinth was a kind of a i this time the Hebrews came 
structure with one door, and; down into Egvpt. After 



which qontained 12 palaces, and 
3000 chambers, half of them un- 
der ground. Here, it seems, was 
an assemblage .*f all their idols; 
and here the magistrates of the 
whole nation .held their grand 
conventions. At Alexandria, 
there still stands Pompey's pil- 
lar, erected by Julius Caesar, to 
commemorate his victory over 
Pompey. It is of granite marble, 
and is 70 feet high, and 25 in 
circumference. A variety of 
other magnificent ruins we shall 



had been there above a hundred 
years, the Egyptian king too* 
every method to oppress them, 
and cut off their males. In A 
M. 2513, God required the Egyp- 
tian king to allow the Hebrews 
to depart from his land. He re- 
fusing, tenfold plagues, of turn- 
ing the waters into blood; of 
frogs; of flies; of lice; of mur- 
rain of cattle ; of fiery boils on 
man and beast; of thunder and 
hail; of locusts: of darkness; 
and of the death of the first- 
133 



EGY 

born, obliged him to it at last. 
They had scarce retired, when 
he pursued them; and with his 
whole army was drowned in the 
Red Sea. About A. M. 2989, 
Solomon espoused an Egyptian 
princess, and Pharaoh, her fa- 
ther, having taken Gezer from 
the Canaanites, gave it for her 
dowry. Shishak, who might be 
her brother or nephew, was a 
mighty conqueror. After he had 
united Egypt into one kingdom, 
and extended his empire to al- 
most the straits of Gibraltar, he 
marched a huge army into Asia, 
and conquered the western part 
of it. In his absence, his bro- 
ther Danaus rebelled ; and after 
his death the empire fell to pieces, 
and even Egypt itself fell under 
the yoke of the Ethiopians. Af- 
ter some ages, they recovered 
their liberty; but it seems the 
kingdom was divided into three. 
Sabbaco or So, the Ethiopian, 
reduced them all, and seized on 
the whole country. After him 
reigned Sethon, the priest of 
Vulcan, perhaps no more than 
the viceroy of Tirhakah. After 
his death, Egypt being terribly 
ravaged by the Assyrians, had 
twelve lords set over the whole. 
After about 15 years of civil 
war, Psammitichus subdued the 
other eleven, and seized on the 
whole kingdom. In his time the 
Greeks first settled in Egvpt; 
and 200,000 of his soldiers, af- 
fronted in a point of honour, re- 
tired to Ethiopia. Under him, 
and his son Pharaoh-Xecho, the 
Egyptians thought to have erect- 
ed their grandeur on the ruins 
of Assyria. The taking of Ash- 
dod cost the father 29 years' 
siege; and the son, after reducing 
the kingdom of Judah, received 
a terrible defeat near the Eu- 
phrates. 

About 30 years after^ A. M. 
3430, Egypt was in a miserable 
condition, by means of 'the civil 
wars between Pharaoh-Hophrah 
tod Amasis the rebel, who gain- 



EGY 

ed the throne, and by the ra 
vages of the Chaldeans. About 
40 years the country was almost 
a wilderness, and Amasis was 
tributary to the Chaldeans. To- 
wards the fall of the Chaldean 
empire, the Egyptians recovered 
their liberty; but were quickly 
subdued by Cyrus, and their 
country terribly ravaged by Cam- 
byses his son, and some thou- 
sands of their idols transported 
to Persia. This so enraged them, 
that they again and again re- 
volted from the Persian yoke, 
but were still reduced to more 
grievous servitude ; and their 
own civil broils tended much to 
accelerate their ruin. About 
A. M. 3G72, they submitted to 
Alexander the Great: from 
thence they were governed by a 
race of Greek kings, mostly of 
the name of Ptolemy, for about 
320 years. About A. M. 3995 
the Romans reduced Egypt into 
the form of a province, and it 
continued under their yoke till 
A. D. 640. Under the Greeks, 
a prodigious number of Jews 
settled in Egypt, and the Old 
Testament was commonly read. 
Under the Romans, the Egyr> 
tians had the gospel very early 
planted among them, and the 
church considerably flourished. 
Since the Arabs seized the coun- 
try, in A. D. G40, and destroyed 
every monument of learning, the 
Mahometan delusion hath been 
established, and Christianity to- 
lerated; but it hath been in a 
r ery low and wretched condi* 
tion. About A. D. 970, the Fa- 
themite Calif of Cyrene wrested 
Egypt from the Calif of Bagdad, 
and he and his posterity govern- 
ed it about 200 years. About 
A. D. 1171, Saladine the Curd 
craftily seized it, and his posterr- 
tv, called Jobites, reigned til] 
1250. Between that and 1527, 
it was governed by kings which 
the Mameluke slaves chose out 
of their body, 24 of which were 
Turks, and 28 Circassians. Since 
184 



EGY 

which it has been subject to the 
servitude of the Ottoman Turks. 
Thus the sceptre of Egypt hath 
departed : it hath for thousands 
of years been without a prince 
of its own, and hath been the 
basest of kingdoms, long go- 
verned even by slaves, and the 
people most stupid. 1 Kin^s lii. 
1. ix. 16. xi. xiv. 21—26. 2 Kings 
xvii. 4. xxiii. xxiv. Isa. xix. xx. 
xxx. xxxi. Jer. xxv. 18, 19. 
xxxvii. 9. xliii. 8, 13. Ezek. 
xxix — xxxii. Dan. xi. Joel iii. 
19. Zech. x. 11. Isa. xix. 18— 
25. Psalm lxviii. 31. Egypt was 
invaded by the French under 
Buonaparte in 1798, apparently 
with a design to penetrate by 
that route to India ; but, after 
keeping possession of it for some 
time, were dispossessed by the 
British forces under Generals 
Abercromby and Hutchinson. 

Ancient Egypt was celebrated 
for its learning, and for a know- 
ledge of the arts; of which many 
vestiges remain until this day. 
The temples, the ruins of which 
are still visible, fill the mind 
with astonishment on account 
of the labour which they must 
have cost. The hieroglyphicks 
which abound on all their pub- 
lic edifices and other remains of 
antiquity, have afforded for ages 
employment for the ingenuity of 
the learned; but, until lately, no 
key to this enigmatical species 
of writing was discovered: but 
now, there is a fair prospect that 
these arcana of ancient times 
will be revealed by the labours 
of M. Champollion, who confi- 
dently expects to cast new light 
on every period of Egyptian his- 
tory. And it is satisfactory to 
learn, that as far as the research- 
es of this extraordinary man 
have proceeded, every discovery 
is corroborative of the history of 
that nation, so far as it is con- 
tained in the Bible. 

River of Egypt. This title 
belongs pre-eminently to the 
Kile : but by it in Scriptures we 
h2 16 ; 



ELD 

are most commonly to under- 
stand a small river in the wi>- 
derness, on the borders of Egypt ; 
which in Amos vi. 14. is called* 
"the river of the wilderness." 
It is thought to be the same 
which is otherwise called Sihor, 
Num. xxxiv. 5. Josh. xv. 4* 
Judg. iii. 14. 

EHUD, the son of Gera, a 
Benjamite : he was left-handed, 
or rather lame of his right-hand, 
Judges iii. 15 — 30. 

EKRON, one of the capital 
cities of the Philistines. It stood 
about 34 miles west from Jeru- 
salem, about ten miles south- 
west, or, according to some-, 
north-west from Gath, and 14 
north of Ashdod, Josh. xv. 45. 

EL AH ; (1.) the son of Baa- 
sha, and king of Israel. After he 
had reigned about two months, 
he and his family were murder- 
ed by Zimri his servant, 1 Kings 
xvi. 8—14. (2.) A valley in the 
south-west of Canaan, where 
Goliath was slain, 1 Sam. xvii. 9. 

ELAM, the eldest son of 
Shem, who gave name to, and 
whose posterity peopled Elam 
or Elymais in Persia; and the 
Elamites are the same as the 
Persians. Elam is also the name 
of two persons or places in Ju* 
dea, to which 2508 of the Jewish 
captives, who returned from Ba- 
bylon, did pertain, Ezra ii. 7. 31. 
" ELATH, or Elotk, a city on 
the north point of the eastern 
gulph of the Red Sea. David 
took it from the Edomites ; and 
he and his son established a con- 
siderable sea-trade in it. About 
150 years aftej, the Edomites 
recovered their kingdom, and 
Elath along with it, 2 Kings 
xiv. 22. 

ELDAD and MED AD, being 
divinely destined for two of the 
"D assistants of Moses, declined 
the office, and remained in the 
camp ; though not present in the 
general assembly, they were in- 
spired by the Holy Spirit and 
prophesied in the camp. Joshua 
185 



ELE 

would have had Moses forbid 
them, but Moses replied, En- 
viest thou for my sake 1 Would 
to God that all the people pro 
phesied, and God would pour 
forth his spirit upon them. 
Num. xi. 28, 29. 

ELDER, primarily signifies 
one more advanced in age, Job 
xv. 10. ; but as such were com- 
monly chosen to bear rule, the 
word ordinarily signifies a su- 
bordinate ruler in church or 
state. Even in Egypt, the He- 
brews had elders, whom they 
owned as chief men, that bare 
rule over them. To these Moses 
intimated his commission from 
God, to bring the nation out of 
Egypt, Exod. iii. 16. iv. 29. 

When God gave the law to 
Moses, he said, Take Jiaron, 
jSfadab, and Abihn, his sons, 
and the seventy elders of Israel, 
and worship ye afar off. Exod. 
xxiv. 1,9, 10. 

ELEALEH, a city which 
Moses gave to the Reubenires. 
It lay about a mile from Hesh- 
bon, and along with it, was 
seized on by the Moabites ; and 
while in their possession, was 
terribly ravaged by the Assyrians 
and Chaldeans, Num. xxxii. 37. 
Isa. xv. 4. Jer. xlviii. 34. 

ELEAZAR; (1.) The third 
son of Aaron. Long after the 
death of his two elder brothers, 
he succeeded Aaron his father 
in. the high-priesthood. After 
assisting Joshua to divide the 
land of Canaan, and executing 
the office of high-priest about 23 
years at Shiloh, he died, and 
was buried in a hill that be r 
longed to Phinehas, his son and 
successor. Except the short 
while of about 120 years or up- 
wards, of the dignity of Eli's 
family, the high-priesthood con- 
tinued in the family of Eleazar 
till after the death of Christ ; and 
m David's time, sixteen courses 
of priests were formed out of it, 
when but eight were formed of 
ths family of Ithamar, Num. xx. i 



ELH 

26.28.xxxiv. 17. Josh. xxiv. 33. 
1 Chron. xxiv. 

(2.) Eleazar, the son of Dodo, 
the Ahohite, and the second of 
David's mighty men. When at 
Ephesdammim, he was deserted 
by his fellows, he stood his 
ground, and continued slaying 
the Philistines, till his hand 
clave to his sword: and he 
made such havock of the ene- 
my, that the Hebrews returned 
towards them, but had nothing 
to do but to spoil. Along with 
Shamman, the son of Agee the 
Hararite, he defended a field full 
of lentiles so well, that the Philis- 
tines fled before them, 2 Sam. 
xxiii. 9. 12. 1 Chron. xi. 12. 14. 

EL-BETHEL, and El-elohe- 
Isracl, the name of two altara 
built by Jacob, after his return 
to Canaan. The first signified, 
that God was still the God of 
Bethel to him, in performing 
the promises there made: and 
the second, that the mighty God 
was the object of worship to 
him and his offspring, Gen.xxxv. 
2. and xxxiii. 20. 

ELECTION. See Choose, 

ELEMENTS, the principal 
kinds of matter, whereof com- 
pound bodies are formed. The 
earth, in its various kinds of 
original matter, shall be melted 
with fervent heat at Christ's 
coming to judgment, 2 Pet. iii. 
10. Elements also signify the 
alphabet of letters, and syllables 
formed of them ; and thence it 
is transferred, to signify the ru- 
diments, first rules, or first prin- 
ciples of a science, Col. ii. 8. 20. 
Heb. v. 12. The rudiments of 
this world, which are not to bo 
used in the gospel-church, are 
ceremonial laws and human 
customs, which are not proper 
for such as enjoy the clear in- 
structions of the gospel. 

ELHANAN; (1.) The eon 
of Dodo, a Bethlemite, one of 
David's mighty men, 1 Chron. 
xi. 26. (2.) The son of Jair. 
186 



ELI 

or Jaareoregim, who, at Gob, 
slew Lahmi, the brother of Go- 
liath, I Chron. xx. 5. 2 Sam, 
xxi. 19. 

ELI, a Jewish high-priest de- 
scended from Ithamar, who 
judged Israel after the death of 
Abdon. How Eli came to pos- 
sess the high-priesthood, and by 
what means that dignity was 
transferred from Eleazer's fami- 
ly to that of Ithamar, we are 
not informed. Some believe it 
was by reason of the negligence, 
the minority, or want of proper 
qualifications, of Eleazer's fa- 
mily. It was an express declam- 
ation of God, sent to reproach 
him with the ill conduct of his 
sons. 1 Sam. ii. 27, 28. 

ELI, Eli, (or Eloi, Eloi,) 
lama sabachthani, an Hebrew- 
Syriac exclamation of Christ on 
the cross. It is taken from the 
beginning of Psal. xxii. and sig- 
nifies, My God, my God, whi 
hast thou forsaken me ? Per- 
haps our Saviour repeated much 
more of the psalm, though it is 
not marked by the evangelists, 
Matth. xxvii. 46. Mark xv. 34. 

ELIAKEM, the son of Hil- 
kiah. He succeeded Shebna as 
chief treasurer, and master of 
the household, to king Heze- 
kiah, 2 Kings xviii. 26. 

ELIASHIB, the grandson of 
Joshua the high-priest. He re 
built part of the wall of Jerusa- 
lem. He was allied to Tobiah, 
the Ammonite, perhaps by the 
marriage of his daughter, Neh. 
iii. 1. 

ELIEZER. His father was 
probably a Syrian of Damascus, 
but himself was born in Abra- 
ham's family, and,it seems, was 
once designed for his heir, Gen. 
xv. 2. When Abraham intend- 
ed to have a wife to his son 
Isaac, he took Eliezer bound by 
a solemn oath, that he should 
bring him none of the Canaan- 
ites, but one of his relations in 
Mesopotamia ; and warned him 
against doing any thing tendingj 



ELI 

to make Isaac return to Meso- 
potamia. 

Eliezer, the son of Dodavah, 
was the prophet who foretold 
Jehoshaphat, that the trade-fleet 
which he had built, in conjunc- 
tion with the impious Ahaziah, 
should be broken with a tem- 
pest, and disabled from sailing 
to Tarshish, 2 Chron. xx. 37. 

EL1HU; (1.) The son of Ba- 
rachel theBuzite, or descendant 
of Nahor, the brother of Abra- 
ham, by Buz his second son. 
When Job was in his distress, 
Elihu paid him a visit. He at- 
tended to the conference be- 
twixt him and his three friends, 
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, 
and was highly offended at both. 
With the friends he was offend- 
ed for their strong insinuations, 
that Job was a wicked hypo- 
crite, when they had so little to 
say for supporting their charge. 
With Job he was displeased, 
for throwing out in his defences 
a variety of indecent expressions 
savouring of self-justification, 
and of arraignment of the provi- 
dence of God, as if rigorous and 
unjust, Job xxxii. 

(2.) The great-grandfather of 
Samuel, and the elder brother 
of David, whom Samuel took 
for the divinely intended king of 
Israel, and who reproved David 
for talking of encountering Go- 
liath, and was afterward ruler 
of Judah, are called Elihu, and 
Eliab, and the first also Eliely 
1 Sam. i. 1. xvi. 6. xvii. 28. 1 
Chron. vi. 27. 34. xxvii. 18. 

ELIJAH, Elias the Tisfcbite, 
a native of Gilead, and noted 
prophet, was a man who had 
mighty power with God by 
prayer ; for he prayed that it 
might not rain, and it rained not 
on the earth for the space of 3 
years and 6 months. And he 
prayed again, and the heavens 
gave rain, and the earth brought 
forth fruit, James v. 17, 18. 

The drought began. Direct- 
ed of God, Elijah concealed 
187 



ELI 

himself by the brook Cherith, 
near the east or west bank of 
Jordan. There he drank of the 
brook, and was miraculously 
fed with bread and flesh, which 
ravens brought him every morn- 
ing and evening, and which, no 
doubt, they fetched from some 
person's table. When this 
brook dried up, he went, at the 
direction of God, and dwelt 
with a heathen widow of Zare- 
phath. As he entered the city, 
he met this poor widow gather- 
ing a few sticks, to dress a hand- 
ful of meal, and a little oil, for 
her and her son, as their last 
•entertainment ; she neither hav- 
ing, nor knowing where to get 
any more food. Elijah desired 
lier to bring him a drink of wa- 
ter. As she went to bring it, he 
called after her, and bade her 
bring him a little bread also. 
She told him the wretched case 
of herself and her son. Elijah 
hade her first make a small 
cake for him, and then dress for 
herself and child; for her hand- 
ful of meal, and small quantity 
of oil, should never waste, till 
plenty should return to the 
country. The Zidonian widow- 
believed the prophet, obeyed hii 
orders, and received him into 
her house. After he had staid 
with her about two years, her 
only son died. Oppressed with 
grief, she complained, that Eli- 
jah had come to call her sin to 
remembrance, and to slay her 
«on. He took the child, laid 
him upon his own bed, stretch- 
ed himself upon him, and earnest- 
ly begged the Lord to re- 
store him to life. His request 
wasreadilygranted, 1 Kings xvii. 
When Elijah met Ahab, after 
the drought of 3 years, he re- 
quested him to collect all the 
priests of Baal at mount Car- 
mel, and all the people of Israel, 
that there might be a public 
trial whether Jehovah or Baal 
was the true God. There the 
prophets of Baal built an altar, 



ELI 

and cried to their God until the 
afternoon, but no answer was 
given; but when Elijah prepar- 
ed his altar and sacrifice, and 
prayed unto Jehovah, he im- 
mediately answered by setting 
the wood on fire, on which the 
sacrifice was placed. Upon this 
miraculous interposition, the 
people were convinced that Je- 
hovah was the true God; and 
Elijah slew all the prophets of 
Baal, and all the prophets of 
Ashtaroth. 

The most remarkable thing 
relating to this prophet, was his 
translation to heaven in a cha- 
riot and horses of fire. This 
event occurred on the east side 
of Jordan, in the presence of 
Elisha his servant, who picked 
up the mantle of the prophet; 
and on whom, according to his 
own earnest request, there came 
a double portion of the prophetic 
spirit of his master.' 

When our Lord was transfi- 
gured on a mountain in Judea, 
Elijah, with Moses, appeared 
with him in glory, and conversed 
with him about his approaching 
decease, at Jerusalem. 

To Malachi, the Lord pro- 
mises to send Elijah again to his 
people ; but this must not be 
taken literally, and was fulfilled 
in John the Baptist, who came 
in the power and spirit of Eli- 
jah, Mai. iv. 5. Matth. xi. 14. 

ELIM, a place on the east 
side of the western gulf of the 
Red Sea, a little eastward of 
Tor, and north-west of Sinai. 

ELIPHAZ, the son of Esau 
by Adah. Not this, but rather 
his grandson by Teman, appears 
to have been the visitant of Job, 
Job xv. 10. 

ELISABETH, a descendant 
of Aaron, wife of Zacharias, 
and mother of John Baptist, 
Luke i. 

ELISHA, Eliseus; a native 
of Abel-meholah, son of Sha- 
phat, 2 Kings iii. 11 and 13. 

Elisha, called at first from his 



ELO 

agricultural pursuits to minister 
t£> the prophet Elijah, was, af- 
ter the translation of this fa- 
mous prophet, endued with a 
double portion of his spirit, and 
became very eminent for the 
wonderful Avorks which he was 
enabled to perform ; the most 
remarkable of which was his 
restoring to life the son of the 
Shunaniite lady, who had so 
often and so kindly entertained 
him in her house. After his 
death, the touch of his bones 
was made the means of restor- 
ing to life the dead body of a 
man who was cast into his se- 
pulchre. 

ELISHAH, the son of Javan. 
Probably his posterity peopled 
Eolia in Lesser Asia, and after- 
wards the region of Elis, and 
Alisium in Peloponnesus, now 
Morea in Greece, Gen. x. 4. 

ELIZAPHAN. Elzaphan, 
the son of Uzziel, and cousin of 
Moses. He was the chief direc- 
tor of the Kohathites in the wil- 
derness, Numb. iii. 30. 

ELKANAH. Sundry de- 
scendants of Korah, as well as 
others, were of this name ; but 
the most noted is the son of Je- 
horarn, the husband of Hannah 
and Peninnah, and the father 
of Samuel, 1 Chron. vi. 26, 27. 
84, 35, 36. 1 Sam. i. 

ELLASAR, the name of the 
city or kingdom of Arioch the 
confederate of Chedorlacmer, 
Gen. xiv. 1. 

ELM-TREE. The flower is 
of the form of a bell, consisting 
of one single leaf, with a great 
number of stamina ; the pistil 
rises from the bottom of it, and 
becomes a heart-shaped fruit, in 
whose centre is the seed. This 
tree is very useful. Its timber 
is good ; its bark, leaves, and 
juice, are medicinal, Hos. iv.13. 

ELNATHAN, the son of 
Achbor, and father of Nehushta, 
the wife of Jehoiakim, 2 Kings 
xxiv. 8. 

ELON; (1.) AsonofZebu- 



EMB 
lun, father of the Elonites, Nura . 
xxvi. 26. (2.) A judge of Israel 
descended of Zebulun ; he go- 
verned his nation ten years from 
about A. M. 2830 to 2840, and 
was buried at Aijalom, Judg 
xii. 11, 12. (3.) Elon, or Eiorv 
beth-hanan, a city of the Da- 
nites, Josh. xix. 43. 1 Kings iv.9 

ELUL, the sixth month of the 
Jewish sacred, and the twelfth 
of their civil year; it answers to 
part of our August and Septem- 
ber, and has 29 days. 

To EMBALM dead bodies, is 
to fill them with odoriferous and 
drying spices and drugs for the 
purpose of preserving them. The 
embalming of dead bodies ap- 
pears to have had its original, as 
well as it3 highest perfection, 
among the Egyptians ; but whe- 
ther their want of access to bury 
their dead during the overflow of 
the Xile, or a regard to civil 
honour, or a fancy that the 
freshness of the body tended to 
detain the soul in it, chiefly 
prompted them hereto, we know 
not. The manner of embalming 
was this: when a person died, 
the corpse wa3 carried to the 
coffin-maker, that he might pre- 
pare a fit coffin, with its upper 
side representing the body er>- 
closed ; and great men had their 
coffins painted or embellished 
according to their quality. The 
corpse was next carried to the 
embalmer, and the price of en> 
balming settled with him: the 
highest was about 300Z. the se- 
cond about 100Z. and the lowest 
but a mere trifle. The corpse 
being extended on a table or the 
ground, the designer marked the 
place to be cut, the dissecter 
opened it with a sharp Ethio- 
pian stone : through this incision 
they drew out all the inwards, 
save the kidneys and heart, and 
washed them with palm wine, 
and other binding drugs: they 
then fill the parts with myrrh, 
cassia, and other spices, frankin- 
cense excepted. The brain wai 
189 



EMB 
drawn out by the nose, with an 
iron hook, and the skull filled 
with astringent drugs. The 
whole body was then anointed 
with oil of cedar, and with 
myrrh and cinnamon, &c. for 
the space of thirty days. It was 
next put into salt about forty 
days, Gen. 1. 3. Afterward, it 
was wrapt in linen, sometimes, 
it is said, to the extent of 1080 
yards, dipped in oil of myrrh, and 
rubbed with a certain gum, and 
delivered to the relations, who 
put it into the coffin, and either 
kept it in their own house or in 
a tomb. By this embalming they 
could preserve dead bodies for 
some thousands of years, as the 
mummies, or embalmed bodies 
of their ancients, do to this day 
attest. 

The poor had oil of cedar in- 
fused, and the body wrapt in salt 
of nitre: the oil preyed on the 
intestines, and when the oil was 
extracted, they came along with 
it dried up. Some of the poorest 
did but cleanse the inside, by in- 
jecting a certain liquor, and then 
laid the body 70 days in nitre to 
dry it. Jacob and Joseph were no 
doubt embalmed in the manner 
of the Egyptians, as thev died 
in that country, Gen. 1. 2," 3. 26. 
The Jews embalmed their dead 
bodies ; but perhaps their man- 
ner was very different from that 
of the Egyptians. When our 
Saviour was crucified, the neces- 
sity of his hasty burial obliged 
them only to wrap his body in 
.inen, with a hundred pounds 
of myrrh, aloes, and like spices, 
bestowed by Nicodemus ; but 
Mary, and other holy women, 
had prepared ointment and spices 
for further embalming it, Matth. 
xxvii. 59. Luke xxiii. 56. John 
xix. 39, 40. The use of a large 
quantity of spices on such oc- 
casions was thought an honour 
to the deceased. 

EMBRACE; To embrace 
rocks, is gladly to betake one's 
self to them for shelter and resi- 



EMI 
dence, Job xxiv. 8. To embrace 
dunghills, is to be reduced to 
the deepest poverty and basest 
servitude, or to have one's dead 
body thrown to the dogs, Lara, 
iv. 5. Christ's embracing of hia 
people with his right hand, im- 
ports his kind and gracious sup- 
port and comforting of them, 
Song ii. 6. To embrace pro- 
mises, is to trust in them with 
delight and pleasure, Heb. xi. 13. 
To embrace wisdom, is to re- 
ceive Jesus and his truth into 
our heart, and to take pleasure 
to follow him, Pro v. iv. 8. 

EMERALD, a precious stone 
of a deep green, and next in 
hardness to the ruby. Eme- 
ralds are of different sizes, from 
the 16th part of an inch diameter, 
to the bigness of a walnut. Eme- 
ralds roundish as pebble stones, 
are the hardest and brightest, 
but seldom exceed the bigness 
of a pea : those of the pillar-like 
form are most frequent and large. 
The emeralds of the East Indies 
are the finest, and only genuine 
ones, second in lustre to the dia- 
mond, and are the most beautiful 
of all the gems. The American 
emeralds are of the hardness of 
the garnet, and the European 
are still softer. Emeralds lose 
their colour in the fire, and be- 
come undistinguishable from the 
white sapphire. The emerald 
was the fourth foundation in the 
new Jerusalem, and the first of 
the second row in the high- 
priest's breastplate, Rev. xxi. 19. 
Exod. xxviii. 18. The king of 
Tyre had his robes hung thick 
with them ; and his subjects 
traded in them with the Syrians, 
who probably had them from 
India, or the south of Persia, 
Ezek. xxviii. 13. xxvii. 16. But 
perhaps the nophech signifies ra- 
ther the ruby or carbuncle. The 
rainbow of the new covenant is 
like unto an emerald; is ever 
precious, beautiful, and refresh- 
ful to the saints, Rev. iv. 3. 

EMIMS, the ancient inhabit- 
190 



END 

ante of the land of Canaan, to- 
wards the east and north-east of 
the Dead Sea, Gen. xiv. 5. 

EMMANUEL, or EMMANU- 
EL, a name given to our Sa- 
viour, signifying, that he is God 
with us, in our nature, and on 
our side, Is. vii. 14. Matth. 
i.23. 

EMMAUS, a village about 
eight miles westward of Jerusa- 
lem. To this Cleophas and an- 
other disciple were going when 
Christ met them ; here he sup- 
ped with them, and made him- 
self known to them, Luke xxiv. 
13—3-2. 

EMMOR. See Shechem. 

EMPIRE, a large dominion, 
including various kingdoms and 
principalities. Such were the 
Assyrian, Chaldean, Persian, 
Grecian, Roman, Parthian, Ara- 
bian, Mexican, and Peruvian 
states: and such are the Ger- 
man, Russian, Turkish, Persian. 
Mogul, Chinese, Japanese,Moor- 
ish, and Ethiopian, at present; 
if we may not add, the French, 
Spanish, and British, Esth. i. 20. 

EMPTY. A city, land, or 
earth, is empty when without in- 
habitants, Nail. ii. 10. Isa. xxiv. 
3. Persons are empty, when they 
are poor, without wealth, Ruth 
i. 21.; without reward, Gen. 
xxxi. 42. ; without an offering, 
Exod. xxiii. 15. 1 Sam. vi. 3. ; 
and in fine, without any thing 
good, Luke i. 53. Ruth iii. 17. 

EMULATION, a striving to 
do more than others, in what is 
holv, just, and good, Rom. xi. 14. 

ENCAMP, to fix or lodge in 
a.eamr), Exod. xiv. 2. Psal. xxxiv. 
7. liii. 5. 

END ; (1.) The utmost bound 
or part of a thing, Jer. xii. 12. 
(2.) The last part of a period of 
time, Matth. xxviii. 1. (3.) The 
last part of what is designed in 
an action ; or the last tendency 
and use of it, Luke xxii. 37. 
2 Cor. ii. 9. Rom. vi. 21. The 
end thereof shall he with a flood, 
Xh.% final destruction of the Jew- 



ENE 

ish nation shall be brought about 
with terrible and overwhelming 
judgments, Dan. ix. 26. 

ENDOR, a city of the western 
half trihe of Manasseh, about 
four miles south-east of Mount 
Tabor. Here lived the witch 
whom Saul consulted, and who 
raised up Samuel to admonish 
him of his end, 1 Sam. xxviii. 12. 

ENDOW, to give a dowry, 
Exod. xxii. 16. To be endued 
with the Holy Ghost, is to have 
the possession of him, in his per- 
son and influences, particularly 
such as are miraculous, Luke 
xxiv. 49. 

ENDURE, to continue, to 
bear with. To endure, referred 
to God, denotes his constancy, 
perpetual continuance in being, 
life, and greatness, Psal. ix. 7. ; 
or his bearing with persons, in 
his long suffering patience, Rom. 
ix. 22. Referred to men, it sig- 
nifies, (1.) To bear up under the 
exercise of the duties of an office, 
Exod. xviii. 23. ; or under any 
thing that fatigues and presses 
one, Gen. xxxiii. 14. Job xxxi. 
23. (2.) To bear affliction, espe- 
cially for Christ, with a sensible, 
calm, and affectionate compla 
cency in the will of God, Heb 
xii. 7. 2 Tim. iii. 11. 

ENEAS, a man of Lydda, 
who was a cripple from his 
birth, but was healed by Peter, 
Acts ix. 34. 

ENEGLAIM. The word 
Hhen, or En, so often prefixed 
to the names of places, signifies 
a well, and it seems these places 
were so called, because of some 
noted well there. Perhaps Ene- 
glaim is the same as Eglaim, or 
Agallim ; which was on the east 
side of the Dead Sea, about eight 
miles north from Ar, and oppo- 
site to Engedi, Ezek. xlvii. 10. 

ENEMY. God becomes men's 
enemy, when he pursues them 
with hia wrathful judgments, 1 
Sam. xxviii. 16. Job supposed 
him an enemy, when he griev- 
ously afflicted him, Job xxxiii. 
191 



ENG 

10. Wicked men count faithful 

teachers their enemies, imagin- 
ing they act from hatred, in re- 
proving and opposing their wick- 
ad ways, 1 Kings xxi. 20. Gal. 
iv. 16. Satan is an enemy to God 
and his creatures ; he hates tliem, 
and seeks their dishonour and 
ruin, Matt. xiii. 25, 23. 

ENGEDI ; A city of the tribe 
of Judah, in a hiliy and strong 
country, about 30 miles south- 
east of Jerusalem, and not far 
from the Dead Sea. It was for- 
merly called Hazazon-tamar, 2 
Chron. xx. 2. At this place, Da- 
vid and his men were secreted 
in a cave, when Saul, who was 
Reeking his life, entered. The 
followers of David would have 
had him rid himself at once of 
so relentless an enemy, but the 
piety and generosity of David, 
would not permit him to smite 
the Lord's anointed, and there- 
fore he only cut off the skirt of 
Saul's garment; and even for 
this his heart smote him, 1 Sam. 
xxiv. The spot where this trans- 
action took place, was a cavern 
in the rock sufficiently large to 
contain in its recesses the whole 
of David's men, 600 in number, 
unperceived by Saul when he 
entered. Many similar caves 
existed in the Holy Land. Into 
such cave3 the Israelites often 
fled for shelter from their ene- 
mies. Judg. vi.2. 1 Sam. xxii. 
1. xiv. 11. See also an allusion 
to this, Isa. ii. 19. Hos. x. 8. Rev. 
vi. 15, 16. A cave is described 
by Mr. Maundrell, near Sidon, 
which contained 200 smaller 
caverns. See also Josephus, 
Ant. lib. xiv. c. 15. Dr. Clarke's 
Travels. Sol. Song ii. 14. 

ENGINES, warlike instru- 
ments for throwing stones, bat- 
tering down walls, &c. 2 Chron. 
cxvi. 15. Ezek. xxvi. 9. 

ENGRAVE, grave, to cut 
letters or figures in stone, 2 Cor. 
iii. 7. The engraving of the 
names of the twelve tribes in the 
atones of the high-priest's ehoul- 



ENQ, 

der and breastplate, imported 
Christ's perpetual remembrance, 
esteem, and support of his peo- 
ple, and the impossibility of their 
separation from him, ExocL 
xxviii. 11. xxxix. 14. 

ENHAKKORE, the well of 
him that cried, the name of the 
well which was miraculously 
opened, to allay the excessive 
thirst which Samson had con- 
tracted, in slaying a thousand of 
the Philistines with the jaw-bone 
of an ass. Judg. xv. 19. 

ENLARGE, to render more 
wide and extensive. Enlarging 
of borders or coasts, imports^ 
conquest of more territory to 
dwell in, Deut. xii. 20. xix. a 
To enlarge nations, is to grant 
them deliverance, liberty, hap- 
piness, and increase of number?, 
territory, or wealth, Esth. iv. 14. 
Job xii." 23. Deut. xxxiii. 20. En- 
largement of heart, imports, 
loosing of spiritual bands,, ful- 
ness of inward joy, Ps. cxix. 32; 
or extensive love, care, and joy, 
2 Cor. vi. 11. 

ENMITY, very bitter, deep- 
rooted, irreconcilable hatred and 
variance. Friendship with this 
world, in its wicked members 
and lusts, is enmity icith God; 
is opposite to the love of him, 
and amounts to a fixed exertion 
of ourselves to dishonour and 
abuse him, James iv. 4. Uohn 
ii. 15, 16. 

ENOCH; (1.) A son of Cain, 
after whose name his father 
called the city which he built, 
in the land of Nod, eastward of 
Eden, where we fiud the city 
Anuchtha, and vyjhere Pliny and 
Ptolemy place the Henochii. (2.) 
Enoch, the son of Jared, and the 
father of Methuselah. Jude xiv. 
ENON, a place where John 
baptized, because there were 
many springs or rivulets of 
water there. John iii. 23. 

EiVOSH, the son of Seth, and 
father of Cainan, was born j2. 
M. 235. 
ENQUIRE, to search, aak, 
192 



ENT 

Psal. xxvii. 4. Acts ix. 11. Gen 
xxiv. 57. God's enquiry after 
men's iniquity, imports Ins bring- 
ing it to light, and punishing for 
it, Job x. 6. Men's enquiring of 
God, imports, their asking his 
mind by his priests or prophets, 
or immediately from himself, 
what they should do, or that he 
would grant what they need, 1 
Kings xxii.5. Gen.xxv. 22. Ezek. 
xxxvi. 37. To enquire after 
God, is to seek him, Psal. lxxviii. 
34. 

ENROGEL; the fuller's foun- 
tain. It seems to have been 
either the Dragon-well, or the 
King's-well ; or rather the foun- 
tain of Shiloah, a little to the 
south-west of the city of David, 
and without the fountain-gate. 

ENSIGN. See Banner. 

ENSUE, to follow after with 
great earnestness, 1 Pet. hi. 11 

ENTER. God enters into 
judgment with men, when in 
wrath he calls them to account 
and sentences them to bear the 
due punishment of their sins, 
Psal. cxliii 2. Our cries enter 
into his ears when he graciously 
accepts our suits, and grants 
what we request, or regards 
what we cry about, 2 Sam. xxii. 
7. Jam. v. 4. To enter into cove- 
nant, is to come under the so- 
lemn obligations thereof; to 
make it by binding ourselves, 
Deut. xxix. 12. To enter at the 
strait gate, and into the king- 
dom of God, is, by receiving 
Jesus Christ as our Saviour, 
door, and way to happiness, to 
become members of God's spi- 
ritual family and kingdom, in 
heaven and earth, Matt. vii. 13. 
John hi. 5. 

ENTICE, cunningly to per- 
suade and move one to what is 
sinful or hazardous. Satan en- 
ticed Ahab to go up and fall at 
Ramoth-Gilead, by making the 
false prophets promise him vic- 
tory, 2 Chron. xviii. 20. False 
teachers, pretended friends, and 
wicked companions, entice; by 
I 1 



EPH 

their fair speeches, and guileful 
example, they persuade us to 
embrace error, commit sin, or 
rush on snares, Col. ii. 4. 

ENVY, is an affection of the 
heart, whereby w r e fret and 
grudge at the grace, honour, or 
prosperity of our neighbour. 
Joseph's brethren envied him, 
because his father loved him, 
Gen. xxxvii. 11. The Jews en- 
vied Paul and Barnabas, be- 
cause they preached the gospel 
of Christ, Acts xiii. 45. Some 
preached Christ out of envy and 
strife, from discontent at the 
high honours of the Apostle 
Paul, and in order to vex his 
spirit, and diminish his reputa 
tion, Phil. i. 15. 

EPAPHRAS, a native of Co • 
losse, and a faithful and labori- 
ous preacher among the inhabit- 
ants thereof, and by whose means 
many of them were converted 
to Christ. When Paul was at 
Rome, Epaphras went from 
Phrygia to see him, and was 
some time his fellow-prisoner. 

EPAPHRODITUS, a noted 
preacher of the Christian faith 
at Philippi. He was sent by the 
believers there, with a supply of 
money to Paul, when a prisoner 
at Rome, and otherwise to assist 
him to the utmost of Ins power. 

EPH AH ; (1.) The eldest son 
of Midian: he gave his name to 
a city or country on the south- 
east of the Dead Sea, where 
Ptolemy mentions a city called 
Ippos ; this place abounded with 
camels and dromedaries, Gea. 
xxv. 4. Isa. Ix. 6. (2.) A measure 
of capacity among the Jews. 
In dry measure, it was the same 
with the bath in liquid measure, 
Ezek. xlv. 11. and was equal to 
three seahs, or 432 egg-shells 
full. Bishop Cumberland makes 
it equal to three pecks and £ of 
a pint. 

EPHER, the second son of 
Midian, 1 Chron. i. 33. Polyhis- 
tor and Cleodemus say, that he 
conquered Lybia, and called it 
193 



EPH 

Africa, and it is said, Hercules 
accompanied him in that expedi- 
tion. Judg. vi. 5. 

EPHESUS, anciently one of 
the most famous cities of Lesser 
Asia. It is said to have been 
built by Ephesus, an Amazon 
lady, or by Androclus, the son 
of Cod r us king of Athens, as 
early as the days of David, or 
according to others, much ear- 
lier. It was situated on the river 
Cayster, about 23 miles north of 
Miietus,and63westoi'Laodicea; 
and among the Heathens was 
chiefly famed for a magnificent 
temple of Diana. It is said to 
have been 425 feet long, 220 
broad; its roof supported by 12? 
pillars, 70 feet high, 27 of which 
were curiously carved, and the 
rest polished. The plan of this 
temple was contrived by one 
Ctesiphon ; and though it was 
built at the common expense of 
proconsular Asia, it was 220 
years, if not more, in finishing. 
It was seven times set on fire. 
About 360 years before the birth 
of our Saviour, one Eratostratus, 
despairing of rendering himself 
famous by any thing good, burnt 
it, that he might render himself 
famous for evil. It was how- 
ever rebuilt. Soon after, Lysi- 
machus rebuilt the whole city in 
a more convenient place, and 
nearer to the temple. Before the 
Jme of Alexander, Ephesus had 
kings of her own. It was taken 
oy Antiochus the Great, of Syria. 
After it fell into the hands of the 
Ho mans, the inhabitants revolted 
to Mithndates king of Pontus, 
and on that account, were pil- 
lag-ed and terribly taxed by Sylla, 
the E.oman general. It was de- 
stroyed by an earthquake, A. D. 
19, but quickly rebuilt. It suf- 
fered exceedingly in its various 
sieges and captures, by the Sara- 
cens, Tartars, and Turks, and is 
now dwindled into a ruinous vil- 
lage, of about 40 or 50 houses, 
and an old castle. 

This city was visited by Paul, 



EPH 

about A. D. 54, who resided 
here three years, and planted a 
flourishing Christian church, 
which was one of the seven to 
which Epistles were addressed 
in. the Apocalypse ; and one of 
Paul's most important Epistles 
was sent to the church of Ephe- 
sus. But long since, the candle- 
stick has been removed from its 
place, and complete darkness 
reigns, where once there was 
light. The place, at the present 
day, is called by the Turks, Aia- 
soluc, and has a mosque, said to 
have once been the church of 
St. John. 

EPH AES-D AMMIM,or PAS- 
DAM MIM, a place between 
Shochoh and Azekah, it seems, 
on the west of the valley of 
Elah. Here the Philistines en- 
camped, when Goliath insulted 
the Hebrew host, 1 Sam. xvii. 1, 
2. 19 ; here they again assembled 
after David's coronation, when 
Eleazer and Shammah made 
such terrible slaughter of their 
troops, 1 Chron. xi. 13, 14. 

EPHOD, a short upper gar- 
ment worn by the Hebrew 
priests, somewhat in the form 
of our women's short gowns, if 
without sleeves. That for the 
common priests was of plain 
linen, 1 Sam. xxii. 18. Thai 
for the high-priest, was a rich 
robe of fine twined linen or cot>- 
ton, embroidered with gold,blue, 
purple, and scarlet. On its two 
shoulder-pieces, whereby it was 
fixed above, were two precious 
stones, in each of which were 
engraved six names of the tribes 
of Israel. On that part of it 
which crossed his breast, was 
fastened the breast-plate of 
judgment by means of the Urrm 
and Thummim, in which the 
Lord revealed his mind to his 
people ; below which the ephod 
was fastened on the priest's 
body with a curious girdle, Ex, 
xxviii. Sometimes persons not 
in the office of priests, when 
ministering about holy things y 
194 



EPH 

wore ephods : Samnel, when a 
child, and David, when attend- 
ing the ark to Jerusalem, had 
on a linen ephod, 1 Sam. ii. 18. 
2 Sam. vi. 14. What Gideon 
intended by his costly ephod, 
whether he inadvertently fram- 
ed it as a memorial of his victo- 
ries ; or whether, having been 
once appointed to offer sacri- 
fice, he imagined himself a 
kind of priest, and made it for 
consulting the mind of God, 
we know not ; but it is cer- 
tain the Hebrews idolatrously 
adored it, Judges viii. 27. A 
little before the destruction of 
Jerusalem, King Agrippa per- 
mitted the Levites to wear a 
linen ephod: but, for about 
1700 years past, this nation 
hath been without ephod, and 
every other badge of the pecu- 
liar people of God, Hos. iii. 4. 

EPHRAIM, the younger son 
of Joseph, born about A. M. 
2293. Joseph presented him 
and his brother Manassehto Ja- j 
cob his father when dying, that ! 
he might give them his blessing. 
To mark that Ephraim's tribe j 
should be most numerous and! 
powerful, Jacob crossed his) 
hands, laying the right hand on j 
the head of Ephraim, and the! 
left on the head of Manasseh : ! 
nor would the patriarch change j 
his hands ; and gave for his rea- j 
son, his certain knowledge, that j 
though Manasseh's tribe should j 
he great and numerous, yet that I 
of Ephraim should be much | 
more so, Gen. xlviii. $3 — 22. His i 
sons Shuthelah, Beclier, and 
Tahan, or Tahath, were heads 
of numerous families,Num.xxvi. 
35, 36. He had other sons, viz. 
Zabad, Ezer, and Elead, Bered, 
and Eladah, the first three of 
whom, together with Shuthelah, 
were murdered by the Philis- 
tines of Gath, as they attempted 
to defend their herds of cattle 
from these robbers. He was 
extremely grieved for the loss of 
hi* children, and happening to 



EPH 

have a son born to him about 
that time, he called the child 
Beriah, to mark, that it went 
evil with his house. He had 
also a daughter, whose posterity 
built the two Beth-horons and 
Uzzensherah, 1 Chr. vii. 20 — 27 

Ephraim, is also the name of 
(1.) A city near Bethel, and 
about .eight miles from Jerusa^ 
lem. Abijah took it from Jero- 
boam, 2 Chron. xiii. 19. Hither, 
it is probable, our Saviour with- 
drew when the Jews sought his 
life, John xi. 54 ; and near to 
this was Baalhazor, where Ab- 
salom had his flocks, 2 Sam. xiii. 
23. (2.) A hill in the territory 
of this tribe, near the south bor- 
der. Here Micah the idol-ma- 
ker dwelt, and the Levite who 
cut his wife in pieces, and E\- 
kanah, the father of Samuel, 1 
Sam. i. 1. Judg. xvii. 1. xix. L 
It was not long after the Chal- 
dean army marched by Dan, at 
the springs of Jordan, when they 
had got south to mount Ephrairri, 
and were within a few miles of 
Jerusalem, Jer. iv. 15. (3.) A 
wood beyond Jordan, near Ma- 
hanaim, where Absalom's army 
was defeated, and which seems 
to have been so called, from the 
slaughter of the Ephraimites by 
Jephthah, in or near that place, 
2 Sam. xviii. 6. (4.) It seems 
to be put for the whole country 
of the ten tribes, Jer. xxxi. 6. 
1.19. 

EPHRATAH, or Ephrath 
Bethlehem is so called, Gen 
xxxv. 16.19; but whether Ephra- 
tah, where David heard of the 
ark, be mount Ephraim, or 
Bethlehem, where he had often 
heard of it, we know not. Ruth 
iv. 11. 1 Chron. ii. 50. Ps. exxxii. 
6. Micah v. 2. Ruth i. 2. El- 
kanah, the father of Samuel, and 
Jeroboam, were EphrathiteSj as 
they dwelt in mount Ephraim, 
1 Sam. i. 1. 1 Kings.xi. 26. And 
Jesse is so called, because he 
dwelt in Bethlehem Ephratah, 1 
Sam. xvii. 12. 

195 



EPI 

EPHRON; (1.) A Hittite, 
who generously offered Abra- 
ham the field of Machpelah for 
a burying-place, and could 
scarce be prevailed on to take 
money for it, Gen. xxiii. (2.) A 
mount on which several cities 
stood ; but whether it be mount 
Ephraim or not, we cannot tell, 
Josh. xv. 9. 

EPICUREANS, a sect of 
Heathen philosophers, followers 
of the doctrine of Epicurus the 
Athenian, who flourished about 
4. M. 3700. They maintained, 
that the world was formed, not 
by God, nor with any design, 
but by the fortuitous concourse 
of atoms. They denied, that 
God governs the world, or in 
the least condescends to inter- 
fere with creatures below. They 
denied the immortality of the 
soul, and the existence of an- 
gels. They maintained, that 
happiness consisted in pleasure ; 
but some of them placed this 
pleasure in the tranquillity and 
joy of the mind, arising from the 
practice of moral virtue, and 
which is thought by some, to 
have been the true principle of 
Epicurus : others understood 
him in the gross sense, and 
placed all their happiness in cor- 
poreal pleasure, of eating, drink- 
ing, &c. 

This sect were in being at 
Athens, when the apostle Paul 
visited that place ; for we read, 
" that certain philosophers of 
the Epicureans and Stoics en- 
countered him, and some said, 
what will this babbler say? other 
some, he seemeth to be a setter- 
forth of strange gods; because 
he preached unto them Jesus 
and the resurrection." Acts 
xvii. 18. 

EPISTLE, or letter, wherein 
one communicates his mind to 
his friend at a distance. The 
whole word of God is an inspir- 
ed epistle to us. Jesus Christ 
dictated to John in the isle of 
Patmos, seven epistles, to be 



ESA 

sent to the seven Asian churches, 
framed exactly according as 
their cases required, Rev. i. 4. 
One and twenty of the books of 
the New Testament are called 
epistles ; the first fourteen were 
written by Paul ; the other se- 
ven were written, one by James, 
two by Peter, three by John, 
and one by Jude. 

ERASTUS, the chamberlain 
or city-treasurer of Corinth. 

ERECH, a city of Chaldea, 
built by Nimrod, and probably 
the same with Ptolemy's Ara- 
ka in Susiana, on the east 
bank of the Tigris, Gen. x. 10. 

ERR, to wander, mistake. 
Error is, (1.) A mistake, or 
oversight, Eccl. v. 6. (2.) False 
doctrine, whereby one wanders 
from the rule of God's word, 1 
John iv. 6. (3.) Sin of any kind, 
which is a wandering from the 
path of duty, and missing the 
end of God's glory, and our 
good, Psal. xix. 12. 

ESARHADDON. See As- 
syria. 

ESAU, the oldest son of 
Isaac, who sold his birth-right 
to his brother Jacob, for a mess 
of pottage. In just judgment, 
he was deprived of the privilege 
of primogeniture, for his pro- 
faneness ; for by the fraud and 
management of Rebekah, in fa- 
vour of her beloved Jacob, Isaac 
was deceived, and pronounced 
his prophetic benediction on the 
younger son. And when the 
words had gone from him, he 
would make no change in his 
purpose, although Esau sought 
it most earnestly with tears. 

Esau, on being deprived of 
the chief blessing, by means of 
the falsehood of Jacob, conr 
ceived the design of putting him 
to death, which being known to 
Rebekah, she sent Jacob away 
to her kindred in Mesopotamia. 
Upon his return to Canaan, afc 
ter many years, Esau came to 
meet him, evidently with a hos- 
tile purpose, but the angel, Jeho- 
196 



ESP 
vah, who wrestled all night 
with Jacob, turned his enmity 
into kindness ; so that when he 
met his brother, he fell on his 
neck and wept, and never after- 
wards, as far as we know, gave 
him any disturbance, although 
he was greatly superior to Ja- 
cob in wealth and power. See 
Edom. 

ESCAPING. Those who es- 
cape are called an escaping, 2 
Kings xix. 30. Ezek. vi. 8, 9. 

ESDRAELON, or Jezreel; 
called also the plain of Megiddo, 
and the great plain. It is the 
largest plain in all Judea, ex- 
tending across the country from 
Mount Carmel to the Sea of 
Galilee. This was a famous 
battle-field, and as such is men- 
tioned in prophecy ,Judg. v. 19. 
2 Kings xxiii. 29. Rev. xvi. 16. 

ESHBAAL. See Ishbosheth. 

ESHCOL, one of Abraham's 
allies, who assisted him against 
Chedorlaomer. Perhaps the val- 
ley of Eshcol, in the south ter- 
ritories of Judah, was denomi- 
nated from him ; though it is 
more probable it was so called, 
from the large cluster of grapes, 
which Caleb and Joshua car- 
ried thence, when they spied the 
land, Gen. xiv. 24. Num.xiii.24. 

ESHTAOL, a city on the 
"west border of the tribe of Ju- 
dah. It was first given to that 
tribe, and afterward to the Da- 
nites: nevertheless its inhabit- 
ants are represented of the tribe 
of Judah, Josh. xv. 33. xix. 41. 
1 Chron. ii. 53. Samson was 
born and buried near to this 
place, Judg. xiii. 2. 25. xvi. 31. 

ESHTEMOA, a city given by 
the tribe of Judah to the priests, 
and to elders of which David 
sent part of the spoil he took 
from the Amalekites, Josh. xxi. 
14. 1 Sam. xxx. 28. : but whe- 
ther it be the Eshtemoh in the 
hill-country of Judea, w T e know 
not, Josh. xv. 50. 

ESPOUSE. See Betroth, 
Marriage. 

r 



ETE 

ESROM. See Reuben. 

ESTABLISH. God estab- 
lished his faithfulness in the 
very heavens, when, by fulfilling 
his word, in the most visible and 
noted manner, he manifests its 
being as sure, firm, and un- 
changeable, as the third heaven, 
Psal. lxxxix. 2. 

ESTATE ; (1.) Order, condi- 
tion, Gen. xliii. 7. (2.) Stead or 
place, Dan. xi. 7. 20. The chief 
estates of Galilee, are the great 
men, who possessed the highest 
stations of power and wealth, 
Mark vi. 21. 

ESTHER, or Hadassah, of 
the tribe of Benjamin, the daugh- 
ter of Abihail, the uncle of Mor- 
decai. As her parents died when 
she was but a child, Mordecai 
her cousin brought her up. — 
When Ahasuerus convened the 
beautiful young women of his 
empire, that he might select a 
queen from among them, in- 
stead of Vashti, Esther was 
brought among the rest. De- 
lighted with her comeliness and 
agreeable deportment, he put the 
royal crown on her head, and 
declared her Ins queen. A splen- 
did feast was made, to honour 
the nuptials ; and the king be- 
stowed a multitude of valuable 
presents on the queen and the 
guests. He likewise released a 
vast number of prisoners, and 
forgave his subjects a considera- 
ble part of his revenue. 

ETAM, a city of Judah, be- 
tween Bethlehem and Tekoa, 
and which Rehoboam fortified, 
2 Chron. xi. 6. 

ETERNAL, everlasting, for 
ever, evermore, sometimes de- 
note, that which continues along 
time ; so the ceremonial laws, 
are said to be for ever, Exod, 
xxvii. 21. xxviii. 43. Canaan 
is called an everlasting posses- 
sion, Gen. xvii.8. and the rather 
as they typified things strictly 
eternal. The hills are called 
everlasting, to signify their an- 
riquitv, stability, and long dura 
r* ' 197 



ETH 

tion, Gen. xlix. 26. Deut. xxxiii. 
15. In this limited sense, the 
government promised to David 
and his posterity is called ever- 
lasting, unless we consider it as 
for ever continued in the spiri- 
tual dominion of the Messiah, 
1 Chr. xvii. 14. 2 Sam. vii. 16. 
Sometimes they denote that 
which is without beginning and 
end, or at least without end. 
When eternal or everlasting 
are ascribed to God, they denote, 
his being without beginning, suc- 
cession, or end of duration. This 
unlimited continuance is implied 
in his self-existence; for that 
which is self-existent, can ad- 
mit of no supposable period in 
which it is not the same : but the 
manner of the divine duration, 
and of its co-existence with time, 
is to us no more comprehensible, 
than the co-existence of his in- 
finity with particular places. 
This eternity of God, is ex- 
pressed in his being from ever- 
lasting to everlasting, Deut. 
xxxiii. 27. Isa. ix. 6. Heb. ix. 14. 
Psal. xc. 2. In this sense God's 
love is everlasting, Jer. xxxi. 3. 
The covenant ot grace, in the 
execution of it, Heb. xiii. 20. and 
angels, human souls, and the ex- 
ecution of Christ's mediatory of- 
fice, and so redemption, salva- 
tion, and glory, are everlasting, 
without end, Psal. ex. 4. Heb. 
vii. 25. Isa. ix. 7. Heb. ix. 12. 
v. 9. 2 Cor. iv. 17. The gospel 
is everlasting : it is preached 
from the fall till the end of time, 
and its blessings shall never have 
an end, Rev. xiv. 6. The last 
judgment is eternal : it irrevo- 
cably determines, and fixeth the 
endless state of angels and men, 
Heb. vi. 2. 

ETHAM, the third station of 
the Hebrews, in their departure 
from Egypt. It was situated near 
the north-west point of the Red 
Sea; and the wilderness, both 
on the east and west of the Red 
Sea, was called by its name. 
Perhaps it is the same as Bu- 



EVA 

thum, or Buthus, Exodus xiii. 
20. 

ETHAN ; (1.) A son of Zerah, 
the son of Judah, 1 Chron. ii. 6. 
(2.) The son of Kishi, and de- 
scendant of Merari. He was one 
of the wisest men of his age, ex- 
cept Solomon, and a chief musi- 
cian of the temple; and living 
to a good age, he penned the 
89th Psalm on the occasion of 
the revolt of the ten tribes, 1 
Kings iv. 31. 1 Chron. vi. 44. 
xv. 17. If he be the same with 
Jeduthun, he had six sons, Ge- 
daliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hasha- 
biah, Mattithiah, and Shimei; 
who were heads of so many 
classes of the temple-singers, 1 
Chron. xxv. 3. 17. Sundry of 
the Psalms were given into his 
and his descendant's hands, to 
be sung by them, 1 Chron. xvi. 
41, 42. Psal. xxxix. lxii. &c. 

ETHANIM, the seventh 
month of the Jews' sacred year, 
and the first of their civil. After 
the captivity, it was called Tisri. 
On the first day of it was ob- 
served the feast of trumpets : on 
the third, a fast for the death of 
Gedaliah, Zech. viii. 19.: on 
the fifth, a fast for the death of 
some doctors, and the sentence 
against the makers of the golden 
calf: on the tenth, the fast of 
atonement : on the fifteenth, and 
seven days following, the feast 
of tabernacles : and on the twen- 
ty-third, a festival of joy for the 
re-delivery of the law to Moses, 
on which they read Moses's 
blessings of the tribes, and the 
history of his death. This month 
had thirty days, and answered 
partly to September and partly 
to October. In this month was 
Solomon's temple dedicated, 1 
Kin<:s viii. 2. 

ETHIOPIA. SeeCush. 

EVANGELIST, one who 
publishes the gospel. The wri- 
ters of the four gospels, are, 
therefore, called Evangelists. 
Philip, the deacon, is called an 
Evangelist, Acts xxi.8. Paui 
198 



EVE 

places evangelists immediately 
after apostles and prophets, 
Ephes. iv. 11. and exhorts Ti- 
mothy '-to do the work of an 
evangelist," 2 Tim. iv.5. Evan- 
gelists seem to have been a sort 
of deputies of the apostles; and 
ordained ministers, and regu- 
lated the churches, in places 
where the apostles could not be 
present. It is disputed whether 
the office of evangelist was ex- 
traordinary, and has ceased. No 
doubt the primitive evangelists 
possessed extraordinary powers, 
which have ceased : but as long 
as there is a necessity for plant- 
ing new churches, there must be 
a set of preachers devoted to the 
propagation of the gospel among 
unbelievers ; and the name evan- 
gelist, taken in its true import, 
applies very well to such who 
are now more commonly deno- 
minated missionaries. 

EVEN, when it denotes a 
quality, signifies the same as 
equal, Job xxxi. 6. or straight 
and plain, Psal. xxvi. 12. When 
it is a particle, it either intro- 
duces an explication, and is the 
same as that is, 2 Cor. i. 3. or it 
lessens the signification, import- 
ing the same as mere, simply, 
1 Cor. xi. 14. or it increases the 
signification, and signifies alto- 
gether, wholly, 2 Cor. x. 13. or 
it connects things, and signifies 
also, yea, Rom. viii. 23. 1 Kings 

Even, evening, even-tide ; the 
ending of the day, when it be- 
gins to grow dark, or at least 
when the sun is considerably de- 
clined, Neh. xiii. 19. The pass- 
over-lamb was killed between 
the two evenings, that is, about 
three o'clock in the afternoon, 
when the sun was half way de- 
clined ; and about this time the 
evening sacrifice was offered; 
by both which was prefigured 
Christ's being crucified for us in 
the ^ast part of the age of the 
world, and his dving at that time 
of the day, Ex. iii. 6. Ezra ix. 4. 



EUP 

EVER ; or ever, before, Song 
vi. 12. 

EVIDENCE ; (1.) A deed or 
writing, to ascertain one's claim 
to his property, Jer. xxxii. 10, 

11. (2.) A demonstrative and 
convincing proof. Faith is the 
evidence of things not seen, Heb. 
xi. 1. 

EVIL; (1.) What is sinful, 
wicked, Eccles. ix. 3. The 
face of the Lord is set against 
them that do evil, and evil shall 
not dwell with him, Psal. xxxiv. 
16. v. 4. (2.) What is trouble- 
some and hurtful, Job ii. 10. 
Psal. xxxiv. 21. In this sense, 
evil comes from God, Amos iii. 
6. Eccl. xii. 1. And days are 
evil, distressful, and full of trou- 
ble, Prov. xv. 15. Eccl. xii. 1. 
Amos vi. 3. In this sense inju- 
ries from men are called evil } 
Prov. xvii. 13. Matth. v. 39. 
Satan is called the evil one, or 
evil spirit; he is the author of 
all sin ; he perpetually works 
wickedness, nnd causeth trou- 
ble, John xvii. 15. Acts xix. 

12. An evil time, is a season 
of much sinning, danger, and 
trouble, Amos v. 13. Alio ii. 3. 
Psal. xxxvii. 19. 

EVtL-MERODACH, or Me- 
rodach the fool, the son and 
successor of Nebuchadnezzar. 

EUNUCH, one deprived of 
his virility. They are much em- 
ployed in eastern countries as 
officers to serve in the inner 
courts and chambers of kings, 
Acts viii. 27. Matth. xix. 12T 

EUODIAS and SYNTY- 
CHE, two noted women of the 
Philippian church, who had 
mightily, in their station, helped 
the apostle Paul to teach the 
Christian faith, but between 
whom there seems to have ex- 
isted some difference when Paul 
wrote the epistle to the Philip- 
pians, Phil. iv. 2, 3. 

EUPHRATES, is formed by 

two streams from the mountains 

of Armenia ; the one rises a short 

distance north of Erzeroom, the 

199 



EUR 

other near Byazid, on the Per- 
sian frontier, which unite a lit- 
tle above the town of Kebhan, 
in the recesses of Mount Tau- 
rus, and alter passing through 
that range of mountains, bends 
to the south-west, and comes 
within a few miles of Malatta, 
where it receives another tribu- 
tary stream, and continues its 
course towards the Mediterra- 
nean, until, checked by the 
mountains near Samosata, 
changes its course to the south- 
east, and joining the Tigris at 
Koina, falls into the Persian 
Gulph, about 70 miles south of 
Bassora. 

The Euphrates and Tigris,the 
most considerable rivers of west 
Asia, rise within a few miles of 
each other, and running the 
same course (never being more 
than 150 miles asunder, and in 
some places only 15,) they en- 
close a fertile country, which 
has always been famous in his- 
tory, called Mesopotamia, which 
word, in Greek, signifies in the 
midst of the rivers. The Eu 
phrates is, in appearance, much 
the noblest of these two rivers, 
though some travellers are of 
opinion, that the Tigris, which 
is much the most rapid, conveys 
most water in its stream. Its 
width varies from 150 to 300 
yards. Its average depth may 
be about 10 or 12 feet. In one 
part of its course it enters a 
large morass, where* its current 
is lost, but its waters become 
concentrated again, not far from 
Samarat. 

Both these rivers are subject 
to periodical inundations, but 
although they rise from the same 
mountain, that of the Tigris is 
several weeks the earliest, ow- 
ing to the rapidity of its current, 
and its source being on the 
south side. The overflowing of 
the Euphrates commences about 
the end of April, and continues 
y i'd the end of June. Its rise is 
reckoned to be about 12 feet. 



EXE 

perpendicular. During the in- 
undation, all the adjacent plains 
are covered with water to the 
depth of several feet ; and this 
is especially the case in the 
country where Babylon was 
situated. In one place, called 
Felugeah, the waters of the Eu- 
phrates flow so far east, as to 
reach nearly to the Tigris, with 
a depth sufficient to render 
them navigable for rafts and flat- 
bottomed boats. 

EUROCLYDON, a kind of 
whirlwind from the north-east, 
very dangerous to ships, as it 
suddenly falls upon them, causes 
them to tack about, and some- 
times to founder, Acts xxvii. 
14. 

EUTYCHUS, a young man 
of Troas, who, sitting in a win- 
dow as Paul preached till mid- 
night, fell asleep, tumbled from 
the third story, and was taken 
up for dead; but Paul taking 
him up in his arms, he revived- 
and returned to the company, 
Acts xx. 9—12. 

EXAMPLE, or ensamph; 
(1.) An instance, or precedent 
for our admonition, to beware 
of the sins which others have 
committed, and so avoid the 
judgments they brought upon 
themselves : so the punishments 
of the Hebrews happened to 
them for ensamples of warning 
to others, 1 Cor. x. 11. (2.) A 
pattern for our imitation : thus 
we have the pattern of Christ, 
and his former saints, to copy 
after in the manner of our life, 
ICor. xi. 1. IPet. ii. 21. 

EXCHANGERS. Exchan 
gers were such as took in peo 
pie's money to make a profit by 
it, and give them a share there- 
of, Matth. xxv. 27. 

EXECUTE,to perhVm,Num. 
v. 30. To execute judgment is 
to pass righteous sentences, and 
to inflict just punishments for 
the destruction of the guilty, and 
the deliverance of the righteous, 
Deut. x. 18. Mic. vii. 9. An 
200 



EXP 

executioner, is one that puts 
criminals to death ; one that 
executes the sentence of the 
judge, Mark vi. 27. 

To EXERCISE, is habitually 
and earnestly to make use of, 
employ, exert, Rev. xiii. 12. To 
exercise one's self to have a 
conscience void of offence, is to 
be at all thought, care, and 
pains, to act up to the rule of 
God's law, Acts xxiv. 16. To 
exercise one's self unto godli- 
ness, is, with the utmost ear- 
nestness and activity, to live by 
faith on Christ as our righteous- 
ness and strength, and in so do- 
ing, habitually exert all our 
powers, and improve our time, 
opportunities, and advantages, 
to seek after, and promote our 
fellowship with God, and con- 
formity to him in thoughts, 
words, and actions, 1 Tim. 
iv. 7. 

EXHORT, kindly and ear- 
nestly to call men to their duty 
and happiness, Heb. iii. 13. Ex- 
hortation is a great branch of 
the preaching of the gospel, as 
we are thereby called to receive 
the blessings necessary for our 
happiness, and attend to our pro- 
per work of holiness, Luke iii. 
18. IThess. ii. 3. 

EXILE, one carried, banish- 
ed, or driven from his country, 
2 Sam. xv. 19. Perhaps it 
means one in prison, Isa. Ii. 14. 

EXODUS, the second book 
of Moses : so called, because it 
relates the history of the Israel- 
ites' dep art ure from Egypt. Itis 
a narrative of the transactions of 
about 145 vears, from the death 
of Joseph,^..!/. 2369, to the erec- 
tion of the tabernacle, in 2514. 

EXORCIST, one who in the 
name of God abjures evil spirits, 
to dislodge them from persons 
possessed. 

EXPERIENCE, long proof 
and trial by seeing, feeling, or 
the like, Gen. xxx. 27. 

EXPIATION, atonement. 

EXPOUND ; (1.) Toexplain, 



EYE 

Acts xviii. 26. (2.) To rehears** 
Acts vi. 4. 

EXPRESS, explicit. 

EXTEND, to reach out, to 
bestow. God extends mercy 
kindness, and peace to men 
when, in a condescending, sove 
reign, and powerful manner, he 
bestows it abundantlv on them 
Ezra vii. 28. Isa. lxvi. 12. 

EXTORTION, is an unjust 
wresting from one, by fraudu- 
lent bargains, law-suits, or vio- 
lence of hand, what belongs to 
him, Ezek. xxii. 12. 

EXTREME, exceeding great, 
Deut. xxviii. 22. Extremity de- 
notes the most heavy, painful, 
and extensive afflictions, Job 
xxxv. 15. 

EYE. This organ of animal 
bodies is of a most marvellous 
construction. It consists of sis 
different coats, between which 
are placed a watery, crystalline, 
and glassy humour. Its vessels 
are nerves, glands, arteries, and 
veins. The whole is so disposed, 
that the rays of light, and objects 
represented thereby, may be col- 
lected at the bottom of the eye- 
The eyes of animals are placed 
in such a manner as is most pro 
per. The eyes of hares, and 
other creatures much exposed to 
danger, are placed standing out, 
that they may take in almost the 
whole horizon, both before and 
behind. The eyes of moles are 
very small, and placed deep, and 
covered over with hair, that they 
may not be hurt by their digging 
in the earth. As" the eyes are 
very useful, not only to receive 
rays of light, and present ob- 
jects, but also to mark love, 
pity, or wrath, &c. they are 
much used in the metaphorie 
language. Eyes and eyelids, 
ascribed to God, signify his wis 
dom and knowledge, which aro 
displayed in every place, ana 
whereby he observes and tries 
all his creatures, Prov. xv. 3. 
Psal. xi. 4. His being of purer 
eyes than to behold iniquity 'm 
201 



EZE 

ports, that he cannot think evil 
good, or good evil, or give the 
least mark of indifference or re- 
gard towards sin, Hab. i. 13. His 
setting" of his eyes on the tem- 
ple, denotes his delight therein, 
care for it, as typical of Christ, 
and his respect to the worship 
there performed, 1 Kings viii. 29. 
The setting of his eyes on his 
people, imports his delight in, 
love to, and bestowing blessings 
on them, Jer. xxiv. 6. Psal. 
xxxiv. 15. 

Eyes, metaphorically ascribed 
to men, signify their mind, un- 
derstanding, or judgment, which 
are opened, when they are made 
to observe what they did not be- 
fore, Gen. xxi. 9. when their 
conscience clearly discerns their 
sin and misery, Gen. iii. 7. or 
their mind is savingly instructed 
in the knowledge of Christ and 
spiritual things, Acts xxvi. 18. 
and are sealed up, blinded, 
closed, . or darkened, when the 
mind is destitute of spiritual 
knowledge, and so ignorant, ob- 
stinate, or biassed, that it can- 
not discern between good and 
evil, Isa. xliv. 18. Acts xxviii. 
27. Rom. xi. 10. Deut. xvi. 19. 
A single eye is a pure motive. 
An evil eye is an envious dis- 
position. 

EYE-SALVE ; Christ's word 
and Spirit are likened to it, as 
thereby our judgment is rectified, 
and we are enabled to discern 
the things of God, Rev. iii. 18. 
Eye-servicc,is what is done only 
when masters are present, while 
no care is taken to act for his 
advantage when absent, Eph. vi. 
6. An eye-witness is one that 
attests what he saw with his 
eyes, Luke i. 2. To eye one, is 
carefully, and with evil intent, 
to observe whatever he doth, 1 
Sam. xviii. 9. 

EZEKIEL, the son of Buzi, a 
prophet and priest, who was car- 
ried captive to Babylon with 
Jehoiachin king of Judah. In 
jS. M. 3409, in the 5th year of 



EZR 

his captivity, and 30th of his age, 
or from the 18th of Josiah, when 
the great passover was kept, as 
he was among the captives, by 
the river Chebar in Chaldea, the 
Lord appeared to him, on a 
throne supported by cherubims 
and wheels,signifying angels and 
changing providences, or minis- 
ters and churches, and directed 
him to go and declare his mind 
to the captive Jews. There ap- 
peared to him about the same 
time, a roll, or book, filled with 
mournful threatenings of heavy 
judgments, which he was bid- 
den eat, that is, solidly consider, 
and thoroughly understand. Af- 
ter he had continued other seven 
days with his fellow-captives, 
the Lord constituted him a 
watchman, or prophet to the 
house of Israel, Ezek. i. ii. iii. 
He was the writer of the large 
book of prophecies, which goes 
by his name, and which contains 
many solemn warnings to the 
people of Israel, now in captivi- 
ty; and some prophetic repre- 
sentations which are wrapped 
up in obscure symbolical lan- 
guage. Nothing is known of the 
history of this prophet, except 
what we learn from himself, in 
the book under his name. 

EZEL, the place where David 
met w r ith Jonathan, to receive 
information of the designs of 
Saul. It is said to have been 
nineteen miles eastward of Jeru- 
salem, and seven and a half 
west of Jordan ; but I can hardly 
believe it was so far distant from 
Gibeah, where Saul dwelt, 1 
Sam. xx. 19. 

EZION-GABER, or, Ezion- 
geber, a city of the land of 
Edom, on the eastern gulf of the 
Red Sea. 

EZRA, or Esdras, was of a 
sacerdotal family. He is sup- 
posed to have been the son or 
grandson of Seraiah, the high- 
priest, whom Nebuchadnezzar 
put to death at Riblath, after 
the taking of Jerusalem. He was 
202 



EZR 

a celebrated scribe ; very skilful 
in the law of his God, and was 
much employed about the Holy 
Scriptures, in preparing correct 
copies, and causing them to be 
read to the people. To him has 
always been ascribed the im- 
portant work, of collecting the 
inspired books, or forming the 
canon of the Old Testament; in 
which work, he is said to have 
been assisted by the men of the 
great Synagogue ; but for these 
transactions, we are obliged to 
depend on the uncertain light of 
tradition. 



EZR 

Ezra after having been at Je- 
rusalem, came again to Baby- 
lon; but after some time returned 
again to Judea, where he was 
invested with the principal au- 
thority, until the arrival of Ne- 
hemiah. He was not only an 
eminently pious man, who was 
zealous for the law of his God, 
but he was also an inspired man, 
and the author of the book 
which goes under his name; 
and also, according to the Jew- 
ish tradition, of the book of 
Nehemiah. He is reported to 
have lived 120 years. 



FAC 
T? ACE, visage. The face espe- 
A cially distinguishes one per- 
son from another. It is truly ad- 
mirable, that when so few parts 
compose it, when it has so small 
a compass, and is always in the 
game place, that there should be 
such an infinite variation and 
diversity of faces in the world ; 
and indeed without this, there 
could be no order, no certainty. 
One might impose himself for 
another; nor could a testimony 
from sight be given concerning 
persons. In the face, the pas- 
sions and affections of the mind, 
are not a little discovered. 
Whatever of a thing is most ex- 
posed to view, is called its face: 
hence we read of the face of 
the country, field, gate, house, 
ground, porch, wilderness, wa- 
ters, sky, &c. Sometimes face 
is put for the person himself; as 
when Jacob said to Joseph, I 
had not thought to see thy face; 
and to have respect of persons, 
is, in the original, to regard 
faces, Gen. xlviii. 11. 

Face, when applied to God, 
denotes, (1.) His omniscience, 1 
Sam. xxvi. 20. and to provoke 
him to the face, is to do it very 
openly and impudently, Isa. lxv. 
3- (2.) The brighter displays of 
his glory, which cannot be en- 
joyed in this world, Exod.xxxiii. 



FAI 

20. Gen.xvi.13. (3.) His favour 
and love, and the gracious dis- 
plays thereof: this is always 
meant, when his face is said to- 
shine, or it is represented as a 
mercy to behold and enjoy it, or 
a misery to be hidden, Ps. xxxi. 
16. lxxx.7. Dan. ix. 17.2 Chron. 
xxx. 9. (4.) His wrath, and the 
providential displays thereof, 
Ps. xxxiv. 16. Christ's face de- 
notes, (1.) His person and office, 
as the image of the invisible 
God, 2 Cor. iv. 6. (2.) His gra- 
cious, glorious, or terrible ap- 
pearances, Rev. i. 11. vi. 16. xx. 
11. 

FAIR-HAVEN, a port of 
Crete, in the Mediterranean. 

FAIRS, stated assemblies of 
people for merchandise, Ezek. 
xxvii. 

FAITH ; properly signifies, a 
persuasion and assent to truth, 
upon the authority of another, 
and is opposed to doubting, Mat. 
xiv. 31. That faith which re- 
spects divine things, is either, 
(1.) Historical, whereby we as- 
sent to the truths of revelation, 
as a kind of certain and infalli- 
ble record : this, where without 
works, is dead, Jam. ii. 17. of 
this kind is the faith of devils, 
Jam. ii. 19. (2.) A temporary 
faith, whereby, with some de- 
gree of affection, we receive di- 
203 



FAL 

vine truths, as both certain and 
good ; but soon after lose the 
whole impression, as they were 
never rooted in the heart : such 
is the faith of the gospel hearers 
who are compared to stony 
ground, Matt. xiii. 5. (3.) The 
faith of miracles, whereby, by 
means of a divine impression, 
one is persuaded that God will 
work such a particular miracle, 
by his means, or upon his per- 
son; a faith to remove moun- 
tains, is of the first kind ; and 
faith to be healed, is of the last, 
1 Cor. xiii. 2. Acts xiv. 9. (4.) 
Saving faith, is that gracious 
quality, principle or. habit, 
wrought in the heart, by the 
Spirit of God taking the things 
of Christ and showing them to 
us, whereby we receive and rest 
on Christ alone for salvation, as 
he is offered to us in the gospel. 
(5.) Faith is also taken for the 
object of faith, or the truths be- 
lieved, Gal. i. 23. Acts xxiv. 24. 
(6.) Faith is sometimes used for 
the virtue of fidelity or faithful- 
ness, Deut.xxxii. 20. Rom. iii. 3. 

To FALL, metaphorically to 
ken, imports, to become guihj 
of sin, or be subjected to misery ■ 
in this way persons, nations, or 
cities, lose their height of glory 
and happiness, 1 Cor. x. 12. Ps. 
xxxvii. 24. Man's beginning to 
disobey his Maker, and so los- 
ing his favour and image, and 
becoming sinful and miserable, 
is called his fall, or the fall, by 
way of eminence. To fall, 
most frequently signifies to be 
destroyed by death and ruin, 2 
Kings xiv 10. Dan. xi. 19. Hos. 
iv. 5. 14. 

FALSE, untrue, deceiving, 2 
Kings ix. 12. False Christs 
were such Jews or others as 
falsely pretended to be the true 
Messiah, Matth. xxiv. 24. False 
prophets, were such as, under 
pretence of commission from 
God, published error, foretold 
untruth, or excited to wicked- 
ness, Matth. vii. 15. 2 Cor. xi. 



FAM 

13. False witnesses, are such 
as for gain, humour, or like car- 
nal motives, will insinuate or 
assert falsehood, Matth. xxvi. 
59. False ways, are sinful 
comses, which agree not with 
the standard of God's truth, and 
deceive the transgressor into 
everlasting ruin, Psal. cxix.128. 

Falsehood, untruth, deceit. 
Idols are called falsehood; they 
are not what is pretended ; have 
no divinity in them; and are 
means of seducing men to a vain 
and wicked worship, tending to 
their ruin, Jer. x. 14. The Jews 
thought to hide themselves un- 
der falsehood, when they trust- 
ed for their protection to idol- 
gods, sinful alliances with hea- 
then neighbours, treacherous 
compliance with the enemy, 
crafty devices, and to the power 
and wealth which they had pro- 
cured by fraudulent methods, 
Isa. xxviii. 15. 

FAMILY, not only denomi- 
nates, (1.) Such as dwell to- 
gether in one household, Gen 
xlvii. 12. Esth. ix. 28; but 
also, (2.) A whole kindred, 
Lev. xxv. 49. (3.) A large di- 
vision of one of the Hebrew 
tribes ; all the descendants of 
a particular son of the twelve 
patriarchs, Numb. xxvi. 5. Jer. 
iii. 14. (4.) A whole nation, 
Jer. viii. 3. Amos iii. 1. Zech. 
xiv. 18. (5.) The whole crea- 
tures of God in general, which 
proceeded from, and are go- 
verned by him, Eph. iii. 15. 
(6.) Ji Familiar, an intimate 
companion, that as it were 
lives in the same family with 
us ; and to whom we readily 
impart our secrets, and consult 
him in a time of need, Job 
xix. 14. 

F AMINE, dearth; such scarci- 
ty of provision as renders the 
price thereof extremely dear, 1 
Kings xviii. 2 

FAMISH. Egypt was fam- 
ished, when the people were 
likely to be starved to death for 
204 



FAR 

want of food, Gen. xii. 55. God 
will not Buffer the righteous to 
famish, i. e. to continue desti- 
tute of subsistence, help, or com- 
fort, Prov. x. 3. The honoura- 
ble Hebrews were famished, 
when they were reduced to po- 
verty and contempt, and made 
few in number, Isa. v. ]3. 

FAN, an instrument for win- 
nowing corn. It seems, they 
had two kinds of them ; one 
with teeth, wherewith they turn- 
ed up the corn to the wind, that 
the chaff might be blown away ; 



FAT 

by friends at parting, and im- 
ports, a wish of all joy and hap- 
piness to soul or body, Acts xv. 
29. Luke ix. 61. 

FARM. Men's going to their 
farm and merchandise, when 
called to the gospel feast, im- 
ports, that they preferred their 
earthly business, to the care of 
their salvation, Matth. xxii. 5. 

FARTHING. The Roman 
farthing was in value one-tenth 
of their penny, and not quite 
equal to one cent and a half 
among us. It was used to sig- 



another that made wind if thejuify the smallest value, as the 



air was calm, Isaiah xxx. 24. 
God's judgments are likened to 
a /an; he thereby turns up per- 
sons and nations, and scatters 
and disperses them for their 
wickedness ; and his thus scat- 
tering and overturning them, are 
called his fanning of them, Jer. 
xv. 7. 

FAR ; (1.) Very much, Heb. 
vii. 15. Rom. xiii. 12. (2.) At 
a great distance, Isa. x. 3. God 
is far from the wicked ; he has 
no friendship with them ; is per- 
petually angry with, and is 
averse to deliver them, Prov. xv 
29. He is far from their reins; 
he is not seriously and affec- 
tionately thought of, esteemed, 
loved, or desired by them, Jer. 
xii. 2. He seems far from his 
own people, when he appears 
angry with them, hides the 
comfortable views of his coun- 
tenance, and continues to deny 
them assistance or relief, Psalm 
xxii. 1. x. 1. 

FARE, the price of one's pas- 
sage in a ship, Jon. i. 3. Look 
how thy brethren fare ; how 
they live ; how they prosper ; 
what they meet with, 1 Sam. 
xvii. 13. The rich man fared 
sumptuously every day ; he en- 
joyed in an abundant degree, 
whatever food, raiment, honour, 
pleasure, &c. was delightful to 
him, however costly, Luke xvi. 
19. 

FAREWELL, a word used 



price of a couple of sparrows, 
Matth. x. 29. A smaller piece 
of money equal to about a fourth 
part of the last, is mentioned un- 
der the same name, Matth. v. 26. 
The smallest of all was a mite, 
two of which were equal to a 
farthing of the smallest kind, 
Mark. xii. 42. 

FASHION ; (1.) A pattern 
or form, Exod. xxvi. 30. (2.) 
Outward appearance, 1 Kings 
vi. 38. Phil. ii. 8. 1 Cor. vii. 31. 
To fashion a thing, is to give it 
its being or form, Job x. 8. Ex. 
xxxii. 4. To fashion one's self 
according to former lusts, is to 
live under their power, and to 
act according to their sinful in- 
clinations, 1 Pet. i. 14. 

To FAST;(1.) To eat little or 
no food, Acts xxvii. 33. Matth. 
xv. 32. (2.) To abstain volun- 
tarily from food, in order to be 
employed in penitential mourn- 
ing for sin, and supplication for 
mercies, Judg. xx. 26. 

FAT. God prohibited the 
Hebrews to eat of the fat of 
beasts, Lev. iii. 17. Some think, 
that this comprehended all kind 
of fat; others think, only the 
fat of such animals as might 
be sacrificed, as of oxen, sheep, 
and goats, was prohibited, Lev. 
vii. 24. Others, that only the 
fat of beasts actually sacrificed 
was forbidden, and no more of 
it than was easily separated 
from the flesh, and which we 
18 205 



FAT 

call tallow. This notion seems 
to be favoured by Lev. vii. 25. 

Fatness, denotes plenty,great- 
nesa. The fatness of the earth, 
is a rich soil, or the productive 
influence thereof, Gen. xxvii. 28. 
39. The* fatness of the olive- 
tree, whereof the Gentiles par- 
take, is the soul-nourishing and 
comforting word, ordinances, 
and influences of Christ com- 
municated to his church, Rom. 
xi. 17. 

FATHER; (1.) The imme- 
diate male parent of a child, 
Gen. ix. 18. (2.) The grand- 
father, or any other progenitor, 
however remote, especially if 
any covenant was made with 
them, or grant of blessings given 
them for their posterity: so 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
and others, were the fathers of 
the Jews, in the time of Christ, 
John iv. 20. viii. 53. Heb. i. 1. 
Gen. xvii. 4. (3.) An inventor 
of an art, and method of living ; 
an instructor of others in any 
science, Judg. xvii. 10. 1 Sam. 
x. 12 ; so Jabal was the father 
of such as dwell in tents, and 
Jubal the father of musicians, 
Gen. iv. 20, 21. Hiram the 
founder, was a father, or chief 
director of the artificers belong- 
ing to Hiram king of Tyre, and 
Solomon, 2 Chron. ii. 13. Eli- 
jah was a father to Elisha,and 
the young prophets of Jericho, 
2 Kings ii. 12. Founders of ci- 
ties, and progenitors of the in- 
habitants, are called fathers of 
these cities : so Salma was the 
father of Bethlehem , Hareph, 
ofBethgadar; Joab. of the val- 
ley of Charashim ; Jehiel, the 
father of Gibeon. 1 Chron. ii. 51. 
iv. 14. ix. 35. (4.) Father is a 
title of respect: Naaman's ser- 
vants called him their father, 2 
Kings v. 13. Jehoram and Jo- 
ash called Elisha their father, 2 
Kings vi. 21. xiii. 14. (5.) One 
that affectionately counsels, 
cares, and provides for one ; so 
God is the Father of the father- 



FEA 
less, Psal. Ixviii. 5. Joseph was 
a father to Pharaoh, Gen. xlv. 
8. Job, a father to the poor, 
Job xxix. 16. Among the Arabs, 
father as well as son of such a 
thing, denotes qualities; as Fa' 
ther of eternity, Father of mer- 
cies, Isa. ix. 6. 

FATHOM, a measure of six 
feet length. Our sailors have 
three kinds of fathom: that of 
war-ships is six feet; that of 
merchant-ships is five and a half; 
and that of fly-boats and fishing- 
vessels, it is said, is five feet, 
Acts xxvii. 28. 

FAVOUR. See Grace. 

FEAST. To perpetuate the 
memory of God's mighty works ; 
to attach the Hebrews to the 
true religion, by the frequent use 
of divinely instituted ceremo- 
nies ; to allow them frequent 
seasons of instruction in his laws, 
and of rest, pleasure, and reno- 
vation of acquaintance with 
their brethren; but chiefly to 
prefigure good things to come, 
with respect to Jesus Christ and 
his fulness, God appointed a va- 
riety of sacred seasons or festi- 
vals. The first, and most an- 
cient of all was the Sabbath*. 
The feast of weeks, (sometimes 
called the feast of the harvest) 
was celebrated at the close of 
harvest, as a festival of thanks 
for its blessings. It was requir- 
ed to be observed at the end of 
seven weeks from the second 
day of the passover ; and it was 
because its return was determine 
ed by reckoning a week of weeks 
(or seven weeks, which is forty- 
nine days ;) that it was denorniv 
nated the feast of weeks. Ex. 
xxxiv. 22. (See Bib. Ant. Arru 
S. S. Union Ed. vol. 2. p. 197.) 

The Sabbatical year, which 
returned every seven years, and 
was entirely set apart for rest ; 
and Jubilee year which was at 
the end of seven times seven 
years, or of the forty-ninth year, 
were sorts of feasts too, and may 
be considered as consequences 
206 



FEA 

of the sabbath. The passover 
was celebrated on the fourteenth, 
or rather fifteenth clay of the first 
month in the ecclesiastical year, 
which was the seventh of the 
civil year. The feast began af- 
ter noon on the fourteenth, and 
was celebrated properly on the 
fifteenth of Nisan ; it lasted se- 
ven days. But the first and last 
days only of the octave were 
days of rest, Exod. xii. 14. See 
Passover. 

The feast of Pentecost was 
celebrated on the fiftieth day af- 
ter the Passover, in memory of 
the law being given to J\Ioses 
on mount Sinai fifty days or se- 
ven weeks after the departure 
out of Egypt. The feast of 
trumpets was celebrated at the 
beginning, or on the first day of 
the civil year, upon which a 
trumpet was sounded, proclaim- 
ing the beginning of the year, 
which was in the month Tisri, 
answering to our September, 
Lev. xxiii. 24, 25. The new 
moons, or first days of every 
month, were in some sort a con- 
sequence of the feast of Trum- 
pets. And though these were 
cot reckoned among the solemn 
feasts, in Lev. xxiii. yet were 
celebrated as such, by the sound 
of trumpets,Num. x. 10. by extra- 
ordinary sacrifices, Num. xxviii. 
11, 12, &c. by abstaining from 
servile works, Amos viii. 5. and 
by attendance upon the ministry 
of God's word, 2 Kings iv. 23. 
Upon these days also some sort 
of entertainments were made, 
1 Sam. xx. 5, 18. The feast 
of Expiation or Atonement, was 
kept upon the tenth day of the 
month Tisri or September, Lev. 
xvi.29, 30. The feast of Tents 
or Tabernacles, was so called, 
because the Israelites kept it un- 
der green tents or arbours, in 
memory of their dwelling in tents 
in their passage through the wil- 
derness. It was one of the three 
great solemnities, wherein all the I 



FEL 

males were obliged to present 
themselves before the Lord. It 
was celebrated after harvest, on 
the fifteenth day of the^taonth 
Tisri, which ar— 
month of Sep&niU*. 
continued eigfft' daWf but the 
first day and the last were the 
most solemn, Lev. xxiii. 34. Be* 
sides these feasts mentioned by 
Moses we find the feast of Lots, 
or Purim, which was celebrated 
among the Jews cf Shushan, 
on the fourteenth day of Adar ; 
which answers to our February, 
Esth. ix. 21. The feast of the 
dedication of the Temple, or ra- 
ther of the restoration of the 
temple winch had been profaned 
by Antiochus Epiphanes, which 
is thought to be the feast men- 
tioned in the gospel, John x. 22. 
was celebrated in the winter. 
Love-feasts or feasts of Char 
rity, were used among the primi- 
tive christians in the public 
meetings of the church, to show 
their unity among themselves, 
to promote and maintain mutual 
charity, and for the relief of the 
poor among them, at the close 
whereof they administered the 
Lord's supper, Jude 12. 

FELIX (Claudius,) He suc- 
ceeded Cumanus, as deputy for 
the Romans, in the government 
of Judea : he enticed Drusilla to 
divorce Azizu3 king of Emesa, 
and marry himself: he sent pri- 
soner to Rome, Eleazer, a noted 
robber, who had committedgreat 
ravages in the country ; he pro- 
cured the death of Jonathan the 
high-priest, for his taking the li- 
berty to admonish him of his 
duty: he defeated about four 
thousand assassins, headed by 
an Egyptian impostor, who had 
posted themselves in the mount 
of Olives, Acts xxi. 38. Paul 
was brought before Felix at Ce» 
sarea, where he resided ; and, 
notwithstanding all that Tertui- 
lus and his assistants could say, 
was treated by him with no 
207 



FEL 

tmall humanity. He refused to 
regard their accusations, till Ly- 
eias the chief captain, who sent 
him under a guard, came down : 
he permitted his friends to see 
him in the prison, and do him 
what service they could. Hoping 
that they would have purchased 
his release, he often sent for Paul, 
and communed with him. Upon 
one of these occasions, Paul rea- 
soned with Felix concerning 
temperance, righteousness, and 

»the last judgment, till Felix's 
awakened conscience made him 
to tremble ; but, to avoid further 
conviction, he desired Paul to 
leave off and go to his prison, 
and he would call for him at a 
more convenient season. A. D. 
60, he was recalled to Rome, and 
Festus was sent in his room. To 
do the Jews a pleasure, he left 
Paul bound : this, however, did 
him no service ; numbers of them 
followed him to Rome, and com- 
plained of his extortion and vio- 
lence. He had been punished 
with death, had not his brother 
Pallas, by his credit at court, 
preserved his life, Acts xxiii. 
xxiv. 

FELLOW, when used by it- 
self, is a term of reproach or 
contempt, and signifies an insig- 
nificant or wicked person, Gen. 
xix. 9. Luke xxiii. 2. Acts xxii. 
2-2. In other cases, it signifies 
an equal ; a companion ; a part- 
ner ; so we read of fellow-ser- 
vants ; fellow-soldiers ; fellow- 
labourers ; fellow-citizens ; fel- 
low-helpers, Matth. xviii. 28. 
Col. iv. 11. Phil. iv. 3. • Rom. 
xvi. 7. Eph. ii. 19. 3 John 8. 
Christ is called God's fellow ; 
he is equal to the Father in 
power and glory, Zech. xiii. 7. 

FELLOWSHIP, or Commu- 
nion, is a term of great impor- 
tance in the scriptures of truth. 
There is a fellowship to which 
the people of Christ are admitted 
with God the Father, and with 
his Son, Jesus Christ, the blood 
of Jesus cleansing from all sin, 



FER 

1 John i. 3. 5, &c. There is a 
fellowship which they have with 
one another, 1. In the gospel ; in 
this sense Paul speaks of the 
fellowship which the Philippians 
had in the gospel. This includes 
a fellowship in all the spiritual 
blessings which the gospel brings 
to the guilty. 2. In temporal 
things ; which in a particular 
manner is pointed to, Acts ii. 
42. : when the disciples of Christ 
communicate jointly of their 
worldly substance to the sup- 
port of the poor, this fellowship 
takes place. The church con- 
nection is called a fellowship, 
and is opposed to having fellow- 
ship with the unfruitful works 
of darkness, Eph. v. 11. The 
purity of this Christian commu- 
nion is also pointed at in such 
passages as 2 Cor. vi. 14. ' What 
fellowship hath righteousness 
with unrighteousness 1 what 
communion hath light with dark- 
ness 7 ?' The holiness of God's 
house, is manifested in the pu- 
rity of this fellowship. None 
are esteemed felloics there but 
those who appear to have a. fel- 
lowship through the blood of 
Jesus Christ cleansing them. 
Hence, in a particular manner, 
the ordinance of the Lord's Sup- 
per is called the communion or 
fellowship in the body and blood 
of the Lord. 

FENCE ; what tends to pro- 
tect a thing, as walls do cities. 
The wicked are as a tottering 
fence, and bowing- wall; their 
ruin comes on them very sud- 
denly, Psal. lxii. 3. 

FENS ; miry places, Job xl. 21. 

FERVENT ; warm ; burning. 
Fervent in spirit, is very zeal- 
ous and active, Rom. xii. 11. A 
fervent mind, denotes great con- 
cern, love, and affection, 2 Cor. 
vii.7. Fervent charity or love, is 
that warm affection to Jesus 
Christ and his disciples which 
proceeds from a sense of much 
forgiveness. The expression is 
opposed to the character of the 
208 



FIE 
Laodicean church, Rev. iii. nei- 
ther cold nor Jiot. Effectual, 
fervent prayer, is that which is 
very earnest, proceeding from 
the strongest inward desire of 
heart, Col. iv. 12. James v. 16. 
FESTUS Fortius succeeded 
Felix in the government of Ju- 
dea. When he came first to Je- 
rusalem, some of the principal 
Jews solicited him to condemn 
Paul, whom Felix had left in 
prison ; or, at least, to give or- 
ders for conveying him to Jeru- 
salem. Festus, perhaps ignorant 
of their intention to murder him 
by the way, rejected their re- 
quest, and told them, that the 



FIL 

and lodge in the villages;' let 
the Gentile world be brought to 
the faith, fellowship, and obe- 
dience of Christ, Song vii. 11. 
The scripture is a field, where 
the treasures of gospel truth lie 
hid from multitudes. As a field, 
it is open to all, is of great ex- 
tent, and is diversified with nu- 
merous histories, predictions, 
promises, threatenings, doc 
trines, and laws, Matt. xiii. 44. 

FIG-TREE: in this species 
the parts of fructification are in- 
distinct and concealed. It pro- 
duces both male and female 
flowers, but separate from each 
other in the fruit, the outer part 



Romans condemned nobody be- of which is the common calyx- 
fore they heard his defence. He The fruit is of an oval figure, 
bid them come down to Cesarea, ' and there is no pericarp, but 
and he should consider their : the cup contains the seed, which 
Thev went down in a is single and roundish. With 



few "days ; and after they had , the leaves .of the fig-tree our 
laid their charge against Paul, ■ first parents made themselves 
he was allowed to make his de- j aprons, Gen. iii. 7. - The fig- 
fence. Festus, perhaps influ- tree was abundant in Judea, and 
enced by a bribe, inclined to re- i is often mentioned in the pro- 
mit Paul to Jerusalem ; but this ; phets, and in the gospels. A 
was prevented by Paul's appeal ' state of perfect peace, is repre- 
to Caesar. Some time after, at ! sented by a man's sitting under 
the desire of Agrippa, Festus' his own vine and fig-tree." Jesus 
allowed Paul to make a further* Christ sought fruit on a fig-tree 
defence, that he might write the t when hungry, and finding none 
more distinctly to the emperor; cursed it, and it withered, 
concerning his case. When Paul j A barren fig-tree is the em- 
gave an account of his conver- blem of an unfruitful professor, 
sion, and call to the apostleship, I Matt. xxi. 19. Luke xiii. 6, 9. 
Festus, ignorant of these affairs, ! FIGURE ; shape , resern- 
pronounced, that his much learn-; blance. Idols are called figures, 
ing had made him mad ; and because they are made after the 
soon after sent him to Rome, likeness of some original form, 
Acts xxv. and xxvi. He died in or in order to represent it, Acis 
Judea about A. D. 62, and was vii. 43. Adam, Isaac, and others, 



succeeded by Albinus. 

FEVER; a disease accom- 



and the ancient ceremonies, were 
figures or types, as they sha- 



panied with a quick pulse, and dowed forth Jesus Christ, and 
excessive heat. j his office and work, Rom. v. 14. 

FIELD ; a piece of ground in Heb. xi. 19., and ix. 9. Baptism 
the country, Gen. iv. 8. The , is called a figure; its washing 
world is called a field: its boun-! of water, shadows forth the 
daries are extensive : into it washing of our souls in the 
God sends his labourers to Avork: blood of Christ ; and in its na~ 
and in it he sows the good seed ; ture, use, and ends, it resembles 
of his word, Matth. xiii. 38. j circumcision, 1 Pet. iii. 21. 



1 Let us go forth into the field, ' 
l2 



FILL; to put into a thing a 
18* 209 



FIL 

great deal, or as much as it can 
hold, Job xx. 23. Ezra ix. 11. 
To fill up, is to accomplish ; 
make full and complete. To fill 
up what is behind of the suffer- 
ings of Christ, is to bear the 
troubles assigned by him to his 
followers, and which are borne 
for his sake, Col. i. 24. To fill 
up the measure of sin, is to add 
one iniquity to another, till the 
patience of God can no longer 
suffer them to escape unpunish- 
ed, Matth. xxiii. 32. 1 Thess. 
ii. 16. Satan fills the heart, 
when he strongly inclines and 
emboldens it to sin, Acts v. 3. 
Sinners axe filled with their own 
devices, with their own ways, 
with drunkenness, and have their 
faces filled with shame, when 
God, to punish their wicked acts 
and designs, brings shocking and 
confounding calamities upon 
them, Prov. i. 31, and xiv. 14, 
and xii. 21. Ezek. xxiii. 33. 
Psal. lxxxiii. 16. Christ filleth 
all in all; he is every where 
present; is in all the churches, 
and their true members ; he is 
the great substance of all the 
blessings of the new covenant, 
Eph. i. 23. 

FILLET. (1.) A ribband to 
tie about one's head. (2.) A kind 
of small ring fastened about any 
thing. Perhaps the fillets of the 
pillars of the tabernacle were 
not merely for ornament, but for 
fastening the hangings to the 
pillars, Exod. xxvii. 10. 

FILTH ; excrements, Lev. i. 
16. The apostles were made as 
the filth of the world ; were, by 
wicked men, accounted and used 
as if most base and contempti- 
ble, 1 Cor. iv. 13. Sinful pollu- 
tions of heart or practice, are 
often called filth and filthiness ; 
they render men corrupt and 
abominable to God and good 
men, Isa. iv. 4. Ezek. xvi.22. 
Men are represented as filthy, 
and filtMness, on account of 
their being infected and defiled 
with sin, Rev xxii. 11. Ezek. 



FIR 

xxii. 15. ; filthy lucre, is gain 
basely and sinfully gotten; as 
when ministers make their bene- 
fice their great aim in their work, 
Tit. i. 7— 11. IPet.v. 2. 

FINE. To fine metal, is to 
purify it from dross by melting 
it, &c. Job xxviii. 1. Proverbs 
xxv. 4. 

FINGER. As the fingers are 
pliant, active, and dexterous at 
work, fingers ascribed to God, 
signify his power, and the opera- 
tion thereof: by this the world 
was created, Psal. viii. 3. the 
miracles of Egypt performed, 
Exod. viii. 19. and the ten com- 
mandments written on tables of 
stone, Exod. xxxi. 18. by this 
was Jesus' casting out of devils, 
and other miracles transacted, 
Luke xi. 20. Men's powers for 
working, and their practices is- 
suing therefrom, are called their 
fingers, Isa. lix. 3. 

FINISH ; to bring to pass, ac- 
complish, perfect, and put an 
end to. When our Saviour 
bowed his head on the cross, he 
cried with a loud voice, It is 
finished; the great work which 
his Father had given him to do 
was completed; and all that was 
prefigured or foretold concerning 
him ended. He, by his one offer- 
ing, finished transgression, and 
made an end of sin. In this 
point of view, Jesus Christ is 
called, not only the author, but 
the finisher of faith John.xix.30. 

The FIR-TREE grows to a 
great height : it is very straight 
and plain below ; and abounds 
with a gum called resin ; and is 
green both summer and winter. 
Its fruit somewhat resembles the 
pine-apple, but is useless for 
food. The wood of the fir-jfcree 
was anciently used for musical 
instruments, building, and furni- 
ture of houses, and for materials 
for ships, Psal. civ. 17. Jesus 
Christ is compared to a green 
fir-tree, Hos. xiv. 8. His people 
are likened to fir-trees, because 
of their moisture and growth in 
210 



FIR 
grace, Isa. xli. 19. and lv. 13. and 
lx. 13. 

FIRE ; the emission of light 
and heat, in combustion. Fire 
was one of the symbols of the 
divine presence and majesty. 
When he descended on mount 
Sinai, the voice, Jehovah, was 
heard speaking out of the midst 
of the fire ; hence the law which 
was then given is called a fiery 
law ; and the God of Israel was 
distinguished in this manner, 
'for our God is a consuming 
fire.' The glory of the Lord, 
which then blazed on the top of 
the mount, was like devouring 
fire. In his first appearance to 
Moses, it was in a mount burn- 
ing, yet not consumed. God's 
wrath is often set before us by 
the figure of fire. By the fire of 
God, Sodom and Gomorrah 
were destroyed; Nadab and 
Abihu, Korah, Dathan and Abi- 
ram consumed ; as well as many 
similar instances in Scripture. 
He showed himself to his pro- 
phets, Isaiah and Ezekiel, in fire ; 
and when he comes again the 
second time without a sin-orTer- 
ing to the eternal salvation of 
his elect, he will come in flam- 
ing fire; Daniel says, that in the 
vision he had of his coming, • a 
fiery stream issued and came 
forth from before him.' The tor- 
ments of hell are described by 
fire, both in the Old and New 
Testament. Moses, rebuking the 
Israelites for their rebellion 
against God, says, in the name 
of the Almighty, A fire is kin- 
dled in mine anger, which shall 
burn to the lowest hell. Deut. 
xxxii. 22. Isaiah says, Who 
shall dwell with the devouring 
fire 7 who among us shall dweU 
with everlasting burnings'? Isa. 
xxxiii. 14. and in lxvi. 24. Their 
worm shall not die, neither shall 
their fire be quenched. Our 
Saviour makes use of the same 
similitude, to represent the pun- 
ishment of the damned, Mark ix. 
44. He likewise speaks fire- 



MR 

quently of the fire that shall 
never be quenched. The word 
of God is compared to fire ; Is 
not my word like a fire? Jer. 
xxiii. 29. and when the Messiah 
was foretold as coming to his 
temple by Malachi, he says he 
was to sit like a refiner's fire, to 
purify the sons of Levi. Fire 
from heaven fell upon the sacri- 
fices, and in this way God's ac- 
ceptance of them was publicly 
manifested. When God entered 
into covenant with Abraham, 
fire like a burning lamp, passed 
through between the pieces, 
Gen. xv. 17. Fire consumed 
Gideon's ofifering, and in like 
manner in many other instances. 
This was the same fire which 
was constantly kept alive upon 
God's altar. When our Lord 
was baptized by John, it was 
foretold that he should baptize 
with the Holy Ghost and fire. 
This was fulfilled on the day of 
Pentecost, when cloven tongues 
like fire sat on each of the apos- 
tles. 

Fiery; full of fire. Whatever 
is terrible, or destructive, or 
burning-like, is called fiery ; so 
God's indignation, Satan's temp- 
tations, and the saints' trials, 
are called fiery, Heb. x. 27. Eph. 
vi. 16. 1 Pet. iv. 12. Serpents are 
called fiery, either because of 
their fiery colour, or the burning 
nature of their bites and stings, 
Num. xxi. 6. 

Firebrands ; burning sticks. 
Such Gideon put in his earthen 
pitchers, Judg.vii. 16. The Jews, 
were firebrands plucked out of 
the burning : God often delivered 
them when they were on the 
very brink of ruin, Amo3 iv. 11. 
Pekah and Rezin were like tails 
of smoking firebrands: their 
utter ruin and extinction was 
near at hand, Isa. vii. 4. See 
Brand. 

FIRKIN ; a measure of capa- 
city, containing according to 
bishop Cumberland, 7 English 
pints: but LightfooL thinks it 
211 



FIS 

was over seven gallons. John 
ii. 6 

FIRMAMENT. That which 
is spread out ; as silver is spread 
into plates, or as a curtain. 
Firmament denotes what is 
solid and fixed. It includes 
not only the atmosphere or re- 
gion of air, in which we breathe, 
fowls fly, and clouds move ; but 
also that aether, or sky, in which 
the sun, moon, and stars, are 
divinely placed. The lower re- 
gion of. tiie firmament serves to 
separate the water of the clouds 
above it, from the water in the 
sea below it, Gen. i. 6, 7. 14. 20. 
Tiie firmament is spread out 
like a molten looking-glass ; its 
colour is bluish to our apprehen- 
sion ; and through it are the rays 
of light transmitted ; and by it 
are the perfections of God dis- 
covered, Job xxxviL 18. 

FIRST-BORN. Among all I 
nations, the Jirst-boni males in ' 
families, as they keep up the! 
honour of the family, had special , 
privileges allowed them. The' 
first-born Hebrews had a double J 
portion of the inheritance, and' 
a pre-eminence and rule over 
their brethren, Deut. xxi. 17. 2 
Chron. xxi. 3. 

FISH ; a kind of animals liv- , 
ing in the water, though some I 
of them can occasionally quit it, | 
and come on land ; and some 
of them, by their large fins on 
their breast, can fly a short way. 

The apostles were called fish- 
ers of men; by the preaching 
of tiie gospel, committed to their 
trust, they collected together 
those who were ordained to eter- 
nal life, Matth. iv. 18. The 
Chaldeans are called fishers ; 
they ensnared, apprehended, and 
carried out of their country, 
multitudes of men. Jer. xvi. 16. 
Hab. i. 15. 

FIST ; the hand closed, either 
to smite one, or to hold some- 
thing, Exod. xxi. 18. The fist 
of wickedness, is the sinful 
means whereby we oppress and 



FLE 

injure others, Isa. lviii. 4. God 
gathers the wind in his fist; he, 
at pleasure, easily restrains and 
excites it, Prov. xxx. 4. 

FIX. Our hearts are fixed, 
when they are established on 
grace, which Paul says is a good 
thing; compare Psalm lvii. 7. 
and cxii. 7. with Heb. xiii. 9. 

FLAG ; a kind of sedge or 
rush that grew by the Red Sea 
and the river Nile ; of these Jo- 
chebed made an ark to hold 
Moses, her infant, Exod. ii. 3. 5. 
The word is translated a mea- 
dow, Gen. xli. 2. 18. See Reed; 
Rush. 

FLAGON ; a vessel for car- 
rying wine at feasts, to pour it 
into cups. A flagon of icine, 
imported as much as one could 
safely drink, 2 Sam. vi. 19. To 
love flagons of wine, denotes a 
love of excessive drinking, Hos. 
iii. 1. The most abundant, sup- 
porting, and comforting in- 
fluences of the Holy Ghost, 
through his word and ordinan- 
ces, are likened to flagojis of 
wine, Song ii. 5. See Vessel. 

FLAY; to cut or draw orT 
the skin. 2 Chron. xxxv. 11. 

FLEE. Men flee from for- 
nication, from youthful lusts, 
wOrldly-mindedness, and other 
things sinful, when, under sense 
of danger, they avoid every 
temptation to it, or appearance 
of, or approach toward it, 1 
Cor. vi. 11. 2 Tim. ii. 22. 1 
Tim. vi. 18. Wej/Zeeto God, or 
Christ, when, sensible of guilt, 
defilement, danger, or distress, 
we with shame, and hope of re- 
lief, apply to him as our refuge- 
and deliverer, Psalm cxliii. 9. 
Heb. vi. 18. Shadows and sor- 
rows, flee away : remove quick- 
lv, easilv, and for ever, Song ii. 
17. Isa/li. 11. 

FLEECE; what wool one 
sheep bears at a time. With 
clothes made of the fleece or 
wool of his sheep, Job clothed 
the poor, Job xxxi. 20. 

FLESH. (1.) The soft pai* 
212 



FLO 

of the animal body, and which 
can be easily putrified or cor- 
rupted, Lev. xiii. 10. Numb. xi. 
33. (-2.) Every animal crea- 
ture on earth : so the end of all 
fleshca.me before God, when he 
had purposed, and was just go- 
ing to destroy men and beasts 
off the earth with a flood, Gen. 
vi. 13. (3.) Men in general are 
called flesh; they are partly of 
& fleshy substance, and they are 
ready to be corrupted ; or are 
remarkably obstinate in wicked- 
ness, John xvii. 2. Gen. vi. 3. 
And to make flesh our arm, is 
to depend on men for help and 
deliverance, Jer. xvii. 5. (4.) 
Human nature ; so Christ is 
said to have been made flesh 
when he assumed our nature, 
John i. 14. Acts ii. 30. (5.) 
The moral corruption of our na- 
ture is called flesh, John iii. 6. 
Rom. viii. 1. Gal. v. 19. 

Fleshly ; pertaining to the 
flesh, whether natural, corrupt, 
or gracious, 2 Cor. i. 12. Col. 
ii. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 11. 2 Cor. iii. 
3. See JVisdom; Mind; Lusts ; 
Tables. 

FLINT ; a very hard stone, 
that easily gives fire when struck 
with steel, Deut. viii. 15. A 
face ox forehead, like flint, im- 
ports undaunted boldness and 
courage, Isa. 1. 7. Ezek. iii. 9. 1 

FLOCK : a drove of sheep, 
goats, or such like animals, that 
feed together. A flock is com- 
posed of lesser cattle ; also a 
herd of bullocks, horses, asses, 
camels, and swine, Gen. xlvii. 4. 
and xxvii. 9. and xviii. 7. Deut. 
xii. 21. Armies, nations, and 
companies of men, are likened 
to flocks ; they are numerous, 
and are inspected, governed, 
and, as it were, fed and folded 
bv their respective rulers, Jer. 
xlix. 20. and li. 23. The prin- 
cipal of the flock, are men dis- 
tinguished in honour, power, 
and wealth, Jer. xxv. 34, 35. 
The Jews are represented as the 
Lord's flock; they were pecu- 



FLO 

liarly chosen, redeemed, and 
governed by him ; and a beauti- 
ful flock, that made a glorious 
appearance at their solemn feast, 
Jer. xiii. 17 — 20; a holy flock, 
as they were separated to the 
service of God, and not a few 
of them sanctified by his holy 
Spirit, Ezek. xxxvi. 38 ; and a 
flock of slaughter, as, in Christ's 
time, they were condemned to, 
and ripened for the destructive 
vengeance of God, Zech. xi. 4. 
The Lord himself, and, under 
him, their magistrates, prophets, 
priests, and teachers, were their 
shepherds, Psal.lxxx. 1. Ezek. 
xxxiv. The church is compare-d 
to a flock, as all belonging to 
one Shepherd, even the Shep- 
herd and Bishop of souls ; and 
knowing his voice from that of 
every stranger; following him 
in the self-denied track he has 
chalked out for them, which 
leads to his heavenly fold ; all 
feeding on the same pasture, by 
the stiil waters, viz. the un- 
searchable riches of Christ, in 
the word of the truth of the gos- 
pel ; and all united together, in 
the faith and hope of the com- 
mon salvation, Isa. xl. 11. Acts 
xx. 28. 

FLOOD. After the posterity 
of Seth had intermarried with 
the descendants of Cain, and the 
most criminal oppression, luxu- 
ry, and almost every other vice 
abounded, God passed a sen- 
tence of destruction, by a flood, 
against men, and the other ani- 
mals on earth. After warning 
mankind thereof, for about one 
hundred and twenty years, by 
the preaching of Noah, this 
flood happened within a few 
days after the death of Methuse- 
lah ; and on the seventeenth 
day of the second month, which 
is about the end of October, it 
began. The fountains of the 
great deep were broken up, and 
the windows of heaven were 
opened ; that is, the water rush- 
ed out from the hidden abyss in, 
213 



FLO 

the bowels of the earth, and the 
clouds poured down their rain 
incessantly, as in spouts, for the 
space of forty days: nay, for 
one hundred and fifty days, or 
five months, the flood still in- 
creased, till it was risen about 
twenty-seven feet and one- third 
higher than the top of the high- 
est mountain. Only Noah and 
his family, and a pair of each 
species of land-animals, were 
preserved in the ark which he 
had built. A bout the beginning- 
of April the waters began to 
abate, partly returning to the 
bowels of the earth, whose shell 
was then much broken and de- 
formed, and partly exhaled into 
the regions of the air ; and about 
the end of it, the ark rested on 
the mountains of Ararat. About 
the end of June the tops of the 
mountains were seen. Forty 
days after, about the beginning 
of August, Noah sent forth a 
raven and a dove, to try if the 
waters were dried off the face 
of the earth. In about fourteen 
days after, the dove, sent out 
for the third time, returned no 
more. About the middle of 
September the dry land appeared 
in the valleys; and about the 
beginning of November, in the 
twenty-seventh day of the se- 
cond month, Noah and his fami- 
ly and the animals went out 
from the ark, after they had 
been in it a year and ten days, 
Gen. vi. vii. and viii. 

FLOOR. (1.) The bottom 
of a house, 1 Kings vi. 15. The 
place where corn was threshed 
out, Hos. ix. 1. Judg. vi. 37. As 
threshing-floors were anciently 
under the open sky, it is said 
they were formed of clay, and 
lees of oil beaten together; 
which, when once dried, no wa- 
ter could enter it, no weed grow 
on it, nor any mice, rats, or 
ants, penetrate into it. The 
church is likened to a threshing- 
floor : in her are persons good 
and bad ; and here God sepa- 



FLY 

rates his chosen from others, 
and purges them from the chaff, 
Matth. iii. 12 ; the place where 
God's judgments are executed, 
Isa. xxi. 10. Mic. iv. 12. 

FLOATS: flat-bottomed ves- 
sels for sailing ; or a collection 
of trees, fastened together by 
ropes, to be drawn along by wa- 
ter, 1 Kings v. 9. 

FLOURISH; Christ's crown 
flourisheth, when his authority 
and glory are signally displayed, 
and many become his faithful, 
loving, and obedient subjects, 
Psal. cxxxii. 18. The church 
flourisheth, when her members 
mightily increase, Song vi. 11. 
Men in general flourish, when 
they appear gay in youth, and 
prosper; and increase in wis- 
dom, honour, wealth, or plea- 
sure, Psalm xc. 6. and xcii. X 
The righteous one flourished 
like the palm-tree, and grew 
like the cedar, Psalm xcii, 
12; and his people flourish in 
his house, when they bring forth 
fruit meet for the master's use. 

FLOW. (1.) To run as a 
stream, Psal. cxlvii. 18. (2.) To 
gather peacefully in multitudes, 
Isa. ii. 2. Jer. xxxi. 12. (3.) 
To abound, as water in a stream, 
Joel iii. 18. (4.) Speedily to 
melt away, and be removed or 
consumed, Isa. lxiv. 1. 3. Job 
xx. 28. (5.) To bud and in- 
crease, Song iv. 16. 

FLUTE; a musical instru- 
ment, the most simple of the 
wind kind ; it is played with 
the breath, and the notes formed 
by stopping or opening the 
holes thereof. It was used as 
early as the reign of David, 1 
Kings i. 40 ; and long after, in 
Nebuchadnezzar's idolatrous 
concert, Dan. iii. 5. 10. 15. 

Bloody FLUX, or dysentery ; 
an inward disease, occasioning 
frequent stools, mixed with 
blood, and attended with tenes- 
mus and violent pains. 

FLY; to march with gVea< 
speed ; to move quickly, as a 
214 



FOL 

bird in the air, Hab. i. 8. To 
fly upon, is to seize a thing 
greedily, as hungry hawks or 
eagles do their prey, 1 Sam. xv. 
19; or outrageously to fall on 
and abuse one, 1 Sam. xxv. 14. 
God's fly ing, imports the quick 
progress of his providence to de- 
liver and comfort his people, or 
to destroy their enemies, Psalm 
xviii. 10. Isa. xxxi. 5. Angels 
flying, denotes the alert and 
speedy manner in which they 
execute the will of God, Isa. vi. 

2. In their return from Baby- 
lon, and from the present dis- 
persion, the Jews did, or shall 
fly on the shoulders of their 
enemies. Such as once hated 
them, shall assist them, or shall 
be subdued by them, Isa. xi. 14. 
Men fly away by death; are 
suddenly and easily cut oft be- 
fore they have well begun to 
live, Psal. xc. 10. 

FOAL; a young horse, ass, 
mule, or camel, Gen. xlix. 11. 

FOLD. God folds together 
the visible heavens, when, at the 
last day, he unhinges their pre- 
sent form, Heb. i. 12. The As- 
syrians were f olden together as 
thorns, when gathered into Nine- 
veh, to be tormented and con- 
sumed by the fiery judgments of 
God, executed on them by the 
Medes and Chaldeans, Nah. i. 10. 
Seven-fold,thirty-fold. sixty-fold, 
and a hundred-fold, denote great 
abundance; plentifully, Ps.lxxix. 
12. Matt. xiii. 8. 

Fold; a house, or small inclo- 
stire, for flocks to rest together 
in, by night or at noon, Isa. xiii. 
20. The country which a nation 
possesseth, and dwelleth together 
in, is called their fold, Jer.xxiii. 

3. The church and ordinances 
of Christ are as a. fold: there bis 
sheep or people are gathered to- 
gether ; they enter by him as the 
door, and have strict union, so- 
ciety, refreshment, and rest to- 
gether, and are surrounded with 
pis protection and laws, John x. 
J. The Jews and Gentiles were 



FOO 

once distinct folds ; but the cere- 
monial wall of partition is taken 
away, and both are become one, 
John x. 16. Ezek. xxxiv. 14. 

FOLLOW ; to come up after, 
1 Sam. xxv. 27. To follow the 
Lord, or to follow the Lamb of 
God, is to take upon us the open 
profession of Christianity; we 
follow the Lamb, when we take 
our part with Christ, as the 
Lamb of God who beareth away 
the sin of the world : when we 
hold by the doctrine of Christ 
and him crucified ; when we ad- 
here to this good profession m 
face of all the self-denial and 
suffering to which it may sub- 
ject us, Jer. xvii. 16. Rev.xiv.4. 
To follow false gods, is idola- 
trously to honour and worship 
them, Judg. ii. 12. God's good- 
ness and mercy follow his peo- 
ple ; in the exercise thereof, he 
constantly attends, supports, and 
relieves them ; forgives their sin ; 
protects them from danger ; and 
bestows on them grace and 
glory, Psal. xxiii. 6. We follow 
the churches, the Old Testament 
saints, or others, when we imi- 
tate them in their profession and 
practice, 1 Thess. ii. 14. Heb. vi. 
12. and xiii. 7. 1 Cor. iv. 16 
Deut. xvi. 20. 2 Pet. ii. 2. To 
follow persons, is also to side 
with them and assist them, 2 
Sam.ii.10. 2 Kings xi. 15. We 
follow our own spirit, when, in 
our principles or practice, we are 
led and drawn by our own vain 
and wicked imaginations, Ezek. 
xiii. 3. We follow things, when 
we earnestly endeavour to ob- 
tain or practice them, Phil. iii. 
12. Rom. xiv. 19. 

A FOOL, or foolish person, is 
one that is the reverse of wis© 
and learned, and acts contrary 
to, or as if without sense and 
reason, 1 Sam. xxvi. 21. 2 Sam, 
iii. 33. It is very hard to cure 
foolish people of their folly, even 
though they shouldbesorelychas- 
tised and afflicted on account of 
it, as if they were brayed in a 
215 



FOO 



FOR 



mortar, Prov. xxvii. 22. Wicked ' being shod with the preparation 
persons are often called fools, or ~~ 
foolish; they act contrary to 
all sound wisdom; they wish 



there were not a God ; they pre- 
fer things vile, trifling, and tem- 
poral, to such as are important, 
divine, and eternal: in opposi- 
tion to the warnings of heaven, 
they laboriously promote their 
own ruin, Psal. xiv. 1. and xlix. 
10. Even the apostles are ac- 
counted fools, by wicked and 
worldly men, 1 Cor. i. 27. and iv. 
10. Such as upbraid their bre- 
thren as fools, are in danger of 
hell, Matt. v. 22. Whatever is 
without good reason, and an- 
swers not the ' important ends of 
God's glory, and men's true and 
eternal advantage, is foolish 
and hence we read of foolish 
talking, foolish lusts, foolish 
questions, &c. Eph. v. 4. 1 Tim. 
vi. 9. Tit. iii. 9. 

FOOT, feet. Among the an- 
cients, as well as moderns, 
foot was a measure of about 12 
inches ; but the Hebrews had no 
such measure ; their zereth being 
but the half of a cubit, or al 
most eleven inches. When Mo- 
ses and Joshua drew near to the 
symbols of the burning bush, or 
divine presence, they were di- 
rected to approach with their 
feet bare, as a token of rever- 
ence, Exod. iii. 5. Josh. v. 15. 
The priests performed their ser- 
vice bare-footed, and the people 
approached the altars with their 
shoes off. To this day, the Jews 
enter their synagogues bare- 
footed, on the feast of expiation. 
Before his death, Jesus washed 
his disciples' feet, to teach them 
humility, and a readiness to per- 
form good offices one to another, 
John xiii. 5. 1 Tim. v. 10. 

With the inspired writers, feet 
often signify the whole man, or 
beast, Psal. cxxi. 3. Isa- xxxii. 
20. or the affections and conver- 
sation : hence we read of keeping 
the feet, of turning the feet unto 
God's testimonies; of the feet 



U\^1LX^ JAA\J\A. HilU L1JU |^X ^JJU.J.U.L.1V/Uj 

or knowledge and influence of 
the gospel of peace, Eccl. v. 1. 
Ps.cxix. 59. Eph.vi.15. Songvii 
and straight feet, like those of a 

T, may denote integrity and 
constancy in executing God's 
work, Ezek. i. 7. To stand or be 
at one's feet, is to be his attend- 
ants,servants, or subjects, 1 Sam. 
xxv. 27. Judg. iv. 10. 

Footsteps; marks made by the 
foot. God's footsteps in the sea, 
are his marvellous providences, 
often unobserved, and alway un- 
searchable, Psal. Ixxvii. 19. The 
footsteps of his anointed, are 
those of Jesus in his media- 
torial work, in undertaking for 
assuming our nature, fulfill- 

_ ail righteousness, rising from 
the dead, ascending to glory, in- 
terceding for us, and at last 
judging the world, &c. Psalm 
Ixxxix. 51. The footsteps of 
Christ's flock, are either the 
exemplary practice of former 
saints, or the ordinances of the 
gospel, attended bv them, Song 
i. 8. 

FORBEAR. God's forbear- 
ance is the continued exercise 
of his patience, whereby he lets 
men alone, at least for a time, 
without punishing them, Rom. 
ii. 4. and iii. 25. By long for 
bearing a prince is persuaded: 
by mild representations, repeated 
and submissive remonstrances 
and patient waiting, he is per- 
suaded to do that which he 
would not, had it been haughtily 
and rashly suggested to him, 
Prov. xxv. 15. 

FORCE. (1.) Strength; vigour, 
Deut. xxiv. 7. (2.) Violence; 
oppression, Ezek. xxxiv. 7. (3.> 
Validity ; so a testament is of 
force; is unalterable, and valid 
to infer execution, when the 
testator is dead, Heb. ix. 17. 
' The violent take the kingdom 
of heaven by force,'' some think 
refers to the manner in which 
the Gentiles were forcing their 
way into it, as the Svro-pheni- 
216 " 



FOR 
eian woman and others ; but per- 
haps the passage is more intel- 
ligibly and more correctly read, 
thus, 'And, from the days of 
John the Baptist, until now, the 
kingdom of heaven is violently 
pressed upon, and the violent 
forcibly oppose it;' pointing to 
the opposition manifested to the 
kingdom of heaven, in its hea- 
venly nature, which began to be 
preached by John, 'Repent ye, 
for the kingdom of heaven is at 
hand.' 

Forces. (1.) Armies, 2 Chron. 
xvii. 2. (2.) Powerful multi- 
tudes enlisting themselves under 
Christ's banner, Isa. lx. 5. 11. 

FORD ; a shallow place of a 
river, Josh. ii. 7. The daughters 
of Moab being at the fords of 
Jirnon, imports their flying or 
going captives out of their own 
land, Isa. xvi. 2. 

FOREHEAD. The golden 
plate inscribed, Holiness to the 
Lord, fixed on the high-priest's 
forehead, might signify, that in 
Jesus, our High-Priest, the ho- 
liness and glory of God do shine 
in the most bright and open man- 
ner, Exod.xxvui.38. God's mak- 
ing Ezekiel's forehead strong 
and hard, against the forehead 
of the Jews, imports his enabling 
him boldly to withstand and tes- 
tify against their opposition and 
obstinate wickedness, Ezek. hi. 
8. The saints having a mark or 
seal in their forehead, imports 
their having safety and protec- 
tion amid terrible calamities, 
Ezek. ix. 4. Rev. vii. 3. Having 
God's name in their forehead. 
imports their opeii and bold pro- 
fession of his truth, Rev. xiv. 1. 
and xxii. 4. Antichrist's name, 
written on his forehead, imports 
the open avowal of antichristian 
doctrine and practices, Rev. xvii. 
5. Men's having the mark of the 
beast in their forehead, imports 
their open profession of the he- 
resies, and their bold attachment 
to the superstition and idolatry 
of the church of Rome. Rev. 
K 19 



FOR 

xiii. 16. and xx. 4. The Jews 

having a whore'' s forehead, and 
a stiff forehead, imports their 
shameless obstinacy in idolatry 
and other wickedness, Jer. iii. 
3. Ezek. iii. 7. God's setting a 
jewel on their forehead, imports 
his giving them public and great 
honour and wealth, and openly 
placing his tabernacle, temple, 
and ordinances among them, 
Ezek. xvi. 12. 

FOREKNOWLEDGE. God's 
knowledge of every thing that 
is to come to pass, Acts ii. 23. 
1 Pet. i. 2. 

FOREORDAIN ; in purpose 
to appoint or set up, Rom. iii. 
25. 1 Pet. i. 20. 

FORERUNNER; a title of 
the Son of God, gloriously de- 
scriptive of what he is now en- 
gaged about in heaven. When 
great men were about to enter a 
city in state, a forerunner was 
dispatched to announce their 
coming, that every thing might 
be in readiness against their ar- 
rival ; hence, says our Lord him- 
self to his disciples, ' it is expe- 
dient for you that I go away ; I 
so to prepare a place for you,* 
Heb. vi. 20. 

FORESHD?; the prow, or 
forepart of a ship, Acts xxvii. 30. 

FORFEIT. All his substance 
shall be forfeited, taken from 
him, and given to the use of the 
temple, the poor, or the civil 
magistrate, Ezra x. 8. 

FORGIVE, has the same sig- 
nification in scripture, as in com- 
mon life ; implying a pardon of 
offence. To forgive sin is the 
prerogative of God only ; when 
the Pharisees, who denied th& 
divinity of Christ, heard him for- 
giving sins, they said, ' this man 
blasphemeth,' Matth. ix. 3.; 
and agreeably to this, the God of 
Jacob says, 'I, even I, am He 
that blotteth out thy transgres- 
sions,' Isa. xliii. 25. It was tho 
ground of worship in the Old 
Testament church, that there 
was forgiveness with God, Ps. 
217 



FOR 
cxxx. 4. ; and to exercise this at- 
tribute of Godhead, Jesus Christ 
is exalted, Acts v. 31. 

FORM, is taken for the shape, 
image, or likeness of a thing. It 
is applied to the person of the 
Son of God. He was in the form 
of God, because he was the ' ex- 
press image of the invisible God.' 

FORNICATION, implies un- 
cleanness of every kind, (1.) 
Adultery is fornication; thus, 
1 Whosoever putteth away his 
wife, saving for the cause of for- 
nication, causeth her to commit 
adultery,' Matt. v. 32. (2.) Incest 
is called ' such fornication as is 
not named among the Gentiles,' 
1 Cor. v. 1. (3.) Connection be- 
tween unmarried persons ; * To 
avoid fornication, let every man 
have his own wife,' &.c. 1 Cor. 
vii.2. f4.) Idolatry is often call- 
ed fornication, 2 Chron. xxi. 11. 
and (5.) Every unclean doctrine 
is spiritual fornication ; * He hath 
judged the great whore ,whichdid 
corrupt the earth with her forni- 
cation,' Rev. xix. 2. See Whore- 
dom. 

FORSWEAR; to break an 
oath or vow, Matth. v. 33. 

FORT ; fortress. (1.) A strong 
hold; a place of defence and 
safety. The Lord is the fortress 
ov strong hold of his people. To 
him they flee in times of danger ; 
in him they trust, and find safe 
preservation from hurt, Psalm 
xviii. 2. Nah. i. 7. (2.) A kind 
of mount or tower, erected by 
besiegers of a city, in order to 
annoy the defenders, or their 
walls, Ezek. xxi. 22. Ho forti- 
fy, to make strong, by erecting 
towers and walls for defence, 
Judg. ix. 31. 

FORTY days the deluging 
rain fell, Gen. vii. 17; thrice 
Moses fasted forty days, Deut. 
ix. 9 — 25. Exod. xxiv. 18. and 
xxxiv. 28; in forty days the 
Hebrew spies searched Canaan, 
Numb.xiii.25 ; for forty day s Go- 
iath defied the Hebrew troops, 
i Sam. xvii. 16; forty days 



FOU 

Elijah fasted, 1 Kings xix. 8, 
forty days was the time allotted 
for the ruin of Nineveh, Jon. iii. 
4 ; forty days Ezekiel bore the 
iniquities of the house of Judah, 
a day for a year, Ezek. iv. 6 ; 
forty days Christ was tempted 
of the devil, Matth. iv. 2. Mark 
i. 13 ; forty days he continued 
on earth after his resurrection, 
Acts i. 3 ; forty years the He- 
brews tempted God in the wil- 
derness, Psal. xcv. 10 ; and forty 
years after Christ's death were 
their citv and temple preserved. 

FORWARD. (1.) Further on 
in a journey; in the progress of 
a work ; or in time, Gen. xxvk 
13. 1 Chron. xxiii. 4. 1 Sam. 
xvi. 13. (2.) Strongly bent and 
inclined, Gal. ii. 10. (3.) Far on 
in readiness, 2 Cor. viii. 10. For- 
wardness ; an earnest bent of 
the mind towards any thing, 
particularly to make collection 
for the poor, 2 Cor. viii. 8. and 
ix. 2. 

To FOUND. (1.) To fix the 
lower part of a building, Ezra 
iii. 6. (2.) To settle the beginning 
of a city or nation, Isa. xxiii. 13. 
(3.) To ordain, or appoint firmly, 
1 Chron. ix. 22. Psal. viii. 2. 
(4.) To cast metal, Jer. x. 9. 
FOUNDATION is the ground- 
work, or lowest part of a build- 
ing, which supports the other 
parts; as the foundation of a 
house, of a castle, of a fort, tow- 
er, &c. Christ Jesus, both in the 
Old and New Testament, is call- 
ed a foundation, Isa. xxviii. 16. 
' Behold, I lay in Zion, for a 
foundation, a stone, a tried stone, 
a precious corner-stone, a sure 
foundation.' Christ is the foun- 
dation on which the church is 
built ; the foundation of all the 
hope, comfort, and happiness of 
the people of God ; the founda- 
tion of the covenant made with 
the church, and of all the pro- 
mises contained therein; he is 
the sure foundation on whom 
his people may securely rest; 
one who will not fail them nor 
218 



FOU 
deceive them ; and he is the cor- 
ner-stone that unites the several 
parts of the building together. 

FOUNTAIN ; well ; spring. 
In the south part of Canaan, as 
•well as in most of Arabia, and 
in many places of Africa, &c. 
it was hard to come at any 
spring-water; hence so much 
contention happened about 
wells, Gen. xxi. and xxvi. £x. 
ii. In the valley of Baca, it 
eeems there were no springs 
but pits that retained the rain 
water, Psal. lxxxiv. The most 
noted wells we read of in scrip- 
ture, were Abraham's at Beer- 
sheba ; Hagar's at Beer-La-hai- 
roi; Isaac's wells of Sitnah, 
Ezek, and Rehoboth; Laban's 
at Haran; Jacob's near She 
chem, Gen. xvi. and xxi. and 
xxvi. John iv. 6 ; those of Elim, 
Exod. xv. 27 ; the well of Beer, 
eastward of the Dead Sea, Num. 
xxi. 16, 17, 18 ; of Bethlehem, 1 
Chron. xi. 17, 18 ; the fountains 
of gardens, probably at the foot 
of mount Lebanon, about six 
miles north from Tripoli ; and 
thewell of living waters, about 
a mile southward of Tyre. Song 
iv. 15 ; together with the foun- 
tain of Gihon and Enrogel at 
Jerusalem ; and Samson's well, 
Enhakkore, Judges xv. 19. 1 
Kings i. 9. Uzziah also 
digged a great many wells, 2 
Chron. xxvi. 10. The upp 
and nether springs, which Ca- 
leb gave to his daughters, were 
two fields full of springs, Judg 
L 15. That called Joseph's 
toell in Egypt, is about two hun- 
dred and seventy-six feet, or 
forty-nine fathoms deep ; and 
the water is drawn by a most 
curious engine, wrought with 
oxen, some far below, and some 
above ground. 

FOURSQUARE; that whose 
length and breadth are equal. 
The foursquare form of the al- 
tar and new Jerusalem, figures 
out the stability and self-con- 
listence of Christ and bis 



FOX 
church, Exodus xxvii. 1. Rev. 
xxi. 16. 

FOWLER; one that, by fire- 
arms, arrows, or nets, studies to 
catch fowls. Satan is a fowler; 
with great subtilty and deceit, 
he and his agents lay snares and 
temptations for the ruin of man- 
kind, Psal. xci. 3. Prov. vi. 5. 
Such as oppress and seek the 
ruin of their neighbours, or en- 
deavour to ensnare them into 
sin or danger, are called fowlers, 
Psal. cxxiv. 7. Jer. v. 26. 

FOX. It is a creature very 
well known, and very remarka- 
ble, principally for its cunning. 
There is mention made of it in 
several places of the scripture- 
Our Saviour calls Herod the Te» 
trarch of Galilee, fox ; signify- 
ing thereby his craft, and the 
refinement of his policy, Luke 
xiii. 32. And to give an idea 
of his extreme poverty, he says, 
' The foxes have holes, and the 
birds of the air have nests, but 
the son of man hath not where 
to lay his head,' Luke ix. 58. 
Ezekiel compares the false pro- 
phets with foxes, Ezek. xiii. 32. 
1 Thy prophets are like the foxes 
in the deserts.' Whether it wa9 
his design to heighten their cui> 
ning and hypocrisy in imitating 
the true prophets, and so cover- 
ing themselves with sheep's 
clothing, though they were ra* 
rening wolves ; or whether he 
intended to show, that these false 
prophets, instead of supporting 
Jerusalem, endeavoured only to 
destroy it, by undermining its 
walls, and shaking its founda^ 
tions, as foxes undermine the 
ground to make holes for them- 
selves, is not evident. In the 
iame sense seducers and false 
teachers are compared to foxes, 
Cant. ii. 15. ' Take us the fox- 
es that spoil the vines.' 

It is said in Judges xv. 4, 5. 
that Samson took three hundred 
foxes, which he tied two and 
two together by the tail, and 
that having fastened a fire-brand 
219 



FRA 

in the middle of the cord which 
bound them together, he let 
them loose among the crops of 
standing corn belonging to the 
Philistines, and they burnt them. 
From the fields they went into 
the olive-yards, and burnt them 
likewise. Some infidels are 
much scandalized at this histo- 
ry, and pretend it incredible that 
Samson could muster up so 
great a number of foxes. But 
to this it is replied, that foxes 
are very common in this coun- 
try, which is proved from scrip- 
ture and the testimony of tra- 
vellers. Solomon in his song 
says, that the ' little foxes spoil- 
ed the vines,' Cant. ii. 15. Jere- 
miah says, that ' the foxes walk 
upon the mountain of Zion 
which is desolate,' Lam. v. 18. 
There are some provinces and 
cities in Palestine which take 
their name from foxes, doubt- 
less by reason of the great num- 
ber of these animals thereabouts. 
For example : the land of Shual, 
or the fox, 1 Sam. xiii. 17. Ha- 
zer-shual, the fox's habitation, 
a city of Judah,or Simeon, Josh. 
xv. 28. and xix. 3. 

FRAME ; artfully to put into 
form. A frame is, (1.) An in- 
strument for fashioning a thing 
upon, Jer. xviii. 3. (2.) The 
figure or picture of a thing, 
Ezek. xl. 2. (3.) The very 
constitution of a person or thing, 
Psalm ciii. 14. 

FRANKINCENSE,an odori- 
ferous gum resin anciently much 
burnt in temples, and now used 
in medicine. It distils from in- 
cisions made in the tree during 
the heat of summer : the largest 
and best trees are called male- 
incense : the whitish drawn at 
the end of summer, are better 
than those drawn at the begin- 
ning. Some frankincense is 
brought from the East Indies ; 
but it is not equal to that of 
Arabia or Syria. What is the 
form of the frankincense-tree, 
we do not certainly know. 



FRI 

Pliny one while says, it is like 
the pear-tree ; another, that it ia 
like a mastick-tree ; then, that 
it is like the laurel ; and, in fine, 
that it is a kind of turpentine- 
tree. Frankincense is still use* 
in many of the Popish ceremo- 
nies, as well as by Heathens | 
and, at funerals, it is bestowed 
as an honorary present on pre 
lates, &c. Rev. xviii. 13. 

FRAY ; to chace away with 
fear, Deut. xxviii. 26. 

FRECKLES, brown specks 
on those surfaces of the body, 
which are constantly exposed to 
the sun. Lev. iii. 39. 

FREEDOM, signifies, (1.) 
The giving of liberty to a slave, 
Lev. xix. 20. (2.) The privi- 
lege of citizens in the Roman 
state, Acts xxii. 28. 

FRET. A fretting leprosy, 
is one which, by prickling and 
rankling, wastes the flesh, Lev. 
xiii. 51. 

FRIEND. In common life, 
the appellation of friend, is one, 
which implies what can be more 
easily felt than expressed. It 
implies one joined to another by 
ties of affection, regard, esteem, 
and intimacy. The ties of con- 
sanguinity are by no means es- 
sential to produce friendship ; 
but it generally arises from con- 
geniality of feeling and sent> 
ment. Friendship is therefore 
much celebrated in scripture : 
and from its beneficent effects 
among men, the gospel and its 
blessings are expressed by lan- 
guage borrowed from the senti- 
ments and fruits of friendship. 
Jesus Christ was reproached in 
his lifetime, as a friend of pub- 
licans and sinners ; he manifest- 
ed that his great design of com- 
ing into the world was to seek 
and save that which was lost. 
His doctrine breathed a friendly 
aspect to them, and 'they drew 
near to hear him,' while the 
scribes and Pharisees were his 
declared enemies, because he 
poured contempt on ill thiir 
220 



FRO 

spiritual pride. Not that we 
are to suppose that Christ's 
doctrine was friendly to sinners 



FUL 

frozen into ice, Job Xxxvii. 10. 
By frost, or excessive cold, wa9 
Jacob distressed, as he watched 



to encourage them to continue jLaban's flocks by night, Gen. 



i ; by no means: his lan- 
guage was, as the language of 
the gospel jias been in all ages, 
4 he that confesseth and forsak- 
eth, shall find mercy.' Solomon 
gays, Prov. xvii. 17. 'A friend 
loveth at all times ;' such friends 
may have appeared, but such 
friendship can only be seen in 
its tr,ue extent in the friendship 
of the Son of God, who says, 
4 Greater love hath no man than 
this, that a man should lay 
down his life for his friends.' 
Solomon again characterizes 
this friend, chap, xviii. 24. as 
* sticking closer than a brother.' 

FROG ; an amphibious ani- 
mal, that lives partly in the wa- 
ter, and partly on the earth. 
When God used them to plague 
the Egyptians, they swarmed 
in such numbers as to cover the 
whole land. They entered their 
bouses and ovens ; nor could 
their beds, and repositories for 
victuals, be kept rid of them. 
When God cut them off by 
death, the Egyptians gathered 
them into heaps, and the coun- 
try stunk with their disagreea- 
ble smell, Exod. viii. 

FRONT. (1.) The fore-part 
of a house, 2 Chron. iii. 4. (2.) 
The fore-rank or pait of an 
army, 2 Sam. x. 9. Frontiers, 
the uttermost borders of a coun- 
try, Ezek. xxv. 9. 

FRONTLETS, a kind of 
busk, or mark on the fathead. 
God charged the Hebrews to 
have his law as a sign on their 
forehead, and as frontlets be- 
tween their eyes ; that is, to have 
a thorough knowledge of it, con- 
stant regard to it, and to obey it 
in all they did, Exod. xiii. 16. 
See Phylacteries. 

FROST. By the breath of 

God frost is given ; by his will, 

and by the chilness of the air, 

the earth is hardened, and water 

19 J 



xxxi. 40. JehoiakinVs corpse lay 
unburied, till it was hardened by 
the frost, Jer. xxxvi. 30. By frost 
were the sycamores of Egypt 
withered, Ps. lxxviii. 47. Hoar- 
frost, is dew frozen in the air, 
and falling on the ground, Psal. 
cxlvii. 16. 

FRUIT; whatever is produced 
by any cause. The fruits of the 
earth are grass, corn, trees, herbs; 
the fruit of vegetables is their 
berries, apples, grapes, &c. the 
fruit of animals is their young 
ones. Children are called the 
fruit of the body, or womb, 
Deut. xxviii. 4. Psal. cxxvii. 3. 
Christ is the fruit of the earth; 
his human body sprung from it, 
Isa. iv. 2. The twelve manner 
of fruits which he bears, and 
these yielded every month, point 
to the unsearchable riches of 
Christ as the true tree of life, 
whose fruit is infinitely sufficient 
to supply all the wants of hi3 
church, the true twelve tribes of 
his Israel; in him they find a 
sufficient, constant, and com- 
plete supply, Rev. xxii. 2. Song 
ii. 3. Prov. viii. 19. The fruits 
of the Spirit are enumerated, 
Gal. v. 22. 24. Eph. v. 9. Rom. 
i. 13. Col.i.6. 

FUGITIVE and vagabond; 
one that flies his country, and 
wanders up and down in a rest- 
less manner. Gen. iv. 12. 14. 

FULL, fulness. (1.) Satisfied 
with, Isa. i. 11. 'I am full of the 
burnt-offerings of rams.' (2.) 
That which is perfect, complete, 
and which wants nothing, 2 
John 8. ' That we receive a full 
reward ;' that whole portion of 
glory which God had promised. 
(3.) Such as are proud and puff 1 
ed-up with a high con"eit of 
their own sufficiency and worth, 
so as they feel no need c: Christ, 
Luke vi 25. 'Wo unto you that 
are full.' (4.) One enabled both 
221 



FUR 

to conceive and bring forth, 1 
Sam. ii. 5. Full of years, one 
who had lived to a good old age, 
Gen. xxv. 8. ' Full of faith, and 
of the Holy Ghost,' that is, en- 
dued with a plentiful measure 
of faith and of the gifts of the 
Holy Spirit, Acts vi. 5. The ful- 
ness of time, is the time wherein 
the Messiah appeared, which 
was appointed by God, promised 
to the fathers, foretold by the 
prophets, expected by the Jews 
themselves, and earnestly longed 
for by all, who looked for re- 
demption; the fulness of this 
time, is when that time was fully 
come, Gal. iv. 4. ' When the ful- 
ness of time was come, God 
sent his Son.' The fulness of 
God, is such a measure of per- 
fection as God hath appointed 
to every one of the elect through 
Christ, Eph. iii. 19. « That he 
might be rilled with all the ful- 
ness of God ;' is sharing in the 
most ample manner in the un- 
searchable riches of Christ. 

FULFIL; to render full; to 
complete, Exod. v. 13. To fulfil 
a work, is to finish or complete 
it, Matt. iii. 15. To fulfil a pro- 
mise, threatening, or prophecy, 
is to do what is promised, threat- 
ened, or foretold, Matt. xxiv. 34. 
To fulfil a law, or command, or 
will, is to obey it, Rom. xiii. 8. 
To fulfil requests and desires, is 
to grant the things desired, Psal. 
xx. 4, 5. To fulfil lusts, is to do 
what wicked works they incline 
us to, Eph. ii. 3. Time is ful- 
filled when it is over or fully 
come, Luke i. 57. and ii. 6. 22. 
and xxi. 24. 

FULLER, one whose busi- 
ness was, to whiten, cleanse and 
dress clothes or garments. They 
had a field near Jerusalem ; see 
Isa vii. 3. 

FURLONG: a measure of 



FUR 

length, containing one hundred 
and twenty-five paces, of three 
Roman feet each, which made 
:he eighth part of an Italian 
mile : but Maimonides says, the 
Jewish furlong contained two 
hundred and sixty-six cubits two- 
thirds, and so seven one-half 
went to one mile, Luke xxiv. 13, 
Bishop Cumberland makes it 
four hundred cubits, or seven 
hundred and twenty-nine and a 
half feet. 

FURNACE. (10 A great fire 
for melting and refining me'tals ; 
or for burning offenders, Gen, 
xix. 28. Dan. iii. 6—23. (2.) A 
place of cruel and tormenting 
bondage: so Egypt is called a 
furnace, an iron furnace to the 
Hebrews, Deut. iv. 20. Jer. xi. 4. 
Isa. xlviii. 10. (3.) Most griev- 
ous and tormenting judgments 
and calamities, whereby the 
righteous are tried and purged, 
and the wicked consumed as 
dross, Isa. xxxi. 9. and xlviii. 10. 
(4.) The terrible and tormenting 
punishments of hell, Mat. xiii. 42. 

FURNITURE, is whatever 
is necessary to accommodate a 
person or thing, for the end or 
work it is designed; as a house 
for dwelling in, a camel for 
riding, &c. Exod. xxxi. 7. 

FURROW. (1.) An opening 
of the ground with a plough, 
Psal. lxv. 10. (2.) Grievous in- 
juries done to the church and 
people of God are likened to 
long furrows made upon the 
back: how barbarous and pain- 
ful! Psal. cxxix. 3. The Israel- 
ites' two furrows, may either 
denote their principal trans- 
gressions, revolting from the fa- 
mily of David by rebellion, and 
from God by idolatry, or their 
two countries, or their hard 
service under the Assyrians 
Hos. x. 10. 

222 



GAD 



GAD 



GAAL, an abomination ; the 
son of Ebed, probably a 
Canaanite, and perhaps des- 
cended of Hamor, the ancient 
king of Shechem. Judg. ix. 

GAASH, a storm; a hill in 
the lot of Ephraim, southward 
of Timnath-Serah. At the foot 
of this mountain was probably 
the brook or valley of Gaash, 
where Hiddai, or Hurai, one of 
David's worthies, was born, 
Josh. xxiv. 30. 2 Sam. xxiii. 30. 
1 Chron. xi. 32. 

GABBATHA, the pavement; 
a place in Pilate's judgment- 
hall, whence he pronounced 
sentence of death on our Sa- 
viour, John xix» 13. 

GABRIEL, a noted angel of 
God. He forwarded the ruin of 
Persia, Dan. x. 13. 20. He ex- 
plained to Daniel his visions of 
the four beasts, of the ram and 
goat: he declared the time of our 
Saviour's appearance on earth, 
and his death, and the fearful 
consequents thereof to the Jew- 
ish nation. He informed him of 
the ruin of the Persian empire ; 
of the wars between the Grecian 
kings of Egypt and Syria ; of the 
distress of the Jews under An- 
tiochus Epiphanes ; of the rise 
and fall of Antichrist; and of 
the present adversity, and future 
restoration of the "Jews, Dan. 
vii — xii. He informed Zacharias 
of the birth of his son, John Bap- 
tist, and of his punishment of 
dumbness, till he was born. He 
afterwards informed the Virgin 
Mary of her conception and birth 
of the Messiah ; and told her, 
her cousin Elizabeth was now 
in the sixth month of her preg- 
nancy. He admonished Joseph 
to retain his wife, to flee into 
Egypt, and to return thence after 
the death of Herod, Luke i. 
Matt. i. and ii. 

GAD, the son of Zilpah, the 
handmaid of Leah; so called, 
to signify that a troop, or good 



fortune,vf&s coming, Gen. xxx. 
9, 10, 11. He had seven sons, 
Ziphion, Haggai, Shuni, Ebzon, 
Eri, Arodi, Areli ; all of whom 
were fathers of numerous fami- 
lies, Gen. xlvi. 16. Numb. xxvL 
15—18. 

2. Gad, a prophet that at- 
tended David in his persecution 
by Saul, and afterward. In the 
first year of David's exile, Gad 
divinely admonished Mm to de- 
part from the country of Moab, 
into the land of Judah, 1 Sam. 
xxii. 5. When David numbered 
the people, Gad, in the name of 
the Lord, offered him his choice 
of three plagues, famine, pesti- 
lence, or war ; and when David 
had chosen the pestilence, and 
obtained the shortening thereof, 
Gad, by the Lord's direction, 
ordered him to build an altar in 
the threshing floor of Araunah. 
Gad wrote a history of David's 
life, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1 Chron. xxL 
and xxix. 29. Gad was also a 
name given to the country of tha 
Gadites, and to the river Arnon, 
that run through part of it, 1 
Sam. xiii. 7. 2 Sam. xxiv. 5. 

GADARA, walled, or hedged 
about ; a celebrated city. Jose- 
phus says, it was the capital of 
Perea, and about eight miles 
eastward of the sea of Tiberias; 
and in it Pompey, about A. J\L 
3948, erected one of the five 
principal Jewish courts. The 
Gadarenes who inhabited it, 
being a mixture of Jews and 
; Heathen, fed great numbers of 
! swine ; or living on the borders 
' of the Heathen, they fed them 
! to sell to the Heathen. When 
j Christ, in healing two possessed 
: persons, suffered the devils to 
! enter their herd of swine, and 
drown them, instead of accept- 
ing the punishment of their ini 
quity, they besought our Sa~ 
viour to leave their country ; and 
about forty years after, had their 
city burnt to ashes by the Ro~ 
223 



GAL 

mans, Mark v. Luke viii. 26. 
&c. Matthew, chap. viii. 28. 
calls this the country of the Ger- 
gesenes, because Gergesa was 
the name of the country where 
Gadara stood, or was a city 
near to Gadara ; and Christ heal- 
ed the possessed men on the bor- 
der betwixt the two, or in a place 
common to both. 

GAIN. To gain men, is to be 
instrumental in converting them 
to Jesus Christ, Matth. xviii. 15. 
1 Cor. ix. 19 — 22. To gainsay, 
is to refuse, contradict, Romans 
x.21. 

GAIUS; a noted Christian, 
baptised by Paul at Corinth, and 
in whose house Paul lodged 
when he wrote to the Romans. 

GALATIA; a province of 
Lesser Asia ; bounded on the 
west by Phrygia, on the north 
by Paphlagonia ; on the east by 
the river Halys ; on the south by 
Lycaonia. It anciently con- 
tained twenty two noted cities, 
and received its name from the 
Gauls or Galatse, who, when 
their country of France, and 
places adjacent, were over- 
stocked with inhabitants, after 
ravaging Italy and Greece, en- 
tered Asia, and pillaged the 
country as far southward as Ba- 
bylon ; but 120,000 of them be- 
ing there defeated by a handful 
of Jews, and Attalus king of 
Pergamus having forced them 
from his territories, they settled 
here. 

Christianity was introduced 
into this country by the ministry 
of Paul, about A. D. 50. The 
churches planted here appear to 
have been sadly corrupted and 
misled, by certain Judaizing 
teachers who had come among 
them during the apostle's ab- 
sence. To reclaim them from 
their errors, Paul wrote an im- 
portant Epistle, which is a part 
of our canonical scriptures. The 
year in which this epistle was 
written is greatly disputed. 

GALBANUMjagum, resin or 



GAL 

sweet spice, and one of the in- 
gredients of the Jews' sacred 
perfume, Exod. xxx. 34. It was 
extracted from a plant much like 
to the large fennel ; and which 
grows in mount Amanus in Sy- 
ria. 

GALUD, the heap of wit- 
nesses : so named by Jacob and 
Laban, Gen. xxxi. 48. 

GALILEE, a large and fer- 
tile territory of the north parts 
of Canaan. The Lower Galilee 
lay on the west of Jordan, and 
sea of Tiberias ; and contained 
the portions of Issachar, Zebu- 
lun, Naphtali, and Asher. Up- 
per Galilee lay eastward of the 
Jordan, and took in a great part 
of the lot of the eastern half- 
tribe of Manasseh, if not more. 
It was called Galilee of the 
Gentiles, because it bordered on 
the heathen countries of Syria 
and Arabia ; and, it seems, great 
numbers of Gentiles dwelt along 
with the Jews in it. Solomon 
gave twenty cities of Lower Ga- 
lilee, called the land of Cabul, to 
Hiram king of Tyre : and here 
Jonah and Nahum the prophets 
were born. Benhadad, and, long 
after, Tiglathpileser, terribly ra- 
vaged the land of Galilee, 1 
Kings ix. 11. and xv. 20. 2 Kings 
xiv. 25. and xv. 29. Nah. i. 1. 
After the Jews returned from 
Babylon, the Samaritans kept 
possession of Samaria, or the 
portions of Ephraim, and the 
western Manassites ; but the 
Jews spread themselves into Ga- 
lilee, and into the country called 
Perea beyond Jordan. In Gali- 
lee, our Saviour, and most of his 
disciples, were educated ; and 
here he chiefly preached and 
wrought miracles. Here he was 
transfigured, and afterwards seen 
of five hundred followers after 
he had risen from the dead ; and 
from this country he and they 
were sometimes called Gali- 
leans, Luke xxiii. 6. Acts ii. 7. 
Isa. ix. 2, 3. 

Sea of Galilee ; a freshwater 
224 



GAL 
lake on the east side of Lower I 
Galilee. It is about twelve or 
fifteen miles long, and six or j 
eight broad. In the Old Testa- 1 
ment it is called the Sea of Cin- \ 
nereth or Chinnereth ; and in the 
New Testament, it is sometimes j 
called the Sea of Tiberias, from ; 
a city of that name which stood 
on its borders. The river Jordan 
flows through this lake from 
north to south. The country 
around this sea has always been 
considered the most fertile, and 
the most beautiful and salubrious j 
of any in Palestine. This lake j 
abounds with excellent fish, but : 
at present no fishing boats are 
seen on its waters. The dimen- 1 
sions given above are derived j 
from the measurement of Mr. ; 
Buckingham; but Josephus and i 
most others, make them greater. 
Dr.Clarke describes its surround- 
ing scenery as in a high degree 
picturesque, and its waters as 
clear as crystal, and sweet, cool, 
and very refreshing to the taste. 

GALL; a herb or root, much 
like our hemlock. It is exceed- 
ing bitter ; and to torment or in- 
toxicate him, it was given to our 
Saviour on the cross, Psal. lxix. 
21. Any thing very bitter or 
disagreeable is likened to it, as a 
part or juice of the animal body, 
Job xvi. 13. and xx. 25. Injus- 
tice, oppression, and like wicked 
works, are likened to gall: how 
offensive and detestable to God ! 
how hurtful and ruinous to men ! 
Amos vi. 12. Deut. xxxii. 32. 
Apostacy is called the gall of 
bitterness and bond of iniquity, 
Acts viii. 23. Most grievous 
troubles are called gall, Jer. viii. 
14. and ix. 15. Lam. iii. 5. 19. 

GALLERIES ; upper-rooms. 
Christ's ordinances are likened 
to them ; they are pleasant and 
refreshing, and in them the saints 
have communion by faith and 
love, Song vii. 5. The same 
word is rendered rafters and 
watering-troughs, Song i. 17. 
Gen. xxx. 38. 41. 



GAM 

GALLEY ; a ship rowed with 
oars. The enemies of the Jews, 
and the Assyrian army in particu- 
lar, are likened to g alley s,or gal- 
lant, i. e. large and magnificent 
ships, Isa. xxxiii. 21. 

GALLIM; a city of the Ben 
jamites, about three or four 
miles north from Jerusalem, and 
near Anathoth. Here lived Phal- 
ti, the husband of Michal, Da- 
vid's wife ; and here the inha- 
bitants were terribly affrighted 
and harassed by Sennacherib's 
troops, 1 Sam. xxv. 44. Isa.x.30. 

GALLIO ; the brother of Se- 
neca, the famea moralist, and 
the adoptive son of Luciu3 Ju- 
nius Gallio, from whom he re- 
ceived his name. Under the 
emperors Claudius and Nero, he 
was proconsul or deputy go- 
vernor of Achaia. About fl. D. 
54, when the Jews, enraged at 
PauVs converting many of the 
Corinthians to be Christians, 
dragged him to Galho's tribu- 
nal, as guilty of teaching men 
to worship God contrary to the 
Roman law ; as Paul was going 
to answer for himself, Gallio, 
being of a temper extremely 
mild, calmly told the Jews, that, 
had their charges against Paul 
been of a criminal nature, he 
would have thought himself 
obliged to give them a hearing; 
but since they only related to 
idle disputes about their law, he 
ordered them directly out of his 
presence. Not many years after. 
Gallio and his brother were mur- 
dered by the order of Nero. 

GAMALIEL ; a noted Pha- 
risee, and doctor of the Jewish 
law, at whose feet Paul had been 
brought up. When, not long 
after our Saviour's ascension, 
the Jewish councils were on the 
point of murdering the apostles, 
Gamaliel advised to let them 
alone ; for if they were impos- 
tors, their folly would quickly 
appear, and their project come 
to nought, as had happened in 
the case of Judas and Theudas : 
225 



GAR 

but if their cause was of God, 
all opposition to it, amounted to 
a fighting against God. With 
this speech he persuaded the 
council to spare their lives, Acts 
xxii. 3. and v. 34 — 40. It is said 
that Gamaliel was the son of 
the famous Hillel, and the uncle 
of Nicodemus, and for thirty- 
two years president of the Jew- 
ish sanhedrim. 

GAMMADIMS, were not 
dwarfs of a cubit long, as some 
have pretended, but the inhabi- 
tants of some place in Phoeni- 
cia : either of Ancon, in Hebrew 
Oamad, a cubit ; or of Gam- 
made, which Pliny corruptly 
calls Gamale. They served as 
soldiers in his towers of Tyre . 
and Hiller, in the Onomasticon, 
thinks their name imports them 
to have been left-handed, Ezek. 
xxvii. 11. 

GAP ; a breach made in a 
dam, or hedge. The Jewish 
false prophets did not stand ii 
the gap, or make up the hedge 
they did nothing tending to stop 
the course of wickedness which 
opened a door for the vengeance 
of God to break in upon their 
nation: the Son of God alone 
was of infinite might to stand 
in the gap, and turn away di- 
vine wrath, Ezekiel xiii. 5. and 
xxii. 30. 

To GAPE upon one, imports 
a strong desire, cruelly to undo 
one's property, reputation, or 
life, in the manner of a wild 
beast, Job xvi. 10. Psal. xxii. 
12, 13. 

GARDEN. The verb gan, 
a garden, signifies to fence, or 
hedge in, and thus to cover, pro- 
tect, &c. The garden in para- 
dise is often relerred to in the 
Holy Scriptures, by the appro- 
priating name of the garden of 
Jehovah, Gen. xiii. 10. Isa. Ii. 
3. and the garden of the Elo- 
him, Ezek. xxviii. 13. 

GAREB, a scab ; one of Da- 
vid's worthies, 1 Chron. xi. 40 ; 
also a hill, Jer. xxxi. 39. 



GAR 
GARLANDS; a kind of 

crowns made of flowers, ribands, 
&c. Those brought by the 
priest of Jupiter, were probably 
designed to crown the ox des- 
tined for sacrifice, in like man- 
ner as the Jews crowned their 
victim of first-fruits with olive- 
branches, Acts xiv. 13. 

GARLICK; a plant, whose 
flower is of the lily-kind, and 
consists of six leaves, with a 
pistil in the centre, which at 
last becomes a roundish fruit, 
divided into three roundish cells, 
each containing seeds of the 
same figure. The flowers are 
collected into round heads, and 
the roots are covered with a 
kind of skin. Tournefort men- 
tions thirty-eight sorts of gar- 
lick. Whether that, so much 
eaten, and even worshipped in 
Egypt, had the same virtue aa 
ours, we know not, Num. xi. 5. 

GARMENT, that wherewith 
one is clothed. The divine at- 
tributes are spoken of in scrip- 
tures, as garments, with which 
God is clothed. Jesus Christ, 
the great High-Priest, is now 
invested with the true garments 
of glory and beauty, Rev. i. 13. 
and his garments will appear 
dyed when he shall come up 
from Bozrah, the place of the 
slaughter of his enemies, Isa. 
lxiii.2. Christ's robe or garment, 
which was not divided by the 
soldiers, but for which lots were 
cast, we are expressly told was 
without seam, a fine figure of 
the matchless perfection of his 
robe of righteousness ; and the 
lot used on this occasion, of that 
sovereign grace by which the 
guilty become invested with 
that garment. Shining gar- 
ments, represent the dress of 
heaven, Luke xxiv. 4. The 
garments of the church, the 
king's daughter, is all-glorious, 
a robe of needle-work, Psalm 
xlv. 13. All his redeemed have 
their robes washed and made 
whit*" in the blood of the Lamb. 
226 



GAT 

GARNER, is the store-house 
into which Jesus Christ collects 
his precious harvest, as the true 
husbandman, Luke iii. 17. 

GARNISH: to cover over; 
fleck beautifully, 2 Chron. iii. 6. 
Job xxvi. 13. 

GARRISON. (1.) A place 
where soldiers are posted to de- 
fend it, or to protect, or keep in 
subjection the country about, 1 
Sam. xiii. 23. (2.) The bands 
of soldiers posted in such a 
place, or for such an end, 2 Cor., 
xi. 32. 2 Sam. viii. 6. 

GASHMU, or Geshem, rain ; 
an Arabian, Neh. vi. 6.* 

GATE, is the entrance into a 
house or city, Judg. xvi. 3. The 
word is used in scripture to 
point out the gate of heaven, by 
which the righteous nation shall 
enter in. When Jacob awoke 
from his dream at Bethel, he 
exclaimed, when he beheld the 
ladder whose top reached to 
heaven, ' This is the gate of 
heaven !' Jesus Christ is the 
gate, for he is the way, the 
truth, and the life. The gates 
of the temple were in their na- 
ture and situation a fine figure 
of the entrance into heaven ; 
and thus the heavenly Jerusa- 
lem is described as having 
twelve gates, a gate for every 
tribe; and these gates are never 
shut. A portion of the worship 
of the temple was performed at 
the gates ; and hence the phrase, 
* May show forth thy praise in 
the gates, 1 Psal. ix. 14. « Enter 
into his gates with thanksgiving,' 
Psal. c. 4. The worship at 
these gates, was designed to 
celebrate that divine righteous- 
ness, which these gates repre- 
sented, and which opens the 
gates of heaven to the whole 
rejustified nation. From this 
cause, they are named, the gates 
of righteousness. There were 
a particular class of priests and 
Levites, whose office it was to 
praise in the gates, 2 Chron. 
xxxi. 2. It has been often re- 



GAT 

marked that these are the gates, 
of which it is said, Psal. xxiv. 7. 
• Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; 
and be ye lifted up, ye everlast- 
ing doors,' &c. When the ark 
of the covenant was brought up 
to the temple from the house of 
Obed Edom, the question is put 
by the priests within the gates, 
' Who is this king of glory V 
and those without answer, 
' The Lord of Hosts, strong and 
mighty in battle, he is the king 
of glory.' A grander represen- 
tation of the solemn entrance 
of the Son of the Highest into 
the highest heavens, cannot be 
conceived. 

The gate of the city, being the 
chief place of concourse, was 
the place where the judges sat, 
and determined all causes ,Deut. 
xvii. 5. 8. and xxv. 7. We 
have a remarkable example of 
their mode of procedure, Ruth 
iv. It was here that Absalom 
sat, when he stole the hearts of 
the people from his father, 2 
Sam. xv. 2. Mordecai sat at 
the king's gate, not a poor 
mendicant, but as a judge, and 
therefore Haman said, ' All this 
availeth me nothing, so long as 
I see Mordecai the Jew sitting 
at the king's gats,' Esther v. 
13. Peace and war were pro- 
claimed from the gate; and 
hence the gates of hell, is a 
proper expression for the power 
and influence of hell. Gate 
sometimes means the power or 
work of judging, Prov. xxii. 22. 
The gates mourn when the 
judges are destroyed, Jer. xiv. 
2. Men exalt their own gate, 
when they talk boastingly, 
Prov. xvii. 19. To reprove in 
the gate, is to administer re- 
proof from the seat of judgment 
The straight gate, is by the 
truth, which, levelling the pride 
of the human heart, and oppos- 
ing all man's own righteousness, 
shuts him up to the faith of the 
Son of God. The gates of the 
grave, is that power of death 
227 



GAT 

which was destroyed by the 
Son of God. 

GATH,a wine-press, or Get h, 
and whose inhabitants were 
called Gittites, was a celebrated 
city of the Philistines about 
fourteen miles south of Joppa, 
five from Ekron, and 32 west 
from Jerusalem. It was very 
ancient ; for while the patriarch 
Ephraim yet lived, about A. M. 
2360, the men of Gath made a 
descent on the land of Goshen, 
carried off part of the Hebrews' 
cattle, and murdered several of 
Ephraim's sons, but were re- 
pulsed by the Benjamites, 1 
Chron. vii.21. and viii. 13. Here 
Goliath, and his gigantic breth- 
ren, were born. Achish, to 
whom David twice fled for pro- 
tection, was king of it, 1 Sam. 
xvii. and xxi. and xxvii. About 
eight or ten years after, David 
reduced it, 2 Sam. viii. 1, 2. 
Rehoboam fortified it for Judah, 
2 Chron. xi. 8. About the time 
of Jehoram, it seems to have 
been recovered by the Philis- 
tines ; but Hazael king of Sy- 
ria took and demolished it, 2 
Kings xii. 17. Uzziah took it 
from the Philistines, and brake 
down the wall of it, 2 Chron. 
xxvi. 6; but they retaking it 
under Ahaz, Hezekiah recover- 
ed it to Judah, 2 Kings xviii. 8. 
Since which time, it appears to 
have been of small note. About 
seven hundred and fifty years 
ago, Fulk, king of Jerusalem, 
built a castle on its ruins. 

GATH, or Gittah-hepher ; 
a city of Galilee, noted as the 
birth-place of the prophet Jonah, 
Josh. xix. 13. 2 Kings xiv. 25. 
Jerome says it was two miles 
from Sephoris or Diocesarea. 
There were two Gathrimmons ; 
one in the lot of Dan, and west- 
ward from Jerusalem, and an- 
other in the lot of the western 
half-tribe of Manasseh: both 
were given to the Levites of 
Kohath's family, Josh. xxi. 24, 
25. In a country so full of 



GAZ 

vineyards as Canaan was, we 
need not wonder to find a varie- 
ty of cities named Gath, or wine- 
press. 

GATH-RIMMON, a high 
wine-press, a city, Josh. xix. 45. 

GATHER, to collect, to bring 
together into one place, &c. It 
is used in scripture, in many va- 
rious senses. Death is called, 
being gathered to his people^ 
Gen. xxv. 8. although the ex- 
pression evidently respects the 
faith in which they died. Jacob, 
in blessing Judah, says, that to 
him shall the gathering of the 
people * be ; this was fulfilled 
when Shiloh, the Messiah, came, 
and drew all men to nimself af- 
ter his resurrection. But the 
great gathering of the people 
will only take place at the re- 
surrection ; and therefore Paul 
speaks of ' the coming of our 
Lord Jesus, and our gathering 
together to him,' 2 Thess. ii. 1. 
The gathering of the nation is 
an event much noticed by the 
prophets ; see Jer. iii. 17. The 
bringing the Jews back from 
their dispersion is called gather- 
ing them from all lands, Ezek. 
xxxix. 27, 28. 

GAZA, strong, or a goat. 
(1.) A city of the Ephraimitesj 
whose true name perhaps was 
Adazzah, 1 Chron. vii. 28. (2.) 
Gaza ; a city near the south- 
west point of Canaan, and about 
two miles and a half from the 
Mediterranean sea, sixty south- 
west of Jerusalem, and one hun- 
dred and fifty-seven north-west 
from Elath. It was anciently a 
city of the Philistines, but given 
to the tribe of Judah, who con- 
quered it, and Ashkelon and 
Ekron, after the death of Joshua, 
Judg. i. 18. But the Philistines 
retook it, and kept possession 
of it till the reign of David. 
Samson carried the gates of it 
almost to Hebron, and after- 
ward was imprisoned, and died 
in it, along with many of the in- 
habitants, called Gazites, of 
228 



GAZ 

Gazathites, Judg. xvi. David 
reduced it. About one hundred 
and fifty years after, the Gazites 
revolted ; and during the disas- 
ters of Judah, they sold or be- 
trayed many of the Jews to the 
Edomites. Whether Uzziah or 
Hezekiah retook it, is not cer- 
tain ; but it seems that Shalma- 
neser or Sennacherib, kings of 
Syria, took it, and burnt part of 
it with fire, Amos i. 6, 7. Pha- 
raoh-Necho, king of Egypt, 
seized it, Jer. xlvii. 1. Not long 
after, it fell into the hand of the 
Chaldeans, and after them the 
Persians. About A. M. 3670, 
Alexander took it, after a siege 
of two months; and, in the 
most barbarous manner,dragged 
the brave commander of the 
Persian troops around it alive, 
and destroyed the place, Zeph 
ii. 4. Zech. ix. 5. Probably it 
was never after rebuilt, Acts 
viii. 26. The Gaza, which be- 
longed to the Greek sovereigns 
of Egypt, and was sacked by 
Antiochus the Great, and which 
the Maccabean generals several 
times wrested from the Syrian 
Greeks, and which by Alexan- 
der Janneus, king of the Jews, 
was razed to the ground, but re- 
built by Gabinius the Roman, 
and given by Augustus the em- 
peror to Herod the Great, was 
probably little Gaza or Majuma, 
that stood about three miles 
from the other on the sea-shore, 
and had been the sea-port to it. 
Here the people were obstinate 
Heathens, and had a noted deity 
called Mamas, which was wor- 
shipped in a magnificent temple. 
Reland, and some others, think 
this new Gaza was much about 
the spot of the old city, and 
quite different from Majuma. 

Gaza is now called Razzah, 
and lying between Syria and 
Egypt, has always been a place 
of some importance. The pre- 
sent inhabitants are said to 
amount to 2000. It is situated 
oq an eminence, and is rendered 
20 



GED 

beautiful by its palm-trees, and 
by a number of large gardens 
kept in the nicest order. Figs, 
pomegranates, apricots, peaches, 
and almonds, are raised here in 
great perfection. 

GAZE. Persons are made a 
gazing-stock, when set up by 
men, or by the providence of 
God, as if to be looked upon 
with curiosity and contempt, 
Nah. iii. 6. Heb. x. 33. 

GEBAL ; a city south of Ju- 
dea, Josh. xiii. 5. Ezek. xxvii. 9. 
GEDALIAH, the greatness 
of Jehovah, the son of Ahikam, 
a Jewish prince, who had gone 
over to the Chaldeans a little 
before the destruction of Jeru- 
salem. Nebuzaradan, the Chal- 
dean general, made him gover- 
nor of the poor people that were 
left in the land of Judah. Jere- 
miah and Baruch retired to him 
at western Mizpah: numbers 
of Jews who had fled into the 
land of Moab and Ammon, 
came and put themselves under 
his protection ; he assured them 
of safety, provided they lived 
peaceably. Ishmael, the son of 
Nethaniah, instigated by Baalis, 
king of the Ammonites, came to 
murder him, and set up for him- 
self. Gedaliah was informed of 
this horrid intention ; but would 
not believe it : he generously en- 
tertained Ishmael and his at- 
tendants. Scarce was the feast 
ended, when Ishmael and his 
party murdered Gedaliah, and 
all that were present with him at 
that time, whether Jews or 
Chaldeans. The remnant oi 
the Jews that were under pro- 
tection, fearing that Nebuchad- 
nezzar would impute to them 
the murder of his deputy, retired 
into Egypt, notwithstanding all 
the prophet Jeremiah could say 
to hinder them, 2 Kings xxv. 22. 
Jer. xl. — xliii. 6. 

GEDER, probably the same 

with Gederah and Gedor. Ii 

seems, that near to it the Sim- 

eonites smote the Amalekites; 

229 



GEN 

and so it must have been a city 
about the south-west point of 
Canaan, Josh. xii. 13. and xv. 
58. 1 Chron. iv. 39. 

GEDEROTH, hedges, and 
Gederah, or Gederothaim ; two 
cities of the tribe of Judah ; the 
former of which, lying in the 
plain south-west of Jerusalem, 
was taken by the Philistines in 
the reign of Ahaz, Josh. xv. 41. 
36. 2 Chron. xxviii. 18. 

GEHAZI, had possibly been 
the servant of Elijah. It is cer- 
tain he attended Elisha for some 
time. He tried to recover the 
Shunamite's son, by laying his 
master's 6taff on him: some 
time after, his greediness of mo- 
ney tempted him to run after 
Naaman, the healed leper, 
whom his master had freely 
dismissed, and demand some 
money and clothes of him in his 
master's name: he readily ob- 
tained more than he asked ; but 
Elisha, highly displeased with 
his conduct, rebuked him : and 
by a solemn curse, laid him and 
his posterity under the leprosy. 
He was immediately infected, 
and left his service. But it 
seems, that about five or six 
years after, he conferred with 
Jehoram, king of Israel, con- 
cerning Elisha's miracles, 2 
Kin£:s iv. v. and viii. 

GENDER. (1.) To get with 
young, Lev. xix. 19. Job xxi. 
10. (2.) To breed ; bring forth, 
2 Tim. ii. 23. Gal. i v. 24. 

GENEALOGY comes from 
the Greek word genealogia, 
which signifies a list of our an- 
cestors, a description of the 
stock, lineage, or pedigree of 
any person or family. The 
common Hebrew expression for 
it, is sepher toledoth, liber gene- 
rationis. The Hebrews were 
very careful in preserving their 
genealogies ; and perhaps there 
never was any nation more cir- 
cumspect in this point than 
that of the Jews. At this day 
we find genealogies in their se- 



GEN 

cret writings, carried on for 
above three thousand five hun- 
dred years ; and in the evange* 
lists we have the genealogy of 
Jesus Christ deduced for fouir 
thousand years, from Adam to 
Joseph or Mary, Luke iii. 23- 
&c. The Jews were very exact 
in their genealogies, partly from 
their own choice and interest, 
that they might preserve the 
distinctions of the several tribes 
and families, which was neces* 
sary both to make out theit 
claims or titles to offices or in- 
heritances, which might belong 
to them by death, or otherwise; 
and to govern themselves there- 
by in the matter of marriages^ 
and some other things whereia 
the practice of some laws re- 
quired the knowledge of these 
things. It is observed in Ezra 
ii. 62. that such priests as were 
not able to produce an exact 
genealogy of their families were 
not permitted to exercise theit 
function. This their exactness 
was likewise ordered by the 
special providence of God, that 
so it might be certainly known 
of what tribe and family the 
Messiah was born. 

GENERATION, properly sig 
nifies the natural production of 
animals, &c. In Scripture it sig^ 
nifies, (1.) Posterity; offspring, 
Gen. x. 1. (2.) Historical ac- 
count of the formation, descent, 
posterity or life of one. The 
generations of the heavens and 
the earth, are the history of theii 
formation, Gen. ii. 4. The boob 
of "the generation of Jesus Christ, 
is a history of his descent, birth, 
life, and death, Matt. i. 1. The 
book of the generations of 
Adam, is the history of his crear 
tion and offspring, Gen. v. L 
(3.) A particular order of de» 
scent; and hence a race or class 
of persons alive at the same 
time; so there were forty-twp 
generations from Abraham to 
Christ, Matt. i. 2—17. Joseph 
saw three generations; his own, 
230 



GEN 

his children, and his grandchil- 
dren. Abraham's seed came out 
of Egypt in the fourth genera- 
tion, as Jochebed, the daughter 
of Levi, or others of the fourth 
descent, might be still alive, 
Gen. 1.23. and xv. 16. This 
generation shall not pass away, 
till all these things be fulfilled; 
the people living at the time of 
Christ's death, were not all dead, 
when Jerusalem, and the Jewish 
nation, wer.e ruined by the Ro- 
mans, Matt. xxiv. 34. Although 
this is a very general, it is by no 
means a correct application of 
the text. The word generation 
here seems to be applied to the 
Jewish nation, which our Lord 
foretels should not pass away 
till his second coming. In fulfil- 
ment of this prophecy, we see 
them subsisting at this day, a 
distinct and separate generation. 
In Christ's time, the Jews were 
a faithless, perverse, and unto- 
ward generation, Mark ix. 19. 
Acts ii. 40. The saints are a 
chosen generation, ^generation 
dedicated to the Lord, and who 
seek his face, lPet.ii.9.Ps.xxii. 
31. and xxiv. 6. (4.) When the 
original for generation is dor, it 
most properly signifies an age, 
as Exod. iii. 15. and xvii. 16. Ps. 
xc. 1. and xxxiii. 11. Who can 
declare his generation? Who 
can explain the manner of his 
divine generation by his father's, 
or even of the Virgin's concep- 
tion of him, and the union of his 
natures, or of his resurrection 1 
The elect of God are called a 
generation; This is the genera- 
tion of them that seek thy face, 
Psal. xxiv. 6. A seed shall be 
accounted to the Lord for a 
generation, Psal. xxii. 30. point- 
ing to that seed, who are born, 
not of blood, nor of the flesh, but 
by the word of the Lord which 
liveth and abideth for ever. 

GENESIS, the beginning. 
The Hebrews call it, and the 
other books of Moses, from the 
first word or words; but the 



GEN 

Greeks call it Genesis, or gene- 
ration; because it relates the 
history of the creation, and of 
about twenty-four generationa 
descended from Adam. It ex- 
tends to two thousand three 
hundred and sixty-nine years; 
informs us of God's making of 
the world; of man's happy state 
and fall ; of the propagation of 
mankind in the loins of Cain the 
murderer of Abel, and of Seth ; 
of the rise of Christianity, and 
general apostacy from it ; of the 
flood, the salvation of Noah's 
family by an ark, and their re- 
peopling the world ; of the ori- 
ginal of nations, and building of 
Babel ; of the life, and death, and 
posterity of Nahor, Lot, Abra- 
ham, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, and 
Joseph. Whether Moses wrote 
this book while in Midian, or 
rather when he led the Hebrews 
through the desert, is not agreed, 
nor is it important. 

GENNESAR, or Gennesa- 
reth, the garden of a prince; a 
country or city on the west of 
the sea of Tiberias, Mat. xiv. 34 
GENTILE. The Hebrews call 
the Gentiles by the general name 
of Goim, which signifies the na- 
tions that have not received the 
faith or law of God. All who are 
not Jew r s, and circumcised, are 
comprised under the word Goim* 
Before Christ, the door to life 
and justification w r as opened to 
the world by the belief only and 
profession of the Jewish religion. 
Those who were converted and 
embraced Judaism, they called 
proselytes. Since the preaching 
of the gospel, it is not confined 
to any one nation only, and 
country, as heretofore. God who 
had promised by his prophets, to 
call the Gentiles to the faith, has 
executed this promise: so that 
the Christian church is com- 
posed of scarce any other be- 
side Gentile converts; and the 
Jews, who were proud of their 
particular privileges, for the 
most part have been abandoned 
231 



GER 

to their reprobated sense of 
things, and have disowned Jesus 
Christ their Messiah and Ee- 
deemer, for whom, for so many 
ages, they wished so impatiently. 

GENTLE; God's gentleness 
is his grace, goodness, and mercy, 
and favours proceeding there- 
from, Psal. xviii. 35. 

GERAH ; the twentieth part 
of a shekel. It was the least of 
the Jewish coins, Exod. xxx. 13. 

GERAR, a pilgrimage ; an 
ancient city of the Philistines, 
somewhere about the south-west 
of Canaan, between Kadesh and 
Shur, and not very far from Beer- 
sheba, nor from Gaza. Its terri- 
tories extended unto Arabia. It 
was governed by kings called 
Abimelech, whose herdsmen 
were very troublesome to Abra- 
ham and Isaac's servants, Gen. 
x. 19. and xx. and xxvi. 

GERIZZIM, a mount near 
Shechem, in Ephraim, a pro- 
vince of Samaria. Shechem lay 
in the valley between two 
mounts, Ebal and Gerizzim ; the 
former was barren, the latter 
fruitful. God commanded the 
Israelites, when they entered 
Canaan to stand, six tribes on 
one of these mountains, and six 
on the other. Those on Geriz- 
zim, were to pronounce the! 
blessings on the observers of the. 
law, and those on Ebal, the 
curses on the violators of the 
law, Deut. xi. 29. xxvii. 12. | 
Joshua complied with this order, 
and built an altar on mount 
Ebal; but in the Samaritan Pen- 
tateuch, Gerizzim is substituted 
for Ebal, because on this moun-j 
tain, they erected a temple, as a' 
rival of that at Jerusalem, Deut. 
xi. 29. 

GERSHOM, or Gershon, a 
stranger; the eldest son of Levi. 
At the departure from Egypt, his 
family consisted of seven thou- 
sand five hundred males, two 
thousand six hundred and thirty 
of them fit for service. They 
were stationed at the west end 



GES 

of the tabernacle in the wilder- 
ness, and governed by Eliasaph, 
the son of Lael. Their work 
was to carry the vails and cur- 
tains of the tabernacle, as Itha- 
mar ordered them, Num. iii. 21 
—25. and iv. 24—25. When they 
came to Canaan they had thir- 
teen cities assigned them, viz. 
Golan and Beeshterah, from the 
eastern half- tribe of Manasseh; 
from Issachar, Kishon, Dabareb, 
Jarmuth, and Engannim: from 
Asher, Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, 
and Rehob ; from Naphtali, Ke- 
desh, Hammoth-dor, and Kar- 
tan, with their suburbs, some of 
whose names were changed, or 
perhaps the cities exchanged for 
others, Josh. xxi. 16—33. 1 Chr. 
vi. 71 — 76. As the family of Ger- 
shon consisted of two branches, 
those of Laadan had for their 
heads in the days of David, 
Jehiel, Zetham, Joel, Shelomith, 
Haziel, and Haran; and those 
of Shimei hath Jahath, Zinah, 
Jeush, and Beriah, 1 Chr. xxiii. 
7 — 11. Jehiel's sons, Zetham 
and Joel, were overseers of the 
treasures, in the house of the 
Lord, 1 Chron. xxvi. 21, 22. 

GESHUR, a walled valley. 
(1.) A city or country on the 
south of Damascus, and east of 
Jordan. Whether the Geshurite3 
were Canaanites or Syrians, is 
not clear. Neither Moses nor 
Joshua expelled them ; but Jair, 
a valiant Manassite, reduced 
them, Josh.xiii.il, 12, 13. IChr. 
ii. 23. Nevertheless, they and 
their neighbours, the Maachath- 
ites, had kings of their own in 
the days of David. Talmai then 
reigned in Geshur, whose daugh- 
ter, Maachah, David took to 
wife, and had by her Absalom. 
The Geshurites were subject to 
Ishbosheth ; and to Geshur Ab- 
salom fled, after he had murdered 
his brother, 2 Sam. xiii. 37. (2.) 
Geshur, or Geshuri, a place on 
the south-east of the land of the 
Philistines: the inhabitants of 
this place David and his war- 



GIA 

nors Blew while he dwelt at Zik- 
lag, Josh. xiii. 2. 1 Sam. xxvii. 8. 

GETHSEMAXE, a small vil- 
lage in the mount of Olives, and 
where it seems there was an 
oil-press. Hither our Saviour 
sometimes retired from Jerusa- 
lem; and in a garden belonging 
to it he had his bitter agony, and 
was apprehended by Judas and 
his band, Matth. xxvi. 36—50. 

GEZER, a city not far from 
Joppa, on the south-west corner 
of the lot of Ephraim ; but the 
Canaanites kept possession of it 
for many ages, Judges i. 29. 
There was another Gezer on 
the south-west of Canaan, the 
inhabitants of which David and 
his warriors smote, 1 Samuel 
xxvii. 8. 

GHOST. Death, the final 
separation of the body and soul, 
is called yielding and giving up 
the Ghost. Gen. xlix. 33. xxv. 17. 
Matt. xxvi. 50. Job xiv. 10. 

GIANT. In Greek, Gigas, in 
Hebrew, Nophel, or Jfephilim, 
which may signify a monster, or 
terrible man, who beats and bears 
down other men. The scripture 
speaks of Giants who lived before 
the flood ; they are called Xephi- 
lim, mighty men, which were of 
old, men of renown, Gen. vi. 4. 
Aquila, instead of Gigantes, 
translates this word JVephilim, 
men who attack, who fall with 
impetuosity upon their enemies ; 
a translation, says one, which 
renders very well the whole 
force of the Hebrew term. 

The scripture calls them some- 
times, Rephaims. For example : 
Chedorlaomer and his allies beat 
the Rephaims, or giants, at Ash- 
teroth, Karnaime, Gen. xiv. 5 
The Emims, ancient inhabitants 
of the land of Moab, were of a 
gigantic stature ; they were of 
trie number of the Rephaims, or 
giants, Deut. ii. 10, 11. The 
Rephaims and the Perizzites are 
joined together as old inhabit- 
ants of the land of Canaan, Gen. 
xv. 20. Job says, that the an 



K 2 



GD3 

cient Rephaims, mourn or groan 
under the waters, Job xxvi. 5k 
These giants of the old world, 
who once carried themselves in- 
solently towards God and men, 
but were quickly subdued by the 
divine power, and drowned'with 
a deluge, do now mourn, or groan 
from under the waters, where 
they were buried, or in their sub- 
terranean and infernal habita- 
tions. In David's time, we find 
a family of giants at Gath, viz. 
Goliath, Suph, or Sippai, Lshbi- 
benob, Lahmi, and another, who 
had six fingers on each hand, and 
as many toes on each foot : all 
these were cut off by the hand 
of David and his servants in se- 
veral battles, 2 Sam. xxi. 1 Chr. 
xx. After this Ave hear no more 
of giants in Canaan. Not only 
the scripture, but almost every 
ancient writer, as Homer, Hero- 
rodotus, Diodorus, Pliny, Plu- 
tarch, Virgil, Ovid, &c. informs 
us of giants in the early ages; 
though, proceeding on vulgar 
fame, they ordinarily overstretch 
their magnitude. 

GIBBETHOX, a high house ; 
a city of the tribe of Dan, given 
to the Levites, Josh. xxi. 23. It 
lay ou the borders of the Philis- 
tines. It seems the Levites for*- 
sook it, or were driven out of it 
by Jeroboam the son of Xebat. 
Soon after which, the Philistines 
seized on it. Both Xadab, the 
son of Jeroboam, and Elah, the 
son of Baasha, attempted to 
wrest it from them; but it is 
probable, that it remained in 
their hands till the reign of Je- 
roboam the second, 1 Kings xv. 
27. and xvi. 15. 

GIBEAH, or Gibeath, a hill; 
a city at first given to the tribe 
of Judah, but afterwards to the 
Benjamites ; or there were two 
or more cities of this name. It is 
certain there was a place called 
Gibeah, or the Hill, near Kib- 
jathjearim, Josh. xv. 57. and 
xviii. 28. 1 Sam. vii. 1. with 2 
Sam. vi. 3, 4. Gibeah, in th* 



20* 



233 



GIB 

tribe of Benjamin, was about 
four or six miles north of Jeru- 
salem, upon a hill. 

GIBEON ; a city situated on 
a hill, about five miles north 
from Jerusalem. Neur to it, the 
Lord rained hailstones, and cast 
thunderbolts on the Canaanites, 
while the sun stood over it ; 
and to commemorate this, there 
geems to have been a great stone 
erected, Josh. x. 10. Isa. xxviii. 
21. 2 Sam. xx. 8. Near to it the 
troops of David and Ishbosheth 
skirmished, and Asahel was 
slain, 2 Sam. ii. 13. and hi. 30. 
Here the tabernacle and altar of 
burnt-offering about that time 
and afterwards stood, 1 Chron. 
xxi. 29, 30. 1 Kings iii. 3, 4: 
and long after, Ishmael the son 
of Nethaniah was taken, and his 
captives recovered, Jer. xli. 12. 
Hananiah, the false prophet, was 
a native of it, Jer. xxviii. 1. In 
the time of Joshua, the Hivites 
who inhabited Gideon, Chephi- 
rah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim, 
alarmed with the Hebrews' mi- 
raculous passage through Jor- 
dan, and their capture of Jericho 
and Ai, came to meet them, ar- 
rayed in old clothes, and with 
mouldy provision, as if they had 
come from a far country, alarm- 
ed with the overthrow of the 
Amorites beyond Jordan ; and 
begged they would enter into a 
league with them. After making 
some objections, the Hebrew 
princes, without consulting tlie 
Lord, made an agreement with 
them, and partook of their vic- 
tuals, as a testimony of their 
friendship. On the third day 
thereafter, the Hebrews disco- 
vered their mistake, by coming 
to their cities. Being reproached 
with their fraud, the Gibeonites 
pleaded, in excuse, their im- 
pending danger of utter destruc- 
tion. In terms of the league, their 
lives were spared; but Joshua 
condemned them to the servile 
work of hewing wood and draw- 
ing water for the house of God. 



GIF 
Five of their neighbouring na- 
tions immediately took arms 
against them for submitting to 
the Israelites : but Joshua pro- 
tected them, and cut off their 
enemies, Josh. ix. and x. 

GIDEON. In examining the 
history of Gideon, we have the 
authority of an inspired apostle, 
to consider him as an eminent 
instance of that faith which is 
the ' evidence of things not seen. 
Gideon is on the head of the list 
of those Old Testament wor- 
thies, enumerated by Paul, Heb. 
xi. 32, 33, who, « through faith, 
subdued kingdoms, wrought 
righteousness,' &c. Judges vi 
vii. viii. 

GIFT, that which is freely and 
gratuitously given. It is applied 
in an eminent manner to Jesus 
Christ, God's unspeakable gift. 
Our Lord says to the woman of 
Samaria, ' If thou knewest the 
gift of God, viz. Him who say- 
est to thee, give me to drink,' 
&c. John iv. 10. He is that gift, 
which the wise man says is as a 
precious stone in the eyes of him 
who hath it, Prov. xvii. 8. The 
free-will offerings of the Old 
Testament church were gifts; 
hence, says the Psalmist, ' bring 
gifts and presents every one.' 
The daughter of Tyre waited 
upon Solomon with a gift, as 
her antitype shall do in the 
morning of the resurrection, Pe 
xlv. 12. When Christ ascended 
up on high, and sat down as the 
head of his church, he received 
gifts for the rebellious, Psal. 
Ixviii. 18. These gifts he poured 
down on the days of the Pente- 
cost, and gave some apostles, 
prophets, &c. When the wise 
men from the east appeared be- 
fore the babe, Jesus, in Bethle- 
hem, they gave gifts, gold, 
frankincense and myrrh : this 
also shall be fully understood 
when the way of the kings of the 
east shall be prepared. Faith is 
the gift of God. ' By grace are 
ye saved, through faith, and that 
234 



GIL 

BOt of ourselves, it is the gift of 
God,' Eph. ii. 8; and as the 
wages of sin is death, so eternal 
life is the gift of God, Rom. vi. 
23. Every good and perfect gift 
conies from God, James i. 17. 
The gifts and calling of God 
are without repentance ; that is, 
what he hath given according 
to his divine and eternal purpose, 
cannot be reversed. Paul calls 
the partaking in the Holy Ghost, 
a tasting of the heavenly gift. 

GIHON, one of the four heads 
or branches of the river that 
watered the garden of Eden, 
and compassed or run along the 
whole land of Cush. 

Gihon, a fountain west of Je- 
rusalem, where Solomon was 
anointed king by Zadok and 
Nathan. Hezekiah had the up- 
per channel of Gihon conveyed 
into the city, for the advantage 
of its waters, .1 Kings i. 33. 2 
Chron. xxxii. 30. 

GILBOA ; a mountain noted 
for the defeat of the Hebrews, 
and the slaughter of Saul and 
his three sons : it lay about sixty 
miles north from Jerusalem, and 
six westward from Bethshan, 
on the south of the valley of 
Jezreel. These mountains, ac- 
cording to Dr. Richardson, con- 
sist of a lengthened ridge, rising 
in peaks about 800 feet above 
the level of the road, and per- 
haps 1200 above the sea. They 
are very bare, producing nothing 
but a few scanty shrubs and a 
little withered grass, 1 Samuel 
xxviii. 4. xxxi. 1. 2Sam.i. 6. 21. 
GILEAD. (1.) The son of 
Machir, and grandson of Manas- 
seh. His 6ons were Jezer, He- 
lek, Afriel, Shechem, Shemida, 
and Hepher, by whom he had a 
numerous posterity, settled be- 
yond Jordan, Num. xxvi.29, 30, 
31. and xxxii. 40. (2.) The fa- 
ther of Jephthah, who also had 
a numerous family, and might 
be a descendant of the former, 
Judg. xi. 1, 2. (3.) A noted 
ridge of mountains, stretching 



GIL 

almost all the way from Leba 
non to the country of Moab, at 
some distance eastward from 
Jordan. Whether it had ita 
name originally from Jacob's 
Galeed, or heap of witness ; or 
from Gilead the son of Machir, 
it is certain that the whole 
country pertaining to the He- 
brews, eastward of Jordan, and 
which contained Perea, Golan, 
Bashan, and Trachonites, was 
sometimes called Gilead, and 
the people Gileadites, Numb, 
xxxii. 3. 26 ; but the northern 
part of the hill-country was 
most properly called Gilead, 
Numb, xxxii. 1. Gilead was 
noted for the best of balm, Jer. 
viii. 22. and xlvi. 11. and li. 8 ; 
and for the most excellent pas- 
ture ; and hence a prosperous 
condition is likened to the pas- 
tures of Gilead, Song iv. 1 Mic. 
vii. 14. Zech. x. 10. Jer. 1. 19 
In the time of Jephthah, it was 
terribly overrun by the Ammo- 
nites, who laid claim to a great 
part of it; and it seems they 
thought to revive their pretend- 
ed claim in the days of Saul. 
It was not till after the death of 
Ishbosheth that David was 
king here. It was often terribly 
ravaged by the Syrians, under 
Benhadad and Hazael. When 
the Assyrians carried captive the 
Hebrews, it was generally seiz- 
ed by the Ammonites and Mo- 
abites. After the Chaldean 
captivity, the Jews, with a 
mixture of Gentiles, dwelt in it, 
Judg. xi. 2 Sam. ii. 9. Psal. lx. 

7. Amos i. 3. 13. We remem- 
ber of no noted person of this 
country, besides Jair, Jephthah, 
Ibzan, and Elijah. (4.) A city 
called Ramoth-Gilead, and Ra- 
moth-Mizpeh ; a strong city, 
near to where Jacob and Laban 
made their covenant, and which 
was an east frontier to the tribe 
of Gad. It was a city of the 
Levites, and of refuge, Josh. xx. 

8. and xxi. 38. It seems to have 
been noted for idolatry, Hos. vi. 

235 



GIR 

8. and xii. 11 ; as it was for the 
judgments of God, being a chief 
bone of contention between the 
Syrians and Hebrews, in the 
days of Ahab and Jehu, &c. 1 
Kings. 

GILGAL. (1.) A famed 
place, about three miles west- 
ward of Jordan, and perhaps 
about as much from Jericho. 
Here Joshua had his camp, for 
some time after he passed the 
Jordan; and by circumcising 
the people, and rolling away 
their reproach, gave a name to 
the spot. A city was here built. 
Here Saul had his kingdom con- 
firmed to him, and his ejection 
from it intimated, and Agag, 
king of Amalek, hewed in pieces 
before his face. In the time of 
Samuel, there was an altar 
erected here, and sacrifices of- 
fered thereon, 1 Sam. xi. 15. 
and xv. 33. Whether there was 
an idolatrous regard paid to the 
place, or any idol erected here 
in the time of Ehud, from whom 
perhaps Eglon thought he 
brought his message, is not cer- 
tain; but towards the decline 
of the kingdom of the ten tribes, 
there were idols worshipped 
here, Judg. iii. 19. Hos. iv. 15. 
Amos iv. 4. and v. 5. (2.) A 
city or country, about six miles 
north from Antipatris, and 
whose ancient kingdom consist- 
ed of various nations or tribes. 
Josh. xii. 23. There was a village 
called Galgulis about this spot. 
four hundred years after Christ. 

GIRD ; to fasten any thing 
firm and close about one, 1 
Kings xx. 11. As the Jews, and 
other eastern nations, wore a 
loose kind of garments, they 
made much use of girdles to 
tuck up their clothes, and fit 
them for working or walking, 
John xiii. 4. 1 Kings xviii. 46 ; 
and some of them were very 
costly and fine, Prov. xxxi. 24. 

GIRGASHITES ; a tribe of 
the ancient Canaanites, Josh. 
xxiv. 11. It is said, part of 



GLA 

them fled off into North Africa 
and Procopius tells us of an an- 
cient pillar in that country, 
whose inscription bore, that the 
inhabitants had fied from the 
face of Joshua the ravager. 
Perhaps the Gergesenes on the 
east of the sea of Tiberias were 
the remains of them. 

GITTITES, wine-presses; 
the inhabitants of Gath, Josh, 
xiii. 3. Perhaps Obed-edom 
and Ittai, David's friends, were 
called Gittites, because they 
resorted to him at Gath ; or be- 
cause they were natives of Git- 
taim, a city of Benjamin, to 
which the Beerothites fled after 
the death of Saul, and which 
was rebuilt after the captivity, 
2 Sam. vi. 10. and xv. 19. and 
iv. 3. Neh. xi. 33. 

GITTITH, in the title of 
Psal. viii. lxxxi. and lxxxiv. is 
by some thought to be the name 
of a musical instrument invent- 
ed at Gath ; by others, to sig- 
nify a wine-press, and these 
Psalms to have been sung after 
the vintage ; others think they 
were sung by virgins born in 
Gath ; others, that they were 
composed on the defeat of Go- 
liath the Gittite. 

GLASS. Anciently, looking- 
glasses were made of polished 
brass, tin, silver, brass and sil- 
ver mixed, &c. The brazen 
laver of the tabernacle was 
formed of looking-glasses,which 
devout women had offered. Ac- 
cording to Pliny and Tacitus, 
the Phenicians were the inven- 
tors of glass. According to 
Diodorus, the Ethiopians very 
anciently preserved their dead 
bodies in large glasses. The 
invention of fire glasses is com- 
monly ascribed to Archime- 
des, of Sicily, who lived about 
two hundred years before Christ ; 
but Abulpharaj, an Arabic au- 
thor, says, the Egyptians knew 
it not long after the flood. The 
word of God is compared to a 
glass, which represents to us 
236 



GLO 

out real character, as a glass 
does the natural face, and this 
is one great internal evidence of 
the truth of Revelation, Jam. i. 
23. 25. The law of Moses is 
compared to a glass, in which 
the glofiy of the Lord was repre- 
sented, in the various figurative 
ordinances of that law, 2 Cor. 
iii. 18. The new Jerusalem is 
compared to transparent glass, 
for her purity and resplendent 
glory, Rev. xxi. 18. 21. The 
redeemed company are repre- 
sented as standing on a sea of 
glass after obtaining their vic- 
tory, probably pointing to the 
divine righteousness and bound- 
less love of the son of God, by 
which they are more than con- 
querors, Rev. iv. 6. and xv. 2. 

To GLEAN, is properly to 
gather ears of corn, or grapes, 
left by reapers and grape-gather- 
ers. Nor were the Hebrews al- 
lowed to glean their fields or 
vineyards, or to go over their 
trees a second time, but to leave 
the gleanings to the poor, father- 
less, and widow, Lev. xxiii. 22. 
Ruth ii. 3. Lev. xix. 10. Deut. 
xxiv. 21. 

GLEDE ; a well-known fowl 
of the ravenous kind. It is 
called daah, from its swift flight ; 
raah, from its quick sight. It 
is impatient of cold, and so is 
seldom seen in the winter : 
through fear and cowardice, it 
seldom attacks any but tame 
fowls, hens, &c.Deut.xiv. 13. It 
is called a vulture, Lev. xi. 14. 

GLORIFY, to make glorious. 
God the Father is glorified in 
the finished work of Jesus 
Christ, which all redounds to 
the glory of God the Father, 
John xvii. 4. The Father glori - 
fied the Son, when he received 
from him honour and glory on 
the holy mount, 2 Pet. i. 17; 
when he raised him from the 
dead, Rom. vi. 4 ; and when he 
Crowned him with glory and 
honour at his own right "hand, 
I PeL i. 21. And aA the elect 



GLO 

of Jesus Christ will be eternally 
glorified with him in heaven, 
with what Paul calls 'a far 
more exceeding and eternal 
weight of glory,' Rom. viii. 18. 
See Glory. 

GLORY. The manifestation 
of excellency, 2 Cor. iii. 7; and 
is applied in scripture in various 
points of view. The glory is 
eminently considered as the em- 
blem of the divine presence, or 
rather the divine presence itself. 
The church expresses her hope, 
Psal. lxxxv. 9. ' that glory would 
dwell in her land ;' and John 
bears witness, that this glory 
was displayed tabernacling in 
flesh and blood, and they be- 
held it, the glory as of the only 
begotten of the Father, See. 
John i. The ark of the cove- 
nant was called the glory of the 
Lord, because it represented 
God manifest in flesh ; there 
fore, said the mother of Ichabod. 
when the ark was taken, ' Tha 
glory is departed,' 1 Sam. iv. 21 
The ark seems also to be the 
glory referred to in Rom. ix. 4. 
Therefore, when the tabernacl* 
was completed, the Shechinah, 
or visible display of divine glory, 
filled the tent, and took up its 
residence upon the ark, between 
the cherubims, signifying that* 
the divine glory should rest up- 
on the man Christ Jesus ; and 
hence, the worship of the Old 
Testament church was address- 
ed to him who dwelt between 
the cherubims, Exod. xxix. 43. 
When Solomon had dedicated 
the temple, the cloud of divine 
glory so filled the house, that 
the priests could not stand to 
minister in it, 1 Kings viii. 11. 
This is the reason we find the 
prophets who prophesied after 
the glory was indeed departed, 
promising that the glory of the 
second house should be greater 
than the glory of the first. Hag. 
ii. 3. 7. 9 ; and God promises to 
be a wall of fire round about, 
and the glory in the mid3t,Zecii. 
237 



GLO 

ii. 5. Moses requested to see 
this glory, Exod. xxxiii. 18. but 
the time was not yet come when 
it could be displayed, so as guil- 
ty man could see and live. 
Isaiah foretold the days when 
the glory of the Lord should be 
revealed, Isa. xl. 5 ; and when 
Jesus Christ appeared on earth; 
then ' the brightness of the di- 
vine glory, and the express 
image of his person shone,' Heb. 
i. 3. When Simeon took up his 
Infant Lord in his arms, he calls 
him ' the light who should 
lighten the Gentiles, and the 
glory of thy people Israel,' Luke 
ii. 32. 

Glory is taken for worldly 
splendour and magnificence, 
which make kings glorious be- 
fore men, Matth. vi. 29. Solo- 
mon in all his glory, in all his 
lustre, and in his richest orna- 
ments, was not so beautiful as a 
lily. Thus riches, authority, 
sumptuous buildings and gar- 
ments, which men are ready to 
praise, and which make their 
possessors glorious before men, 
are called, in scripture, glory, 
Psal. xlix. 16. 

Glory is put for the church, 
which "God makes glorious, not 
only in his own eyes, but even 
in the eyes of the world, Isa. iv. 
5. Glory is taken for the un- 
speakable blessedness, joy, and 
felicity of the saints in heaven, 
Psal. lxxiii. 24. 'Thou shalt 
guide me with thy counsel, and 
afterwards receive me to glory.' 
God promises to be to his church 
1 a wall of fire round about, and 
the glory in the midst,' Zech. ii. 
5. The miracles which our Sa- 
viour wrought, manifested his 
glory, or his divine power, John 
ii. 11. ' The. glory of the Lord 
shall be revealed,' Isa. xl. 5. 
that is, the glorious power and 
goodness of God shall be mani- 
fested in the deliverance of the 
Jews from Babylon, but more 
especially in the redemption of 
all nations by our Lord Jesus 



GOD 

Christ. ' Whether ye eat or 
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do 
all to the glory of God,' 1 Cor. 
x.31. 

GNAT ; a small troublesome 
insect. Such as are very zealous 
about trifles, or smaller matters, 
while they indulge themselves in 
things evidently and heinously 
sinful, are said to strain at a 
gnat, and swallow a camel, 
Matth. xxiii. 24. 

GOAD, a long staff or wand, 
for driving cattle with, Judg. iiL 
31. It had a prick in the small 
end, and perhaps a paddle on 
the other, to cut up weeds. The 
words of the wise are as goads; 
they penetrate into men's con- 
sciences, Eccl. xii. 11. 

GOAT ; a four-footed animal 
of the flock-kind, much, of the 
same size with the sheep, but 
with hollow and erect horns, 
bending a little backwards, and 
covered with pale dun hair, 
which in some eastern countries 
is spun, and made into cloth, 
such as that whereof the taber- 
nacle had one of its coverings. 
Under the law, goats were cere- 
monially clean, and often used 
instead of a lamb ; but they were 
especially used in the sin-offer- 
ings, Numb. vii. 29 Matthxxv.33. 

GOB, grasshoppers; a place 
on the borders of the Philistines, 
where the Hebrews gave the 
Philistines two noted defeats, 
and killed two of their giants. 
Instead of Gob, we have Gezer 
in another text: which show8 
that Gob and north Gezer were 
not far distant, if they were not 
the same, 2 Sam. xxi. 18, 19. 1 
Chron. xx. 4. 

GOBLET ; a small vessel for 
holding liquor. 

GOD. The Supreme, Al- 
mighty, and Eternal One, of 
whom are all things, and we in 
him. However ignorant of the 
character of the true God, all 
men, in all ages, have in one de- 
gree or another acknowledged 
the existence of a God. 
238 



GOD 

The names applied to the 
Godhead in scripture are El, 
Adonai, Jehovah; and these 
have each their respective sig- 
nifications, applicable to the cha- 
racters in which God has been 
pleased to reveal himself. The 
words Jehovah, Elohim, occur 
more than once in the first chap- 
ter of Genesis, as the name of 
the Godhead. 'And Jehovah, 
Elohim, said, Behold, the man 
is become like one of us, to know 
good and evil,' Gen. iii. 22 ; one 
of us, necessarily and unavoida- 
bly, implies a plurality of per- 
sons. No reasoning can do away 
the force of this and many simi- 
lar instances which might be ad- 
duced, did our limits admit 
unanimously proving, that in the 
earliest revelation God made of 
himself to guilty man, the doc- 
trine of the Trinity was clearly 
taught. Men may talk in a ge- 
neral way about the power, 
goodness, and other attributes 
of God, but it is from the scrip- 
tures only we can form any thing 
like just ideas even of these at- 
tributes. 

Angels are called gods, for 
their excellent nature, and their 
declaring God's mind, and exe- 
cuting his work as his deputies ; 
and they are required to wor- 
ship Christ, when the heathen 
idols were destroyed, Psal. xcvii. 
7. Heb. i. 6. Magistrates are 
called gods; as his deputies 
they rule over others, Exod. xxii. 
28. Psal. lxxxii. 1. 6. John x. 
34. Moses is called as god, be- 
cause God's deputy in delivering 
the Israelites, Exod. iv. 16. and 
vii. 1. Satan is called the god 
of this world : he is believed, 
obeyed, and adored, under va- 
rious forms, by most of the in- 
habitants of it, 2 Cor. iv. 4. Idols 
are called gods, because adored, 
worshipped, and trusted in by 
their votaries, 1 Kings xi. 33. 
They are strange, or other gods; 
the Hebrews were not originally 
ia eovenant with them, Deut. 



GOG 
xxxii. 16. Judg. ii. 12; and the 
most pious among them, out of 
detestation, declined pronounc- 
ing their names, and hence sub- 
stitute Bosheth or Besheth, i. a. 
shame, instead of Baal, in nam- 
ing some persons : thus, for Esh- 
baal, Meribaal, and Jerubbaal, 
they pronounced Ishbosheth, 
Mephibosheth, and Jerubbesh- 
eth ; and sometimes called them 
Elihm, nothings, or not-gods; 
and often Gilulim, as for ex- 
ample in Ezek. xxx. 13, &c. 
Men's belly is their god, when 
they are chiefly careful to pro- 
vide for and please it, Phil. iii. 19 

Goddess; the heathens had 
many of them, as Ash tore th, the 
Moon, Diana, Juno, Venus, &c 
1 Kings xi. 5. Acts xix. 27. 

Godhead, the nature or es- 
sence of God, Col. ii. 9. Rom. i. 
20. Acts xvii. 29. 

Godliness may be considered 
as comprehending the whole re- 
velation, as briefly hinted at in 
the preceding article ; thus, Paul 
says, ' Great is the mystery of 
godliness,' 1 Tim. iii. 16. In 
other texts it is used as synony- 
mous with godly, that which 
proceeds from God ; thus, godly 
sorrow is the sorrow which God 
only can produce, and worketh 
repentance, 2 Cor. i. 12. Godly 
fear is that fear of God which 
is the beginning of wisdom ; and 
a godly man is he who loves God 
from a sense of much forgive- 
ness. 2 Tim. iii. 5. 

GOG and MAGOG. Gog 
may signify the governor; and 
Magog, when joined with it, 
may denote the people. Magog 
was the second son of Japheth, 
and gave name to his seed ; his 
posterity seem to have peopled 
Tartary, a large country on the 
north of Asia, and part of Eu- 
rope, reaching, in length, from 
west to east, about five thousand 
miles; and in breadth, from 
north to south, about two thou- 
sand seven hundred; most of 
which at present pertains to th« 
239 



GOL 

Russian empire. The ancient 
Tartars called themselves Mogli, 
or Magogli, or Mungli, or Mun- 
gugli, the children of Magog. A 
Tartar empire in the East Indies 
is called the Mogul empire, and 
the country Mogulistan, or the 
country of the Moguls. A tribe 
of eastern Tartars are still called 
Munguls or Moungals. Many 
names of places in ancient Tar- 
tary retain vestiges of Gog and 
Magog. The Arabian geo- 
grapher calls North Tartary, 
now Siberia, the land of Giug, 
or Magiug ; and says it is sepa- 
rated by dreadful mountains 
from the rest of the world ; I 
suppose he means the Vercha- 
turian hills, which, for most of 
the year, are often covered with 
snowseveral fathoms deep. Per- 
haps mount Caucasus was ori- 
ginally Gog-hasen, the fortress 
of Gog; and the Palus Moeotis, 
on the north of the Euxine sea, 
Magotis. These descendants of 
Magog, under the various names 
of Scythians, Goths, Huns, Tar- 
tars, "Moguls, and Turks, have 
made terrible work in the earth. 

Gog and Magog, as used in 
Ezekiel, and the book of Reve- 
lation, ought, probably, to be 
taken allegorically, for the ene- 
mies of the church, who would 
arise in the latter days, from 
whatever nation descended, or 
in whatever country they may 
reside. Gen. x. 2. 

GOLAN, or Gairfan, a pass- 
ing over ; a famed city on the 
east of the sea of Tiberias 
which pertained to Manasseh, 
was given to the Levites, and 
was a city of refuge, and gave 
name to the territory of Golan 
or Gaulanitis, which extended 
from Perea on the south, to Le- 
banon on the north, Deut. iv. 
43. Josh. xxi. 27. About three 
hundred years after Christ it 
was a considerable place 

GOLD ; a precious metal, 
yellowish red, and most heavy, 
simple, and pure, and shining. 



GOL 

It is seldom found in a state of 
ore, mixed with sulphur, as 
other metals ordinarily are ; but 
in a native state : nor is it ever 
found in an ore of its own, but 
in that of other metals, espe- 
cially copper and silver; and 
even native gold has almost at 
ways some mixture of these me- 
tals. Native gold is sometimes 
found even in the German 
mines, in pure masses of about a 
pound weight ; and, it is said, 
in Peru, much heavier, to about 
twenty-five pound weight ; and 
this was called their fine gold : 
but more frequently it is found 
in loose particles, mingled with 
the sand of rivers, especially in 
Guinea on the west of Africa*. 
Gold is often found bedded in 
stones of various kinds, and 
even in the earth, at the depth 
of one hundred and fifty fathoms* 

The sacred ark, table of shew- 
bread, altar of incense, and pil- 
lars and cross-boards of the ta- 
bernacle, were overlaid with 
pure gold : the mercy-seat and 
cherubims fixed on it, the sacred 
candlesticks, &c. were entirely 
of pure gold. All Solomon's 
drinking vessels were of the 
same : ornamental chains,brace~ 
lets, crowns, statues,and medals, 
were of gold. Prodigious quan- 
tities of it belonged to David 
and Solomon, and went to the 
building of the temple, See. 

Gold is often made an emblem 
of what is divine, pure, precious, 
solid, useful, incorruptible, or 
lasting, and glorious. The gold 
of the temple and tabernacle, 
represent the divine excellencies 
of Christ. His head is as most 
fine gold, his hands like gold 
rings set with the beryl ; he i9 
gold tried in the fire ; his girdle, 
censer, his crown, are of fine 
gold. How divine, precious, 
solid, pure, and incorruptible, 
are his Godhead and govern* 
ment, power and work, person 
and fulness! and his prepara- 
tion for, and readiness to ex©- 
240 



GOM GOP 

cute his office! how valuable jdinavia. The Welsh tti Eng- 
and glorious his everlasting re- land still call themselves Cumri, 
ward I Song v. 11. 14. Dan. x. ICymro, or Comari; nor do the 



5. Rev. iii. 18. and viii. 3. and 
xiv. 14. God's word is com- 
pared to most fine gold, because 
every word of the Lord is pure, 
and its value beyond rubies ; it 
contains the pearl of great 
price, Psal. xix. 10. The vials 
of God's wrath are golden, di- 
vine, pure, and unmixed, Rev. 
rv. 7. What is wealthy, pom- 
pous, and enticing, is called 
golden; so Babylon is called a 
golden city, head, or cup, Is a. 
xiv. 4. Dan. ii. 32. 38. Jer. li. 
7; and Anti-christian Rome is 
said to have in her hand a gold- 
en cup, Rev. xvii. 4. 

GOLGOTHA, the place of a 
skull ; where our Lord was 
crucified, Mark xv. 22. 

GOLIATH, captivity; a fa- 
mous giant of Gath, whose 
height was six cubits and a span, 
or eleven feet four inches. Af- 
ter having for a long time defied 
and terrified the whole army of 
Saul, he was slain by David 
with a stone from a sling, which 
struck him in the forehead, and 
prostrated him ; on which Da- 
vid leaped upon him, and cut 
off his head with his own sword, 
1 Sam. xvii. 

GOMER, a consumer; the 
eldest son of Japheth. He was 
no doubt the father of the Go- 
merians, Gomares, Cimmerians, 
or Cimbri,who anciently inhabit- 
ed Galatia, Phrygia, &c; and 
here, in the name of Ascanius, 
the Ascanian bay, and the As 
kanian or Euxine sea, we find 
traces of his son Askenaz. Af- 
ter they had dwelt for some time 
about Phrygia and Georgia, 
they, either by the east end of 
the Euxine sea, or by crossing 
the Hellespont, penetrated into 
Europe, and peopled the coun- 
tries now called Poland, Hun- 
gary, Germany, Switzerland, 
France, Spain, Portugal, and 
Britain, if not also part of Scan - 



old Scots and Irish appear to be 
of a different original, Ezekiel 
xxxviii. 6. Gen. x. 2. 

(2.) G0?ner,thewifeofHofleft. 
Hosea. i. 3. 

GOMORRAH, a rebellion* 
people. See Sodom. 

GOOD. When creation was 
completed by the Almighty 
word, the Father declared it to 
be very good. This goodness 
consisted in its perfection. By 
the ent/ance of sin, this good- 
ness was marred, and evil per- 
aded even the works of God. 
As it was the work of the Son 
to destroy the works of the de- 
vil, and to restore in a more ex- 
alted manner, that goodness 
which Satan marred, he is him- 
self eminently called the Good % 
ox Goodness of Jehovah. 'To 
see the Lord's goodness in the 
land of the living,' was the hope 
of the Old Testament church, 
concerning the Messiah ; and 
thus we read, ' Surely his salva- 
tion is nigh them that fear him. 
Mercy and truth are met togeth- 
er, &c. yea, the Lord shall give 
the good: Ps. lxxxv. 9, 12. ' 

GOPHER WOOD. Wheth- 
er it be cedar, box-tree, pins, 
fir, turpentine- tree, Indian plane 
tree, or rather cypress, is not 
agreed. It is certain Noah built 
his ark of it ; and that cypress 
is a durable wood, very proper 
for shipping; and it was so 
plentiful about Babylon, that 
Alexander built a whole navy 
of it. Gen. vi. 14. 

The probability is, that ge- 
pher is not the name of one spe- 
cies of tree, but a general name 
for light or resinous wood. 
There is no reason why Noah 
should use only one kind of 
timber, in a structure requiring 
such an amazing quantity ; nor 
can we suppose that trees of 
any one species could have been 
found in sufficient abundance 
21 241 



GOS 

near the spot where the ark was 
ouilt; but if we suppose that 
gopher means light or resinous 
wood, all difficulty will vanish. 

GOSHEN. (1.) A very fer- 
tile province on the north-east 
part of Egypt, and mostly, if 
not wholly, eastward of the 
Nile. Here the Hebrews resided 
above two hundred years, Gen 
xlvii. 6. (2.) A country that 
lay near Gibeon, which perhaps 
was fertile, like that in Egypt, 
Josh. x. 41. Here probably 
stood the city of Goshen, that 
belonged to the tribe of Judah, 
Josh. xv. 51. 

GOSPEL : signifies^ooi news, 
and the gospel, eminently so 
called, is the glad tidings of 
great joy, that there was born, 
in the city of David, a Saviour, 
Christ, the Lord. The gospel 
is a gracious declaration from 
heaven, of salvation from the 
wrath to come. The word is 
expressive of the way in which 
the door of mercy is opened to 
the guilty, by good news being 
brought to his ears ; for the 
faith which is to the saving of 
the soul, comes by hearing. 
And, therefore, although the 
gospel is peculiarly applied to 
the word which the Lord him- 
self gave, and a great multitude 
spread abroad, Acts x. 37; yet 
it was, in fact, the same good 
nev/s which was brought to the 
ears of all the Old Testament 
saints, and in faith of which 
they died. ' Who hath believed 
ur report 1 and to whom is the 
arm of the Lord revealed V Isa. 
liii. 1 ; and we are told, that the 
scripture preached before the 
gospel to Abraham, Gal. iii. 8. 

The books which contain the 
recital of our Saviour's birth, 
life, miracles, death, resurrec- 
tion, and doctrines, are called 
The Gospels. The church has 
never acknowledged more than 
four gospels to be canonical, 
those of Matthew, Mark, Luke, 
and John. 



GRA 

GOURD. It is hard to say 
what was the gourd, that co- 
vered Jonah's head at Nineveh. 
Jerom says, it was a small shrub, 
which, in the sandy places of 
Canaan, grows up in a few daya 
to a considerable height, and, 
with its large leaves, forms an 
agreeable shade. It is now gen- 
erally thought to be the Palma 
Christi, which the Egyptians 
call kiki. It is somewhat like a 
lily, with large smooth and black 
spotted leaves. Dioscorides men- 
tions a kind of it that grows to 
the height of a fig-tree, and 
whose branches and trunk are 
hollow as a reed, Jon. iv. 6. 
Wild gourds are plants which 
produce branches and leaves, 
which creep along the surface 
of the earth, as those of cucum- 
bers. Its fruit is of the form and 
size of an orange, containing a 
light substance, but so exces- 
sively bitter, that it has been 
called the gall of the earth, and 
it is ready to kill one with vio- 
lent purging. Sheuchzer thinks 
it might be the white brier, or 
white vine, the berries of which 
the young prophet gathered, 
and which are agreeable to the 
eye, but very bitter, and a vio- 
lent purgative, 2 Kings iv. 39. 

GOZAN, a ford; the name 
of a river, and of the country 
adjacent, which the Assyrians 
conquered, and whither they 
transported a part of the tea 
tribes of Israel, Isa. xxxvii. 12. 
2 Kings xvii. 6 : but whether it 
was the Elon Gozine, near the 
source of the Tigris, and which 
Ptolemy calls Gauzanites, in 
Mesopotamia ; or a place in Me- 
dia, where Ptolemy places the 
province of Gauzan, and the city 
of Gauzania,I cannot determine. 

GR ACE. There is not a more 
important article comes under 
our consideration than that on 
which we now enter. To say 
that the doctrines of free grace 
have been much and very gene- 
rally misunderstood, is speaking 
242 



GRA 

far too gently: the word grace 
has been perverted, to imply the 
very opposite of its real literal 
signification; and a doctrine in- 
tended to undermine the self- 
righteous pride of the human 
heart, has been so interpreted 
and explained, as to prove a 
most fruitful source of every un- 
scriptural pharisaical heresy. 

The first necessary inquiry on 
this subject is, what is implied 
in the word grace ? The plain 
simple explication of the term, 
whether as used in common life, 
or in the Scriptures, is free fa- 
vour, unmerited kindness. The 
Scriptures, in adopting this word, 
selected an expression simple and 
universally understood; yet, as 
if aware of the abuse it was to 
undergo, PauL is at great pains 
in his writing to guard and pro- 
tect this genuine sense of it. 
'Now to him that worketh, the 
reward is not reckoned of grace, 
but of debt: Therefore it is of 
faith, that it might be by grace; 
for by grace are ye saved ; not 
of works, lest any man should 
boast; who hath saved us, not 
according to our works, but ac- 
cording to his own purpose and 
grace. 1 As the word mercy, in 
its primary signification, respect: 
a state of suffering ; so grace 
unavoidably presupposes un- 
toorthiness in its object. Here, 
whenever any thing valuable is 
communicated, it can be of 
grace only in as far as the object 
on whom it is conferred is un- 
worthy in the eye of the giver : 
for so far as any degree of worth 
or desert is admitted, grace 
ceases, and equity takes its 
place. Grace and worth, or 
merit of any kind, name, or de- 
gree, cannot possibly subsist to- 
gether. East and west, light and 
darkness, are not more widely 
distinct than grace and worth: 
for, as Paul forcibly reasons, 'If 
by gTO.ce y then it is no more of 
works ; we may observe, 
that it is only this view of grace 



GRA 

that can open up a door of hope 
to guilty man, Rom. xi. 

Grace signifies favour, privi- 
lege, pardon ; and the grace of 
God evidently denotes the un- 
merited favour of pardon to con- 
demned sinners through the gift 
of Jesus Christ. If pardon to a 
criminal by a sovereign be an 
act of grace, how much more 
glorious is the forgiveness of 
numberless offences, and the 
gift of eternal life and blessed- 
ness by the Sovereign of the 
universe ! 

The word grace in the New 
Testament, is used in four dis- 
tinct, but connected senses : (1.) 
The favour or love of God to 
sinners, Ephes. i. 6. ii. 8. (2.) 
The gospel, by which this love 
is manifested, 2 Cor. vi. 1. (3.) 
The aid afforded by the Holy 
Spirit, to enable believers to 
perform and sustain all that is 
laid upon them, 2 Cor. xii. 9. 
(4.) The new or spiritual princi- 
ple produced in the heart by re- 
generation, and increased" by 
sanctification, 2 Pet. iii. 18. 

Gracious ; full of free favour, 
and disposed to give free gifts, 
Exod. xxii. 27. and xxxiv. 6. 
Gen. xliii. 29. Christ's words 
were gracious; they denoted the 
grace that was in him, and re- 
lated to the precious truths of 
God, Luke iv. 22. How grar 
cious shalt, thou be, when pains 
come upon thee! How comely, 
how religiously disposed, when 
the Chaldeans come and mur- 
der, or carry you away captive! 
Jer. xxii. 23. 

To GRAFF; ingraft; to put 
a branch into a root or stump, 
that it may grow. God graffed 
in the Gentiles, when he brought 
them into his church, and united 
them to Jesus Christ, as their 
spiritual and fructifying root, 
Rom. xi. 17 — 24. God's word is 
ingrafted, as it is put into, and 
planted in our heart, that it may 
bring forth good works, James 
i. 21 

343 



GRA 

GRAIN. Faith, like a grain 
of mustard seed, is the smallest 
portion of it, Matt, xiii 31. The 
kingdom of heaven itself is com- 
pared to a grain of mustard, to 
show the little appearance it 
should make in this world, al- 
though it should afterwards be- 
come a great tree. 1 Cor. xv. 37. 

GRAPE. There was abun- 
dance of fine vineyards, and ex- 
cellent grapes in Palestine. How 
large this fruit was in that coun- 
try, we may judge by the bunch 
of grapes, which was cut in 
the valley of Eshcol, and was 
brought upon a staff between 
two men to the camp of Israel 
at Kadeshbarnea, Num. xiii. 23, 
24. Travellers relate, that there 
was some to be seen there of a 
prodigious size. Strabo and 
Pliny affirm the same. Some 
affirm, that in the valley of 
Eshcol there were bunches of 
grapes to be found still of ten 
and twelve pounds. 

Moses in the law commanded, 
that when the Israelites gathered 
their grapes, they should not be 
careful to pick up those which 
fell, nor be so exact as to leave 
none upon the vines. What fell, 
and was left behind, he ordered 
should be for the poor, Lev. xix. 
10. Deut. xxiv. 20, 21. People 
who were passing that way were 
permitted to go into another 
man's vineyard, and eat what 
grapes they would; but they 
were not allowed to carry any 
away with them, Deut. xxiii.24. 
Some learned men are of opi- 
nion, that the prohibition de- 
livered by Moses against glean- 
ing grapes after the vintage, may 
signify a second vintage after the 
first, which was never so good 
or so plentiful as the former; for 
this, they say, was over in the 
hot countries about the end of 
August, and the other in Sep- 
tember. God requires therefore 
that this second vintage should 
be left to the poor, as well as the 
grapes of the first which had 



GRA 

escaped the observation of the 
gatherers. 

It is frequent in Scripture to 
describe an almost total destruc- 
tion by the similitude of a vine 
stript in such a manner, that 
there was not a bunch of grapes 
left for those who came a glean- 
ing. Isa.xxiv. 13. 'Thus shall il 
be in the midst of the land, there 
shall be as the gleaning-grapea 
when the vintage is done.' And 
Jer. vi. 9. ' They shall thorough- 
ly glean the remnant of Israel aa 
a vine.' See Jer. xlix. 9. Obad, 
5. ' The blood of grapes,' Gen*, 
xlix. 11. signifies wine. l He 
washed his clothes in the blood 
of grapes.' His habitation shall 
be in a country where there are 
vineyards. And Deut. xxxii. 14. 
' Thou didst drink the pure blood 
of the grape ;' pure, unmixed 
wine. l The fathers have eaten 
sour grapes, and the children's 
teeth are set on edge,' Jer. xxxi. 
29. Ezek. xviii. 2. This is a pro- 
verbial way of speaking in the 
sacred text; meaning, that the 
fathers have sinned, and the 
children have borne the punish- 
ment of their crimes. It was a 
complaint made by the Jews to 
God, who punished those sins in 
them, whereof they pretended 
they were not guilty. But the 
Lord said, he would cause this 
proverb to cease in Israel, and 
that, for the future, every one 
should suffer the punishment of 
. his own iniquity. 

GRASS, that well-known ve- 
I getable upon which flocks, herds^ 
I &c. feed, and which decks our 
! fields, and refresheth our sight 
| with its green colour, and every 
pile of which is, in the marvei- 
j lous providence of God, diver- 
sified, Ps. civ. 14. Men are lite 
grass, how often they flourish 
I in multitude and prosperity ! and 
! yet how quickly withered or cut 
down by calamity and death! 2 
Kings xix. 26. Isa. xl. 6, 7. 
Wicked men are like grass on 
house-tops ; they make a pomp- 



GRA 

pns and flourishing appearance 
for a short time, and yet when 
the blast of calamity comes, how 
wretched their condition! Psal. 
cxxix. 6. 

GRASSHOPPER; an insect 
of the locust kind, but small. Its 
antennae are bristly, its outer 
wings skinny, narrow, and much 
like those of the common fly. 
They often abound in meadows 
and hedges, and the males sing 
during the clear heat. Multi- 
tudes of them destroy the fruits 
of the earth, Amos vii. 1. Some 
years ago, prodigious swarms 
of them, for several harvests, 
wasted the country of Langue- 
doc in France; and some of 
them were an inch long; and 
sometimes they covered the earth 
where they went, four or five 
inches deep. Grasshoppers, un- 
der the law, were clean, Lev. xi. 
22. Men are likened to grass- 
hoppers, to signify their small- 
ness, weakness, unworthiness ; 
or their multitude, destructive 
influence, and being easily and 
quickly destroyed, Num. xiii. 
33. Isa.xl.22. Judg.vi.5. Nah. 
iii. 17. The grasshopper is a 
burden to the old dying man : 
the smallest annoyance is heavy 
and tormenting to him; he is 
quite peevish, and frets at every 
thing, and is unable to bear any 
thing, Eccl. xii. 5. 

GRATE; a broad plate of 
brass, full of holes in the manner 
of a sieve, that was fixed below 
the fire of the altar, and through 
which the ashes fell down. This 
might hint at the perfect purity 
of Jesus's sacrifice, Ex.xxvii.4. 

GRAVE; sober and modest; 



GRE 

the patriarchs, and of the kings 
of Israel and Judah, and other 
great men, were buried in hol- 
low places, formed by nature, 
or dug into rocks. Moses, Aa- 
ron, Eleazer, and Joshua, were 
buried in mountains ; Deborah, 
the nurse of Rebekah, under a 
tree ; and Samuel in his own 
house. It seems some of their 
kings were buried in the mount 
upon which the temple stood, 
Ezek. xliii. 9. Sometimes they 
buried in gardens ; but generally 
their burying-places were with- 
out the city. It seems that the 
common place of interment at 
Jerusalem was in the valley of 
Kidron, eastward of the city. 
It does not appear, that, in ordi- 
nary cases, they marked their 
graves with any inscriptions; 
but that of the man of God. 
who prophesied the destruction 
of the altar at Beth-el, seems to 
have had one, 2 Kings xxiii. 17. 
When they were dug into rocks, 
and even into the earth, a hewn 
stone was generally put over 
them ; and something to warn 
passengers to avoid touching 
them, and so polluting them- 
selves. On the fifteenth day of 
Adar it is said, they used to 
whiten their sepulchres ; and by 
building or whitening the sepul- 
chres of the prophets, they pro- 
fessed their great respect to 
them, Matt, xxiii. 29. 

GREAT SEA— also Western 
Sea, Hindermost Sea, and the 
Sea of the Philistines, generally 
denotes the Mediterranean ; 
which lay westerly from the land 
of Promise. This sea spreads 
its waters between Europe, Asia, 



apparently impressed with the ' and Africa, Num. xxxiv. 6. 



fear of God, Tit. ii. 2. 1 Tim. 
iii. 8. 

A grave, or sepulchre, for 
burying dead corpses in. The 
Hebrews were generally very 
careful about their graves, and 
the Jews are so to this day. 
Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and 
Rebekah, and some others of 
21 s 



Josh. i. 4. ix. 1. xv. 12. 47. 

GREAVES ; a kind of har- 
ness for the legs of warriors, 1 
Sam. xvii. 6. 

GREECE, Orecia; in He- 
brew Javan; a country on the 
south-east of Europe. Going 
from the south-west to the 
north-east, it, when largely ta- 
245 



GRE 
ken, contained the Peleponne- 
sus, or Morea, Achaia, Thessa- 
ly, Macedonia, if not also Epirus 
on the west of Macedonia, &c. ; 
but, more strictly taken, it con- 
tained the three former. It lay 
between the thirty-sixth and 
forty-third degree of latitude, 
and between the nineteenth and 
twenty-seventh degree of east 
longitude; and is about four 
hundred miles from south to 
north, and three hundred and 
fifty-six from east to west. It 
was probably peopled soon after 
the flood. At the time of the 
Trojan war, which we reckon 
about nine hundred years be- 
fore Christ, it was considerably 
populous, and divided into a 
prodigious number of small 
states, similar to those of the 
Canaanites, in the time of Jo- 
shua. In after times, we find 
about forty-eight provinces in it, 
all which Philip, king of Mace- 
don, and Alexander his son, re- 
duced into one. The kingdoms 
or states of Sicyon, Argos, Atti- 
ca, or Athens, Baeotia, Arcadia, 
Thessaly, Phocis, Corinth, La- 
cedemon, Elis, iEtolia, Locris, 
Doris, Achaia, and Macedonia, 
were the most noted. The fa- 
ther of the Greeks was Javan, 
the fourth son of Japheth : his 
sons were Elisha,Tarshish,Chit- 
tim, and Dodanim ; his posteri- 
ty were anciently called Joanes, 
or Jones : they first seem to have 
settled on the west of Lesser 
Asia, where part of them still 
continued ; and to which others 
in after times returned from 
Greece, and formed Greek 
states in Lesser Asia of their 
various tribes, Ionians, iEolians, 
and Dorians. Numbers in very 
early times, passed into Europe, 
perhaps by crossing the Helles- 
pont, and settled in Greece. 
Some Phoenicians, Egyptians, 
and perhaps others, driven out 
of their own countries, came af- 
terward and settled among them : 
thay, notwithstanding a multi- 



GRO 

tude of intestine wars, multr 
plied exceedingly, and spread 
themselves into almost every 
isle and coast of the Mediterra- 
nean Sea: part of them took up 
their residence in the east of 
Italy; others at Marseilles in 
the south of France; part of 
them settled in Cyrene and 
Egypt, in Africa. 

GREET, generally means sa- 
lute. ' Greet him in my name,' 
in the original, is, ' ask him in 
my name of peace, 1 1 Sam. xxv. 
5. It implies generally the bro- 
therly sa'utation ; so in Paul's 
Epistles, ' Greet one anothef 
with a holy kiss,' Tit. iii. 15. 

GREY-HOUND. This word 
is only once found in the Bible, 
Prov. xxx. 31 ; and it is far from 
being certain what animal is in- 
tended by the original word 
(zirzir.) In the Chaldee para- 
phrase it is colled "a cock; 1 * 
by Rabbi David, " a hunting 
dog;" by Rabbi Levi u a leo- 
pard," and by others, "the ze- 
bra." The literal signification 
of the word is close-girt, and io 
the margin of our Bibles, it is 
rendered " a horse," probably 
" a harnessed horse," which is< 
as majestic as any other animal. 

GRIND; to bruise small, as 
meal is bruised in a mill. An- 
ciently tney had only hand- 
mills for grinding their meal: 
women and slaves, such as 
Samson was at Gaza, and tho 
Hebrews at Babylon, and the 
Chaldeans under the Persians* 
were usually the grinders; and 
it seems they sat behind the 
mill, Matth. xxiv. 41. Judg. xvL 
21. Lam. v. 13. Isa. xlvii. 2. 
Christ's falling on men, and 
grinding them to powder, do- 
note his rendering them utterly 
miserable for their contempt of 
him. To grind the face of tht 
poor, is cruelly to oppress and 
afflict them, Isa. iii. 15. Let 
my wife grind to another ; or 
serve another, Job xxxi. 10. 

GROVE, a plot of growing 
246 



GRO 

trees. Abraham planted a grove 
in Beer-sheba, around his altar. 
In after times, the Heathens 
generally erected altars, and 
worshipped their idols in groves. 
After God chose and fixed the 
place of his worship, he pro- 
hibited the Hebrews to plant 
any trees near his altar ; and 
commanded them to cut down 
all the groves of the Canaanites, 
Deut. xii. 3. and xvi. 21. In 
their repeated relapses into 
idolatry, the Israelites worship- 
ped their idols in groves, Judg. 
iii. 7. and vi. 25. 1 Kings xiv. 
xv. &c. Sometimes groves 
may denote the idols there wor- 
shipped, 1 Kings xviii. 19. 

GROUND. Fallow ground, 
a field that has rested from bear- 
ing crops of corn : to break up 
our fallow ground, and not sow 
among thorns, is seriously to 
consider our ways, break off our 
wickedness, and leave our spirit- 
ual barrenness, bringing forth 
good works, Jer. iv. 3. Hos. x. 
10. Way-side ground, denotes 
careless hearers of the gospel, 
who never are much impressed 
with it, and soon lose what 
impressions they have had. 
Stony-ground, denotes such as, 
with considerable affection, re- 
ceive the gospel, and are, for 
awhile, reformed in their life by 
means of it, but never have it 
deep-rooted in their heart, and 
so quickly fall away before 
temptation. Thorny-ground, 
denotes hearers who are for a 
considerable time impressed 
with the power of gospel-truth, 
but at last worldly cares prevail, 
and render it of no effect. The 
good-ground, bringing forth 
thirty, forty, sixty, or a hun- 
dred fold, is the heart purged by 
the truth, and so led to bring 
forth fruit unto God, Matthew 
Jdii. 4—8. 19—23. Mark iv. 



GUT 

Luke viii. To be grounded 
and settled in the faith, is to 
have the heart well established 
in the knowledge of God's truths, 
Col. i. 23. 

GUEST; one bidden to eat 
at our table, or lodge in our 
house, 1 Kings i. 41. 49. Gos- 
pel-hearers are likened to guests: 
at Jesus's invitation, they come 
to his house, professing to feed 
on his fulness, Matth. xxii. 10, 
11. The Chaldeans were guests 
bidden to the Lord's sacrifice : 
he raised them up, and enabled 
them to execute his vengeance ; 
and they satiated their own 
pride and covetousness, in mur- 
dering and spoiling the Jews and 
nations around, Zeph. i. 7. 

GULF; a large breaking in 
of the sea into the dry land, as 
the Gulf of Mexico, or a great 
rent in the earth. The great 
gulf fixed between Abraham 
and the rich man, may denote 
the great distance between hea- 
ven and hell, and the unremova- 
ble hindrances of coming from 
the one to the other, Luke 
xvi. 26. 

GUNI, a garden; the son of 
Naphtali, Gen. xlvi. 24. 

GUR, a whelp; a city, 2 
Kings ix. 27. 

GUR-BAAL, a whelp of 
Baal; a place in Arabia the 
Stony, south of Canaan, and 
perhaps the same with Petra, 
the Arabian Capital. The in 
habitants of it were defeated by 
the troops of Uzziah, 2 Chron . 
xxvi. 7. 

GUTTER ; dams or troughs 
for watering flocks or ii^rds, 
Gen. xxx. 38. 41. But the gutter 
through which one might enter 
the city of Jerusalem, was, per- 
haps, some privy entrance, by 
which the filth of the city rua 
out, 2 Sam. v. 8. 



247 



HAB 



HAD 



HA, HA, is expressive of 
courage and joyful con- 
tempt, Job xxxix. 25. 

HABAJAH, the hiding of 
Jah ; a priest, Ezra ii. 61. 

HABAKKUK, the prophet, is 
said to have been of the tribe of 
Simeon. He prophesied during 
the reign of Manasseh, or rather 
was cotemporary with Jeremi- 
ah. In his first chapter, he fore- 
teis the destruction of Judea, 
and the countries about, by the 
Chaldeans : in the second, he 
foretels the overthrow of the 
Chaldeans, for their oppression 
and murder of others, and en- 
courages the Jews patiently to 
wait for it ; in the third, he, in a 
most lofty manner, celebrates 
God's former appearances for 
Israel, in bringing them through 
the Red Sea : in giving his law 
to them; and in casting out the 
Canaanites before them : he pro- 
fesses his terrible apprehension 
of the Chaldean invasion ; begs 
the Lord would at least mitigate 
the stroke ; and concludes, re- 
joicing in God his caviour. 

HABERGEON. A brigan- 
tine. (1.) A corselet or coat of 
mail, Exod. xxviii. 32. (2.) A 
javelin or hand-dart, Job xli. 
28. 

HABOR, a city or country of 
Media, on the river Gozan ; one 
of the places to which Tiglath- 
Pilezer first transported a part, 
and Salmanezer afterwards, the 
whole of the ten tribes of Israel. 
Habor or Chabor, is thought by 
some to be the mountainous re- 
gion, called Chaboras, by Pto- 
lemy. But Major Rennel and 
Mr. Moiier, with greater preci- 
sion, fix the position of Habor at 
the town of Abhar, near the 
river Kizzil Ozan, or Gozan, 
where Mr. Morier found ruins 
of large bricks, made with straw, 
and baked in the sun, like those 
found at Babylon, 2 Kings xvii. 
6. and 1 Chron. v. 26. 



HACALIAH, who waits for 
Jehovah, Neh. x. 1. 

HACHILAH, viy hope is in 
her; a hiil in the south-east part 
of Judea, southward of Jeshi- 
mon, which was about ten miles 
south of Jericho. Here David 
for a while hid himself from 
Saul, 1. Sam. xxiii. 19. Here Jo- 
nathan, the Maccabee, built the 
almost impregnable castle of 
Massada, and whose garrison 
killed themselves soon after the 
taking of Jerusalem by Titus. 

HADAD, joy, noise. Three 
kings of Edom had this name ; 
the last was the son of that king 
whom David conquered; his 
friends carried him off from the 
destructive ravage of Joab, and 
committed him to the protection 
of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 
When he grew up, Pharaoh 
gave him Tahpenes his sister to. 
wife, who bare him a son called 
Genubath. Informed of king 
j David's death, he took a strong 
j fancy to return to his native 
country, and recover his king- 
dom. With reluctance Pharaoh 
consented to part with him. He 
set up for king in some remote 
corner of Idumea; or, perhaps, 
Pharaoh procured him Solo 
mon's allowance to govern 
Edom as his deputy. It is cer- 
tain, that towards the end of 
Solomon's reign, he did what 
mischief he could to the He- 
brews, 1 Kings xi. 14 — 25. I 
Chron. i. 46—51. 

H AD A DEZER, Hadarezer r 
son of Rehob, was a powerful 
king of Zobah in Syria; and 
appears to have been very trou- 
blesome to his neighbours, par- 
ticularly to Toi, or Tou, king of 
Hamath. David, intending to 
extend the boundaries of the 
Hebrew dominion to the Eu- 
phrates, as God had promised 
to give them, he defeated Ha- 
dadezer's host, and took twenty 
thousand of them prisoners^ and 



HAD 

seven hundred horse, and one 
thousand chariots. The Syrians 
of Damascus came to Hadade- 
zer's assistance, but were de- 
feated with the loss of twenty- 
two thousand. David ordered 
the arms of the Syrians, with a 
prodigious spoil, particularly an 
immense store of brass, which 
he found in the cities of Beten, 
or Tibhath, and Berothai or 
Chun, to be carried to Jerusa- 
lem. Glad of the ruin of his 
rival, Toi sent Hadoram, or Jo- 
ram his son, with his grateful 
compliments, and large presents 
to king David. About seven 
years after, Hadadezer, and 
three other Syrian princes, as- 
sisted the Ammonites. Joab 
and Abishai gave them a terri- 
ble defeat. Hadadezer, intent 
on resistance, or ruin to the He- 
brews, drew together a large 
body of Syrians from the east 
of the Euphrates. These the 
Hebrews routed at Helam, a 
place about the south-east of 
Syria, and killed forty thousand 
of them, with Shobach, or Sho- 
pach, their general. Hereon all 
the kingdoms tributary to Ha- 
dadezer became David's ser- 
vants, and forbore to assist the 
Ammonites, 2 Sam. viii. and x. 
1 Chron. xviii. and xix. 

HADADRIMMON ; a city in 
the valley of Megiddo, near to 
which Josiah was slain, and his 
army routed byPharaoh-Necho, 
which occasioned a terrible 
mourning and consternation in 
these parts, Zech. xii. 11. 2 
Chron. xxxv. 22. 24. 

HADAB,, a chamber ; the son 
ef Ishmael, Gen. xxv. 15. 

HADASHAH, news; a city, 
Josh. xv. 37. 

HADASSAH ; the name of 
Esther, Esth. ii. 7. 

HADDAD, of the children of 
Lod, Ezra ii. 33. 

H A D LAI, the father of Ama- 
sa, 2 Chron. xxviii. 12. 

HADERAM, the son of Jok- 
tan, Gen. x. 27. 



HAG 

HADRACH, a city or country 
near Damascus ; perhaps Hol- 
low Syria, or Adra, a city of it, 
about twenty-five miles north 
ofBostra: but whether the bur- 
den of the Lord on it imports 
that it would early, and for many 
ages, be the rest or residence of 
a Christian church ; or rather, 
that it would be terribly dis 
tressed by the Greeks, Romans, 
Saracens, Turks, and Popish 
Croisades, in their turns, is not 
agreed, Zech. ix. 1. 

HAGAR, a stranger ; an 
Egyptian handmaid of Abra- 
ham. See Abraham. Gen xvL 
and xxi. 

HAG ARITES,or Hagarenea, 
the descendants of Hagar. In 
the days of Saul, the Reubenites 
and Gadites attacked the Ha- 
garites that dwelt on their bor- 
ders, and cutting off their army, 
seized on their territory, eastward 
of Gilead. The Hagarenes as- 
sisted the Ammonites and Mo- 
abites against Jehoshaphat, and 
were miserably cut off. About 
the time of Jeroboam the second, 
or soon after, the Reubenites 
and Gadites, with forty-four 
thousand, defeated the Hagar- 
ites, then governed by Jetur, 
Nephish, and Nodab, took one 
hundred thousand of them pri- 
soners, with an immense booty 
of flocks and herds, 1 Chron. v, 
Psal. Ixxxiii. See Arabia. 

HAGGAI; the first of the 
three Jewish prophets that flour- 
ished after the captivity. He 
was probably born in Chaldea ; 
and in the sixth month of the 
second year of Darius Hystas- 
pes, he began his public work 
of prophesying, about seventeen 
years after the return from Ba- 
bylon. He, together with Zech- 
ariah, mightily excited and en- 
couraged their brethren to finish 
the building of the temple. He 
remonstrated how improper it 
was for the temple to lie in ruins, 
while their own houses were so 
fine ; and that their neglect of 
249 



HAM 

God's house and honour had 
provoked him to blast their 
outward enjoyments. He as- 
eured them, that after terrible 
convulsions of the nations, the 
Messiah should appear in the 
fiesh, teach in the courts of the 
second temple, and render it 
more glorious than the first, 
Ezra v. 1, 2. Hag. i. and ii. 

HAIL. (1.) It appears to be 
formed of rain-drops, frozen in 
their descent through the middle 
regions of the air. It often at- 
tends thunder and lightning ; 
and sometimes hail-stones have 
Bulphureous matter inclosed in 
them. Terrible hail was part 
of an Egyptian plague, Exodus 
ix. 24; and by terrible hail- 
stones did God discomfit the al- 
lied army of the Canaanitish 
kings, Josh. x. 11. God's judg- 
ments on nations are likened to 
a hail-storm : how sudden and 
dreadful ! and by the direction 
of Heaven, they easily destroy 
men's persons and properties, 
Isa. xxviii. 2. Rev. viii. 7. and 
xi. 19. and Ps. lxxviii. 47. (2.) 
Hail, as a word of salutation, 
imports a wish of prosperity 
and comfort to one, Luke i. 
28. 

HALAH, a city or country 
of Media on the river Gozan, to 
which, with Habor and other 
parts of Media, Tiglath-pilezer 
and Salmaneser transplanted 
the Israelites. Halah may be 
read Chalah or Chalach, and 
hence it is supposed to answer 
to the country called Calachene 
by Ptolemy. Major Rennel 
supposes it to be Tarim, and Mr. 
Morier, Ahar: but this town is 
not on the Gozan, but on a river 
called Ahar, nearer the Araxes 
than the Gozan, 1 Kings xviii. 
6. 1 Chron. v. 26. 

HAM, the youngest son of 
Noah, who mocked at his fa- 
ther's shame, and had his pos- 
terity cursed on that account. 
He had four sons, viz. Cush, 
Mizraira, Phut, and Canaan. 



HAM 

His posterity peopled Africa, 
and part of the west of Asia* 
They have been generally most 
wicked and miserable, and few 
of them have hitherto enjoyed the 
light of the gospel. From him the 
land of Egypt was called Che- 
mia, or land of Ham. There 
was another place on the east 
of Jordan, called Ham ; but 
whether it was Rabbah, which 
Stephanus calls Ammana, or 
Hamath, the city of Tou, which 
the Targum calls Hemta, I 
know not, Gen. xiv. 5. Part of 
Ham's race dwelt anciently on 
the south borders of the tribe of 
Simeon, 1 Chron. iv. 40. 

HAMAN, a troubler , the 
son of Hammedatha, a descend, 
ant from Agag the Amalekite. 
When he was promoted by 
Ahasuerus, and made prime 
minister of the Persian empire^ 
and the servants of the court 
were ordered to bow to him, all 
but Mordecai the Jew obeyed. 
Haman thought it below him 
to revenge this affront on Mor*- 
decai alone : he resolved to cut 
off the whole nation of the Jews 
that were in the Persian empire. 
He cast lots for the luckiest day 
to accomplish his design. The 
lot, directed of God, fell on the 
thirteenth day of the twelfth 
month ; and so the execution 
was put back almost a whole 
year, that providence might 
gradually counteract it. Mean- 
while, Haman represented the 
Jews to king Ahasuerus as a 
nuisance and burden to the king- 
dom, on account of their diffe- 
rent laws and customs, and 
begged they might be utterly ex- 
tirpated, and he would pay ten 
thousand talents of silver to the 
exchequer, as a full balance of 
the loss of their tribute. Aha- 
suerus replied, that he freely aK 
lowed him to extirpate that peo- 
ple. Haman immediately des- 
patched letters in the king's 
name, to all the provinces of 
the empire, to massacre the 
250 



HAM 

Jews among them on the day 
Appointed, and to take their 
wealth for a prey. He mightily 
rejoiced in his success and 
wealth ; and the more, that 
queen Esther had invited him 
Only along with the king to her 
banquet; but signified, that it 
galled his spirit to see Mordecai 
the Jew sitting at the king's 
gate. Zeresh, his wife, and 
other friends, advised him to 
erect a gallows immediately, 
and get the king's allowance to 
hang Mordecai thereon. A gal- 
lows was erected, about seven- 
ty-five or ninety feet high : and 
he went in next morning to ask 
the king's leave to hang Morde- 
cai on it : bul the king prevented 
his request, by ordering him to 
array Mordecai in the royal ap- 

Earel, and, as his page, lead his 
orse through the city of Shu- 
6han, and proclaim that he was 
one of the king's chief favour- 
ites. Stung with grief, he post- 
ed home as soon as his task was 
finished, and told his wife and 
friends what had happened. 
That very day, Esther accused 
him as the intended murderer 
of her and her nation ; and beg- 
ged the king would interpose for 
their lives. Ahasuerus having 
broken out in a rage, Haman 
fell at the queen's feet,to implore 
her intercession for his life : the 
king returning, reproached him 
as attempting to stain the ho- 
nour of his bed. Glad of Ha- 
inan's downfal, the servants co- 
vered his face ; and Harbonah, 
the chamberlain, told the king, 
that Haman had prepared a 
gallows to hang Mordecai, the 
preserver of the king's life : Aha- 
suerus ordered him to be hanged 
upon it directly. Not iong af- 
ter, his ten sons shared the same 
fate, Esth. iii. v. vi. vii. and ix. 
HAMATH. Canaan had a 
ion of this name, who was the 
father of the Hamathites, 1 Chr. 
L 16. Gen. x. 18; and from 
whom, it is possible, the places 



HAN 

called Hamath, or Hammatl* 
derived their name. 

Hamath seems to have been 
the name of the southern pro- 
vince of Syria ; at any rate, it 
was the northern boundary of 
the land of Israel, (Numb. xiii. 
21.) the utmost extent of which, 
from north to south, was from 
Hamath to the river of Egypt, 
1 Kings viii. 65. It seems pro- 
bable, that Hamath correspond- 
ed in situation with the country 
afterwards called Ccele-Syria, 
between Libanus and Antiliba- 
nus ; but towards the north, ex- 
tended to the Orontes, on which 
stood the city of Hamath, from 
which the whole district receiv- 
ed its name. This city was 
called Epiphania, by the Greeks, 
by which name it was known to 
Josephus and Jerome; but it 
has now, like many other places 
in the east, recovered its an- 
cient name. Toi was king of the 
Syrians in this region when Da- 
vid defeated them, 2 Sam. viii. 9. 

HAMMEDATHA, he that 
troubles the law ; the father of 
Haman, Esth. viii. 5. 

HAMONAH, the multitude; 
the name which Ezekiel gives 
to the city, and Hammon-Gog y 
the name he assigns to a valley, 
imports, that multitudes of Gog, 
or the Turks, shall be killed in 
some place of Canaan, Ezekiel 
xxxix. 11. 16. 

HANAN, full of grace; a 
chief of the Benjamites, 1 Chr. 
viii. 23. 

HANANIEL, the grace of 
God ; the name of a tower, 
Neh. iii. 1. 

HANANI^'w'n^, gracious* 
merciful ; the father of Jehu, 1 
Kings xvi. 1. 

HANANIAH, the grace of 
Jehovah; the son of Zerubba 
bel, 1 Chron. iii. 19. 

HANDMAID, a woman-ser- 
vant : so women in general are 
called, in the language of hu- 
mility, Ruth iii. 9. Psal. cxvi. 16. 

HAND WRITING. The ce- 
251 



HAN 

remonial law is called a hand- 
toritmg against us ; its rites wit- 
nessed guilt, and desert of death ; 
and it was a means of barring 
the Gentiles from the church of 
God, Col. ii. 14. Darts cast by 
the hand are called hand-staves. 

HANG. Hanging was a 
Jewish punishment, and it is 
said, ; that he that is hanged, is 
accursed of God,' Deut.xxi. 23; 
therefore has the apostle charg- 
ed the Jews, ' whom ye slew 
and hanged on a tree.' Jesus 
hung on the tree, being made a 
curse for his people. The vail 
of the tabernacle was called a 
hanging, Exod. xxvi. 36. There 
were various other hangings, 
in allusion to which the ordi- 
nances of the church are cele- 
brated ; 'the hangings thereof 
are purple,' Song iii. 10. 

HANNIEL, the gifts of God; 
the son of Ulla, 1 Chron.vii. 39. 

HANNAH. Her husband 
Elkanah was a Levite of mount 
Ephraim, the seventeenth in de- 
scent from Koath the son of Le- 
vi ; and had two wives, Hannah 
and Peninnah. The former 
was the darling of her husband ; 
but the latter had children, and 
upbraided Hannah with her 
want of them. As Elkanah and 
his whole family attended one 
of the solemn feasts at Shiloh, 
he gave Peninnah and her chil- 
dren their several portions ; but 
to Hannah he gave the best part 
of the peace-offering that fell to 
his share, or best part of the pass- 
over-lamb. Hannah at length 
took it so ill, that she could 
eat none. To comfort her Elka- 
nah told her, that his distin- 
guished regard to her was bet- 
ter than ten children. After 
eating a little, Hannah retired to 
the court of the tabernacle, 
prayed with great fervour for a 
child, and vowed to surrender 
iiim, as a Nazarite for life, to 
the service of God. Eli the high- 
priest, observing her lips move, 
but not hearing her words, up- 



HAR 

braided her, as if she had been 
drunk. She told him her case, 
and he wished the Lord might 
grant her request. Divinely im- 
pressed that he would grant it, 
she went home cheerful. She 
had scarce returned to Ramah, 
the place of their abode, when 
she conceived ; and in due time, 
bare him, and called his name 
Samuel, because she had asked 
him of, and lent him to the 
Lord. After she had weaned 
him, and he was about three 
years old, she carried him to 
Shiloh ; and presented him be- 
fore the Lord, and put him un- 
der Eli's tuition ; representing, 
that, as she had obtained him by 
prayer, so she had given him up 
for life to the service of God. 
On this occasion, she sung a 
remarkable song, celebrating 
the holiness, greatness, wisdom, 
power, and mercy of God, 1 
Sam. i. 

HANOCH ; the son of Reu- 
ben, Gen. xlvi. 9. 

HANUN; the son and suc- 
cessor of Nahash king of the 
Ammonites. Persuaded by evil 
counsellors, he used David's am- 
bassadors, sent to him with com- 
pliments of condolence after his 
father's death, as if they had 
come to spy the country, where 
it might be most easily attacked: 
he ordered their beards to be 
shaved, and cutoff their clothes 
by their middle. He immediate- 
ly thought how ill this would be 
taken, and prepared for a war 
with the Hebrews. Once and 
again he procured an assistant 
army from the Syrians : but all 
his forces being defeated in 
sundry hattles, and the Syrians 
giving up with him, his whole 
kingdom was taken, and Ra- 
bath, his capital, after a siege 
of some months, destroyed. 

HARAN; the eldest son of 
Terah, and brother of Abraham, 
and father of Lot, and of two 
daughters, viz. Milcah and Is- 
caji. As he died young, it 
252 



HAR 

seems his two brothers married 
his two daughters ; Abraham 
Iscah or Sarah, and Nahor Mil- 
cab. Out of respect to his memo- 
ry, it is probable that his father 
called the place of their future 
abode, Haran, Hara, or Char- 
ran, Gen. xi.27 — 32. Acts vii. 2. 
This town was called by the 
Greeks Charran, and by the Ro- 
mans Charrse. It was situated 
on the north-western part of 
Mesopotamia, on a small river 
of the same name, which emp- 
tied itself into the Euphrates. 
The plain, on the border of this 
town, is celebrated in history for 
the total defeat of the Roman 



HAR 

vii. 1 ; and here Elikah and 
Shammah, two of David's 
mighty men, seem to have been 
born, 2 Sam. xxiii. 25. 1 Chr 
ii. 28 

HAROSHETH of the Gen- 
tiles; a city of Galilee, near the 
lake of Meron, whereabout 
■ many Heathens dw r elt, and 
where Sisera resided, and to the 
very gates of which his routed 
army were pursued, Judg.iv.2.16, 

HARP. That kind invented 
by .Tubal, the descendant of 
Cain, and used by the ancients, 
is now disused. It was com- 
posed of a base or hollow sound- 
ing belly, with two branches 



army by the Parthians, when ' raised on the sides thereof, to 
Crassus, one of the triumvirates j which were fastened three, six, 
with Caesar and Pompey, and \ or nine strings, which, when 
the richest citizen of Rome, was ! played on with the fingers, or 
slain. Mr. Kinneir says, that i with a bow-string, gave a very 
Haran still retains its ancient! agreeable sound. Solomon's 
name, and is peopled by a few I harps were of wood, 1 Kings x. 
families of wandering Arabs, j 12. Harps were used both in 
who are led to this spot by a j sacred and civil music, 1 Sam. 



plentiful supply of good water 
from several streams. Its situ- 
ation is 36° 52' north, and 39° 
5' east from Greenwich. The 
land is flat and sandy. 

HARE ; a well-known ani- 
mal with a short tail, black eyes, 
double fore-teeth, simple under- 
teeth, and no tusks. It was 
unclean under the law, as it did 
not divide the hoof, Lev. xi. 6. 
Deut. xiv. 7. 

HARNESS ; the furniture of 
a horse, to render him fit for 
work or war, Jer. xlvi. 4: but it 
is more frequently taken for a 
set of defensive armour, as a 
coat of mail, brigantine, and 
habergeon, 1 Kings xxii. 34. 
The children of Israel went up 
out of Egypt harnessed, girded 
as for war. 

HA ROD, fear; a place in 
the valley of Jezreel, near the 
foot of mount Gdlboa, arnd seems 
to have had its name from the 
trembling- of the Hebrews, or 
Midianites, near to it. Here 
Gideon mustered his army, Judg. 



xvi. 16. 23. During the captivi- 
ty in Babylon, the Levitical 
singers hanged their harps, as 
useless, on the willow-trees on 
the banks of the Euphrates and 
other rivers in Chaldea, Psalm 
cxxxvii. 2. The Greeks and 
Romans had the use of the harp 
from the eastern barbarians. 
Our modern harp is of a trian- 
gular form, having three rows 
of strings, and being held up- 
right between one's knees, is 
played on w r ith both hands, and 
has a sound somewhat similar 
to th at of the Spinnet. Playing 
on the harp, often denotes grave 
and cheerful praise of, and 
thanksgiving to God, Psalm 
xxxiii. 2. and xliii. 4. and cxlix. 
3. The redeemed are said to 
be harpers, because with cheer- 
fulness and skill, they praise the 
Lord for his goodness, Rev. v. 
8. and xiv. 2. 

HARVEST. The harvest, in 

Canaan began in March, and 

was finished about the middle 

of May. As the harvest is a 

22 253 



HAV 

time of great importance for 
laying up provision, any time of 
gainful labour is called harvest, 
hence a sleeper in harvest caus- 
eth shame to himself and his 
friends, Pro v. x. 5. A time of 
God's destructive judgments, 
whereby he cuts down many, 
and carries them into the eternal 
state, is likened to a harvest , 
hence we read of a harvest on 
Babylon and Judah, Jer. li. 33. 
Hos. vi. 11. A people ripened 
by sin for destruction, are liken- 
ed to a harvest or crop ready 
for the sickle of God's ven- 
geance, Isa. xviii. 5. Joel iii. 13. 
Rev. xiv. 15. A remarkable time 
of success of the gospel is called 
harvest, Matth. ix. 37. 38. John 
iv. 35. 36. The day of judgment 
is likened to a harvest; then all 
things shall be ripe for a disso- 
lution. 

HATHATH; the son of Oth 
niel, 1 Chron. iv. 13. 

HATIPHA; his children re- 
turned from the captivity, Ezra 
ii. 54. 

HAVEN ; a sea-port, where 
ships lie at rest. Zebulun was a 
haven for ships; they had con 
venient harbours in their part of 
the coast of the Mediterranean 
Sea, Gen. xlix. 13. A place on 
the east end of Crete was called 
the fair, or beautiful haven, 
Acts xxvii. 8. 

HAVILAH; (1.) The second 
son of Cush, and grandchild of 
Ham. It is probable that he and 
his posterity peopled, and gave 
name to the land of Havilah, on 
the north-west of the Persian 
gulf, and which was the east 
border of the Ishmaelites and 
Amalekites, Gen. x. 7. and xxv. 
18. 1 Sam. xv. 7. (2.) The 
twelfth son of Joktan, whose 
posterity were probably the Cha- 
loteans, or Avalites, that dwelt 
near the Sabeans, on the Ava- 
litic bay, southward of the for- 
mer Havilah, Gen. x. 29. Cal- 
met and Reland will have Havi- 
lah to be Colchis, on the east of 



HAZ 

the Euxine Sea ; and it is true, 
there was fine gold there in the 
earliest ages, which the inhabit* 
ants gathered in sheep skinsy 
with the wool on, as it ran down 
the rivers when swollen ; and 
hence, probably, sprung the la* 
ble of the golden fleece. 

Havilah; several different re- 
gions seem to have been called, 
in scripture, by this name, Geo* 
ii. 11. xxv. 18. 1 Sam. xv. 7. 

HAVOTH-JAIR. The vil- 
lages or hamlets of Jair, lay on 
the north or north-east of mount 
Gilead, Numb, xxxii. 41. 

HAURAN, liberty, or Autvb- 
nitis; a country on the north- 
east of Canaan, near Damascus* 
Since, according to Luke, Philip, 
ruled over Iturea Trachonitia, 
and according to Josephus, ovet 
Batanea or Bashan, Auranitisy 
and Trachonitis, one is tempted 
to think, Iturea is the same with 
Auranitis. Jerome mentions 
Haurine as a city in the wilder- 
ness of Damascus ; but Abulfe* 
da, an Arabic prince, informs 
us, that Bozrah or Bostra was 
the capital of Hauran, Ezek. 
xlvii. 18. 

HAWK ; a well-known fowk 
There are nine or ten principal 
kinds of hawks, viz. falcons, 
gos-hawks, sparrow-hawks, &cu 
Hawks are quick-sighted, swifl> 
winged, ravenous, and very cou> 
rageous. Men often use them tD 
catch fowls, hares, &c. In the 
winter they go off to warmei 
climates, Deut. xiv. 15. 

HAZAEL. It is probable Ire 
was the Syrian general after 
Naaman, who possibly gave irp 
his post, rather than lead armies 
against the Israelites. Elijah had 
been divinely ordered to anoint 
him king over Syria. Elisha, 
about eleven years after Elijah's 
translation, went north to Syria. 
Benhadad the king being sick, 
sent Hazael to the prophet to 
ask if he should recover. Elijah 
replied, that though his disease 
was not mortal he would never 
254 



HAZ 

recover. He also with tears told 
Hazael, that he foresaw the hor- 
rid barbarities which he would 
exercise on the Israelites. Ha- 
zael replied, that he had neither 
power nor inclination to do these 
horrid things. Elisha told him 
that he would become king of 
Syria, and then do them. Ha- 
zael returned to his master, and 
said, he would certainly reco 
ver ; but next day he stifled him 
with a wet cloth; and, by his 
influence in the army, seized the 
throne. Almost immediately af- 
ter, when Jehu gave up the siege 
or care of Ramoth-Gilead to fix 
himself on the throne of Israel, 
Hazael took the opportunity to 
ravage almost all the country of 
Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, 
beyond Jordan. He burnt their 
cities with fire ; he dashed their 
Children to pieces, and ripped up 
their women with child, 2 Kings 
viii. 7—13. and x. 32, 33. After 
the death of Jehu, he ravaged 
the kingdom of the ten tribes 
westward of Jordan, and re 
duced the country to an almost 
desert, 2 Kings xiii. 3. 7. 22. 
About the forty-fourth year of 
his reign, he took Gath from the 
Philistines, and marched to lay 
siege to Jerusalem ; but Joash 
by large presents, diverted him 
but the very next year, a small 
axmy of Syrians invaded Judah, 
and defeated Joash's mighty 
host, slew his princes, and car- 
ried off" a great spoil, 2 Kings 
xii. 17, 18. 2 Chron. xxiv. 23, 
24,25. After Hazael had reigned 
about fifty years, he was suc- 
ceeded by Benhadad his son, 
about A. M. 3170. 

HAZARM AVETH, the third 
son of Joktan, and father of the 
Adramyt®, Chatramotitae, or 
Chatramonitoe, in Arabia-Felix. 
There is still a place in the south 
parts of that country, called Ha- 
dramaut, which is nothing else 
than the Arabic pronunciation 
of Hazarmaveth, Gen. x. 26. 

HAZOR. (1.) a strong city, 



HEA 

on the west side of the lake of 
Merom, and the capital of the 
principal kingdom of the Ca- 
naanites in these quarters. Jo- 
shua having routed Jabin the 
king of it, and his allies, burnt 
it with fire, and afterwards gave 
it to the tribe of Naphtali, Josh, 
xi. 10. and xix. 36 ; but the Ca* 
naanites again erected a king- 
dom in it, and Jabin governed 
it, Judg. iv. 2. Possibly Barak 
burnt it a second time. Solomon 
seems to have repaired it, 1 
Kings ix. 15. Tiglath-pilesex 
took it, and transported the in- 
habitants to his eastern territo- 
ries, 2 Kings xv. 29. (2.) A noted 
city and capital of a kingdom of 
Arabia the Rocky. Whether 
some Canaanites, who had fled 
from the northern Hazor when 
it was destroyed, had built this, 
I know not. Some think it was 
the same with Petra ; but it i3 
far more certain, that the Chal- 
deans took and demolished it, 
Jer. xlix. 28—33. 

HEAD. This being the up- 
permost, and a chief part of the 
body, is often put for the whole 
man ; so blessings come on the 
head, the whole person of tha 
just, Prov. x. 6 ; and men have 
their way recompensed on their 
head, Ezek. ix. 10; and to en- 
danger one's head, is to expose 
his life, Dan. i. 10. Covering of 
the head imports protection, as 
with a helmet, Psal. cxl. 7 ; o* 
grief and mourning, 2 Sam. xv. 
30; or modesty and subjection 
in the case of women, 1 Cor. xi 
5, 6. To lift up one's own head\ 
is to rejoice, Luke xxi. 28; o» 
to grow proud, rebel against 
God, in a bold and daring mai> 
ner, Psal. lxxxiii. 2. To lift itp 
the head of another, is to exall 
him to honour, Gen. xl. 13. Jer 
lii. 31. Shaking or wagging of 
the head at one, implies con* 
tempt, mockery, insult, PsaL 
xxii. 7. The anointing of the 
head imports joy and prosperity, 
Eccl. ix. 8. Psal. xziii. 5. and 
255 



IIEA 

xcii. 10. Matth. vi. 17. Luke 
vii. 46. Iniquities going over our 
head, imports that our guilt is 
very great, and our apprehension 
of it, and our affliction for it, like 
to sink us, Psai. xxxviii. 4. Men 
riding over our heads, imports 
great oppression and slavery, 
Psal. lxvi. 12. 

To HEAL. (1.) To cure the 
ailments of one's body, Matth. 
iv. 24. (2.) To cure the mala- 
dies of men's souls, by forgiving 
their sin, turning them from it 
to God, and fiiiing them with 
spiritual comfort, Rev. xxii. 2. 
Psal. vi. 2. God's saving health 
is his salvation, or his son in his 
saving offices, Psal. lxvii. 2 ; and 
he is the health of his people's 
countenance, as by vouchsafing 
his salvation, he cheers and ex- 
hilarates them, Psalm xlii. 11 
(3.) To heal nations and church 
es, is to redress their grievances, 
purge out their corruptions, and 
reduce them to a fixed and re 
gular state, Jer. xiv. 19; and 
their health and cure is their 
civil and religious prosperity, 
Jer. xxx. 17. and viii. 22. and li. 
8, 9. False prophets heal by 
flattering men in their sins, and 
encouraging them in false hopes 
of deliverance and prosperity, 
Jer. vi. 14. and viii. 11. 

HEART. The human heart 
is that subject with which we 
are most familiar, yet of which 
we are most ignorant. Although 
it is the seat of the affections 
and passions, in the sense in 
which it is used in Scripture, and 
therefore we are accustomed to 
its operations on every occasion, 
yet God only knows it, Jer. xvii, 
10. The Lord and Saviour Je- 
sus Christ, who demonstrated 
his Godhead on many occasions, 
by exercising that attrihute of 
the true God, searching the heart, 
declares, that from the heart of 
man proceeds every evil, Matt, 
xv. 18. It is very observable, 
that as the great evil which, in 
the human heart, corrupts and 



HEA 

defiles it, is unbelief; so the only 
purifier of the heart mentioned 
in the Scripture, is the faith of 
the gospel, Acts xv. 9. The gos- 
pel comes to man's heart or con- 
science; it speaks there; nay, so 
forcible is its language there, 
that when resisted, it is called 
hardening the heart. Thus the 
Lord himself reproved the disci- 
ples going to Emmaus ; ' O fools, 
and slow of heart to believe, <Src. 
ought not Christ to have suffered 
these things, and to have entered 
into his glory,' Luke xxiv. 25. 
With the heart man believeth 
unto righteousness, because the 
truth concerning Christ, that he 
died for our sins, and rose again 
for our justification, gives the 
answer of a good conscience to- 
wards God 

By the heart likewise the mid- 
dle of any thing is meant: Tyre 
is in the heart of the seas, in the 
midst of the seas, Ezek xxvii. 4. 

HEATH ; a well-known shrub 
that grows on barren moors. 
Men are likened to it, as they 
are insufficient and contempti- 
ble, and do not profit in true 
godliness amidst the merciful 
providences of God, Jer. xvii. 6. 
it likewise represents men in a 
destitute and concealed condi- 
tion, Jer. xlviii. 6. 

HEATHEN. See Gentiles. 

HEAVEN. (1.) That region 
where God especially displays 
his glory, amidst holy angels and 
glorified saints; this is called the 
third heaven, and heaven of 
heavens, because more glorious 
and distant than the other, 2 
Cor. xii. 2. 1 Kings viii. 27. (2.) 
The region in which the sun, 
moon, stars, and comets are 
placed, Ps. xix. 1. The ancients 
imagined it a solid extended 
vault: but from the equality of 
the motion of the planets from 
time to time, without diminu- 
tion, it seems to be really void 
of matter, and the luminaries 
keep their respective places by 
virtue of their own attraction 
25G 



HEB 

and gravitation, subordinated to 
the preserving power and direc- 
tion of God. From the long ab- 
sence of comets, and the late 
appearance of new stars, it is 
plain that the extent of this re- 
gion is.inconceivable to mortals. 
(3 ) The atmosphere, or region 
of air, that surrounds our earth, 
and where birds fly, and clouds 
move, &c. Matt. vi. 26. When a 
tiling goes far up in this, it is 
said to be up to heaven : so the 
flames from Sinai burnt into the 
midst of heaven, Deut. iv. 11. 
and the cities of Canaan are 
said to be walled up to heaven; 
Deut. i. 23. God, angels, and 



ffKu 

ed from Hebrew parents, both 
father and mother, Phil. iii. 5. 
Sometimes only those Jews were 
called Hebrews who spoke the 
Hebrew language, in contradis>- 
tinction to the Jews who spake 
the Greek, Acts vi. 1. God had 
promised to Abraham, that he 
would render his seed extremely 
numerous. It was long, how- 
ever, before the promised seed 
made any remarkable appear- 
ance. Abraham's seed by Ish- 
mael, and the sons of Keturah, 
indeed mightily increased; but 
neither these, nor the posterity 
of Esau, were the promised off- 
spring. In Jacob's twelve sons 



gemtor; and in times still later 

ere called Jews, such of them 

as were known, from the name 

of Judah. In about two hun~ 



saints, are called heaven, be- 1 it first began to increase; and in 
cause they dwell in it. after times they were called 7s- 

Heayenhj, is what dwells in, \rael, or Jacob, from their pro- 
belongs to, or comes from hea- r 

ven, Matt. vi. 14. John iii. 12. 
Heb. vi. 4. 

HEBER, Eber, the son of i 
Shelah, and great grandchild of , dred and ten or two hundred and 
Shem. He had two sons, Peleg fifteen years, they increased in 
and Joktan, whose posterity at 1 i Egypt, from seventy, to between 
terward peopled Mesopotamia, : two and three millions. White 
and westward of it, and part of l Joseph lived, who had preserved 
Arabia-Felix, Gen. x. 24 — 30. 1 the Egyptian nation amidst a 
and xi. 14 — 26. 1 Chr. i. 18 — 12.* terrible famine, they were kindly 
The children of Eber afflicted used by the Egyptian monarchs ; 
by ships from Chittim, may sig-jbut soon after were terribly op- 
nify the Mesopotamians afflicted pressed. From a suspicion that 
by the Greeks under Alexander they might, in process of time, 
and his successors ; and the Jews become too strong for the na- 
harassed by the Romans under J fives, they were condemned to 
Pompey, Vespasian, Titus. Tra- labour in* the biost slavish and 
jan, Adrian, &c. N urn. xxiv. 24. ; toilsome employments. The 

HEBREWS; so Abraham, I more they were oppressed, the 
Isaac, Jacob, and his descend-! more exceedingly they multipli- 
ants are called. We cannot be- led. The midwives, and others, 
lieve they received this name were therefore ordered to mur 
only from Heber: for why should der every male-infant at the 



this branch bear his name ra- 
ther than any other of his family, 
unless that they retained bis re- 
ligion 1 Nor is Abraham ever 
called a Hebrew, till he had 
passed the Euphrates to the 
westward. Did they not then 
rather receive it from their pass- 
ing over, orcoming from beyond 
the river? A Hebrew of the 
Hebrews, is one who is descend- 
l 2 22 



time of birth; but the mid wives 
shifted the horrible task. Every 
body was therefore ordered to 
kill the Hebrew male-children 
wherever they were found : in- 
tending to incorporate the fe- 
males with the Egyptians. After 
they had been thus miserably 
oppressed for about a hundred 
years, and on the very day that 
finished the 430th year from 
257 



HEB 

God's first promise of a seed to 
Abraham, and about four hun- 
dred years after the birth of 
Isaac, God, by terrible plagues 
on the Egyptians, obliged them 
to let the Hebrews go, under the 
direction of Moses and Aaron. 
Thus they departed peaceably, 
and with great wealth, and with- 
out so much as one of their 
number weak or sickly; and a 
mixed multitude of Heathens 
attending them, and who were 
afterward a snare to them, Gen. 
xv. and xvii. and xxii. with 
Exod. i — xiii. Actsvii. Neh.ix. 
God directed the Hebrew 
march by a cloud, which in the 
day was dusky, and screened 
them from the heat, and in the 
night was fiery, and gave them 
light. He directed them not by 
the near way to Canaan, lest 
their early encounters with the 
Philistines should tempt them to 
return back into Egypt; but 
caused them to march towards 
the south-east, and into the 
straits of Pihahiroth, where there 
were mountains on each side, 
and the Red Sea before them. 
Pharaoh, expecting they were 
now entangled, pursued them 
with a mighty army, to bring 
them back. The Lord opened a 
passage through the Red Sea for 
the Hebrews ; but the Egyptians, 
attempting to follow them, were 
drowned. The Hebrews were 
now in a dry and barren desert; 
nor had they brought provision 
for the journey. God supplied 
them with water from a flinty 
rock, and with manna from hea- 
ven. Moreover, he regaled them 
with quails in the desert of Sin. 
By means of Moses' prayers, and 
Joshua's bravery, he enabled 
them to rout the Amalekites, 
who barbarously fell on their 
rear. Having got officers of 
thousands, hundreds, fifties, and 
tens, set over them, they march- 
ed southward along the east side 
of the western gulf of the Red 
Sea, and came to Mount Sinai, 



HEB 

about fifty days after their de- 
parture from Egypt. There God, 
in a most tremendous manner, 
from the midst of a terrible fire 
on the top of the mount, and 
after the most fearful thunder- 
ing, avouched them for his pecu- 
liar people, intimated to them 
his laws, and confirmed the au- 
thority of Moses as their leader. 
While Moses tarried in the 
mount, they so far lost the im- 
pression of every thing they had 
seen and heard, that they formed 
and worshipped a golden cal£ 
This being destroyed, and three 
thousand of the principal idola- 
ters cut off by the sword of the 
zealous Levites, God, at the 
intercession of Moses, spared 
them ; renewed to them the ta- 
bles of his law; and his taberna 
cle was erected among them; 
and Aaron and his sons conse- 
crated to the priesthood ; and 
vast numbers of further cere- 
monies concerning offerings, 
purifications, and festivals, pre- 
scribed them. The numbers of 
their fighting men were taken 
and arranged in four great divi- 
sions, three tribes in each ; and 
the manner of their marching 
and encampment was appointed: 
the tabernacle was dedicated, by 
the oblations of their chief prin- 
ces, on twelve several days ; and 
the Levites were consecrated to 
the sacred service of it, in room 
of the Hebrews' first-born ; and 
the passover was again observed 
in the first month of the second 
year, after they had come out of 
Egypt, Exod. xiv — xl. Lev. i — 
xxvii. Num. i— x. Neh. ix. Pa. 
lxxviii. cv. cvi. cxiv. exxxv. 
exxxvi. Ezek. xx. and xvi. 4 
—14. 

After they had continued about 
a year at the foot of Sinai, they 
marched northward, loathed the 
manna, and were punished with 
a month's eating of flesh, till a 
plague brake out among them. 
About this time seventy or se- 
venty-two elders were set over 
258 



HEB 

them. They quickly arrived on 
the south borders of Canaan at 
Kadesh-bamea ; but, for their 
rash belief of the ten wicked 
spies, and their contempt of the 
promised land, God had entirely 
destroyed them, had not Moses' 
prayers prevented it. They were 
actually condemned to wander 
in the desert till the end of forty 
years, till that whole generation, 
except Caleb and Joshua, should 
be cut off by death. During this 
period, God frequently punished 
them for their repeated rebellion, 
murmuring, or loathing of man- 
na. The Canaanites made ter- 
rible havock of them at Hor- 
mah, when they attempted to 
enter Canaan, contrary to the 
will of their God. Above four- 
teen thousand of them perished 
in the matter of Korah ; or for 
their murmuring at his and his 
accomplices' death. Multitudes 
of them were bitten by fiery ser- 
pents. Twenty-four thousand 
of them were cut off for their 
idolatry, and whoredom with the 
Midianitish women. But God's 
marvellous favours were still 
continued : his cloudy pillar con- 
ducted and protected them ; his 
manna from heaven supplied 
them with meat; the streams 
issuing from the rock at Meribah, 
followed their camp about thirty- 
nine years. Their clothes never 
waxed old. At Kadesh, and at 
Beer, God anew supplied them 
with water. The intended curse 
of Balaam was turned into a 
blessing in their favours. During 
this period, the cloud conducted 
them from Kadesh-barnea on 
the south of Canaan, back to 
Ezion-geber, which is on the 
north-east of Sinai; and then 
back to the south border of Ca- 
naan. This journey, though of 
no more than a few hundred 
miles, took them up about thirty- 
eight years, and it is likely they 
marched hither and thither, so 
that it is in vain to attempt an 
accurate account of their Bta- 



EEB 

tions. Nor were they yet admit- 
ted to enter the promised land, 
but conducted along the south 
border of Idumea, by a way ex- 
ceeding rough and fatiguing. A* 
last they marched to the north- 
east, till they came to about the 
head of the river Anion, and 
turned westward to the Jordan- 
While they tarried in these quar- 
ters, they took possession of the 
two powerful kingdoms of Sihon 
and Og, on the east of Canaan ; 
and made terrible slaughter of 
the Midianites, for enticing them 
to uncleanness and idolatry. Af- 
ter crossing the Jordan, mira- 
culously divided, under Joshua, 
the successor of Moses, as their 
general, they solemnly dedicated 
themselves to the Lord, by cir- 
cumcision, and eating of the 
passover ; and in a war of six 
years, conquered thirty-one king- 
doms. On the seventh, the land 
was divided, and the tabernacle 
of God set up among them at 
Shiloh ; and not long after, they 
solemnly dedicated themselves to 
the Lord. Under the name of 
each tribe, it wifl appear how 
exactly their station in Canaan^ 
and their respective fates, cor- 
responded to the prophetic bene- 
dictions of Jacob and Moses, 
Num. xi — xxxvi. Deut. i — xxix- 
Josh, i — xxiv. Neh. ix. PsaL 
lxxviii. cv. cvi. cxiv. &c. Gen. 
xlix. Deut. xxxiii. In their en- 
trance to Canaan, God ordered 
them to cut off every idola- 
trous Canaanite ; they, however, 
through sinful pity or sloth, 
spared vast numbers of them, 
who enticed them to wicked- 
ness, and were sometimes God'9 
rod to punish them. For many 
ages the Hebrews scarce enjoyed 
a blink of outward prosperity, 
but they relapsed into idolatry, 
worshipping Baalim and Ashta- 
roth, &c. Micah, and the Dan- 
ites, introduced it not long after 
Joshua's death. About thja 
time, the lewdness of the men 
of Gibeah occasioned a war of 
259 



EEB 

the eleven tribes against their 
brethren of Benjamin. To punish 
the tribes for their wickedness, 
and their neglecting at first to 
consult the mind of the Lord, 
they, though more than fourteen 
to one, were twice routed by the 
Benjamites, and forty thousand 
cff them slain. In the third, all 
the Benjamites were slain, ex- 
cept six hundred. Heartily vexed 
for the loss of a tribe, the other 
Hebrews provided wives for 
these six hundred, at the ex- 
pense of slaying most of the in- 
habitants of Jabesh-gilead, and 
of eluding their oath, in the 
affair of the daughters of Shi- 
loh, Judg. i. ii. and xvii — xxi. 
Their relapses into idolatry, also 
brought on them repeated turns 
<rf slavery from the Heathen, 
among or around them. From 
A. M. 2591 to 2598, they were 
terribly oppressed by Cushan- 
rishathaim; but delivered by 
Othniel. From Ji. M. 2661 to 
2679, by Eglon king of Moab ; 
from which they were delivered 
by Ehud. Soon after which, 
they were delivered from the 
ravages of the Philistines by 
Shamgar. From A. M. 2699 to 
2719, they were oppressed by 
Jabin king of the Canaanites; 
but delivered bv Deborah and 
Barak. From 2752 to 2759, by 
the Midianites ; but delivered by 
Gideon, whose son Abimelech 
was a scourge to Israel. From 
2799 to 2817, by the Ammonites 
on the east, and the Philistines 
an the west; but Jephthah res- 
cued them from the Ammonites. 
From A. M. 2S49 to 2889, they 
were oppressed by the Philis- 
tines, who were harassed by 
Samson, and routed by Samuel, 
after the death of Eli. During 
this last oppression, the Hebrews 
were almost ruined ; the ark was 
taken ; and for perhaps one hun- 
dred and ten or one hundred and 
thirty years afterward, was with- 
out a settled abode, Judg. i — xxi. 
1 Sam. ii. When the Hebrews 



HEB 

had been governed by jndges f 
divinely raised up, tor about 
I three hundred and forty years 
I after the death of Joshua, they 
; took a fancy to have a king, 
! like the nations around them. 
' Saul was their first sovereign. 
. Under his reign, of about twenty 
or forty years, they had almost 
perpetual struggles with the Am- 
monites, Moabites, and Philis- 
tines; and, at his death, the na- 
tion was left on the brink of ruin 
by the Philistines. After about 
seven years struggling between 
the eleven tribes that clave to 
Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, and 
the tribe of Judah, which erected 
themselves into a kingdom under 
| David ; David became sole mo- 
! narch of Israel. Under him, the 
j Hebrews subdued their neigh- 
i hours the Philistines, Edomites, 
Moabites, Ammonites, and Syri- 
ans, and took possession of the 
whole dominion which had been 
promised them, from the border 
of Egypt to the banks of the 
Euphrates. Under Solomon they 
had almost no war, but employ- 
ed themselves in buildings, sea- 
trade, and other things grand and 
pompous. It is plain, however, 
that they disrelished the taxes 
which he laid upon them in the 
end of his reign. To punish his, 
and their idolatry in the latter 
part of his reign, ftezon the Sy- 
rian, and Hadad the Edomite, 
harassed them a little ; and after 
Solomon's death, ten of the He- 
brew tribes formed a kingdom 
of Israel or Ephraim for them- 
selves, under Jeroboam the son 
of Nebat, in opposition to the 
kingdom of Judah and Benja- 
min, ruled by the family of Da- 
vid. This division, which hap- 
pened about A. M. 3029, and in 
the hundredth or one hundred 
and twentieth year of their king- 
dom, tended not a little to the 
injury of both parties, by their 
mutual contests. The kingdom 
of Israel, Ephraim, or the ten 
tribes, had never so much as one 
260 



HEB 

pious king; and often the royal 
families were destroyed, and 
others took their place. Idola 
try, particularly of worshipping 
the golden calves of Bethel and 
Dan, was always their establish- 
ed religion, and brought miseries 
unnumbered on their head. The 
kingdom of Judah had wicked 
and pious sovereigns by turns : 
but their frequent relapses into 
idolatry often occasioned terrible 
distress to the country. To pun- 
ish the kingdom of Judah, or the 
Jews, for their apostacy, God 
delivered them into the hand of 
Shishak king of Egypt, who ra- 
vaged the country; but appears 
to have done no hurt to Jero- 
boam's kingdom, as perhaps he 
was in league with him. There 
was almost perpetual war be- 
tween Jeroboam and Rehobo- 
am, and Abijah his son. In one 
battle Jeroboam had five hun- 
dred thousand of his forces cut 
off by the army of Abijah, which 
was but the half of his own. 
From-.*. M. 3049 to 3115, the 
kingdom of Judah, for the most 
part, followed the true God, re- 
formed from their corruptions, 
and had considerable prosperity 
and success against their ene- 
mies, Ethiopians, Edomites, 
Moabites, &c. Jehoshaphat had 
an army of 1,160,000 men. 
Meanwhile, the Israelites under 
Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Omri, 
Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, 
were generally in a most wretch- 
ed, condition, especially by 
Ahab's introduction of the wor- 
ship of Baal; and by various 
famines, and repeated wars with 
the Philistines and Syrians; and 
by civil broils between Omri and 
Tibni, 1 Sam. viii — xxxi. 2 Sam. 
i — xxiv. 1 Kings i — xxii. 1 Chr. 
X — xxix. 2 Chron. i — xx. 

Not only was the kingdom of 
Israel, but also the kingdom of 
Judah, the royal family of which 
had joined in marriage, and 
other alliance, with the wicked 
house of Ahab, brought to the 



HEB 

very brink of ruin, after the 
death of Jehoshaphat, nor in- 
deed did his successors,. Jeho- 
ram and Ahaziah, deserve a bet- 
ter fate. From .3. M. 3120 to 
3232, Jehu and his posterity go- 
verned the kingdom of Israel : 
the worship of Baal was abo- 
lished; but the idolatry of the 
calves was still retained. To 
punish this, the kingdom was 
terribly ravaged, and the people 
murdered by the Syrians, during 
the reign of Jehu, and especially 
of Jehoahaz his son ; but Jeho- 
ash, and Jeroboam his son, re- 
duced the Syrians, and rendered 
the kingdom of the ten tribes 
more glorious than ever it had 
been. In the beginning of this 
period, Athaliah for six years 
tyrannized over Judah. After 
her death, religion was a while 
promoted under Joash, by means 
of his uncle Jehoiada, the high- 
priest ; but they quickly relapsed 
into idolatry ; and during the 
reigns of Joash, Amaziah, Uz- 
ziah, as well as of Jotham, num- 
bers sacrificed in high placed, 
but to the Lord their God. Nor 
did the kingdom of Judah reco- 
ver its grandeur, till the reign of 
Uzziah. Under the reigns of 
Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, 
and Pekahiah, the kingdom of 
the ten tribes was reduced to a 
most -wretched condition, by 
their intestine broils, murder of 
sovereigns, and Assyrian ra- 
vages. Under Pekah they re- 
covered part of their grandeur ; 
but he being murdered by Ho- 
shea, a civil war of nine years 
seems to have happened; at the 
end of which, Hoshea found 
himself master of the crown. 
Under Jotham, the kingdom of 
Judah was moderately happy ; 
but under Ahaz they relapsed 
into idolatry, and were terribly 
harassed by the Philistines, Sy 
rians, and by the ten tribes un- 
der Pekah. About A. M. 3280, 
the kings of the Hebrews were 
better thau thevhad ever been 
261 



HEB 

since the division. Hezekiah of 
Judah was an eminent reformer, 
and Hosliea was less wicked 
than his predecessors ; but the 
abounding wickedness of both 
kingdoms had ripened them for 
ruin. Ignorance, stupidity, ido- 
latry, rebellion against God, and 
apostacy from his way, forget- 
fulness of him, ingratitude for 
his mercies, derision of his 
threatenings, changing of his 
ordinances, profane swearing, 
violation of sacred vows, magi- 
cal arts, hypocrisy, and obdu- 
rate impudence in wickedness, 
violation of the Sabbath, ming- 
ling themselves with the Hea- 
then, sinful alliances with the 
Syrians, Assyrians, and Egyp- 
tians, and dependence on them 
for help ; pride, want of natural 
affection among relations, or 
between the kingdoms of Israel 
and Judah ; universal corrup- 
tion of princes, judges, priests, 
and prophets ; murder, drunken- 
ness, luxury, whoredom, covet- 
ousness, fraud, oppression, per- 
verting of justice, and falsehood, 
every where prevailed. Pro- 
voked with Hoshea for entering 
into a league with So, king of 
Egypt, Shalmaneser king of As- 
syria invaded the kingdom of the 
ten tribes, furiously besieged end 
took their cities, murdered most 
of the people, ripping up the wo- 
men with child, and dashing in- 
fants to pieces ; and carried al- 
most all the rest captive to Hara, 
Halah, and Habor, by the river 
Gozan, and to the cities of the 
Medes, on the north side of the 
Assyrian empire ; and brought 
the Samaritans and placed them 
in their stead. Thus the king- 
dom was ruined two hundred 
and fifty-four years after its 
erection. Sennacherib king of 
Assyria, contrary to treaty, in- 
vaded the kingdom of Judah, 
and brought that hypocritical 
nation to the brink of ruin. He- 
zekiah's piety, and Isaiah's 
prayer, were a means of pre- 



HEB 

venting it: but under his son 
Manasseh, the Jews abandoned 
themselves to the most horrid 
impieties. To punish them, 
Esarhaddon king of Assyria, 
about the twenty-second year 
of Manasseh's reign, invaded 
Judea, reduced the kingdom, 
and carried Manasseh prisoner 
to Babylon ; he also transported 
the remains of the Israelites to 
Media, and the countries adja- 
cent. What has become of them 
since, whether they removed 
eastward with the Tartars, and 
partly passed over into Ameri- 
ca ; or how far they mixed with 
the Jews, when carried to Ba- 
bylon, we know not, 2 Kings i — 
xxi. 2 Chron. xxi. Amos ii — 
ix. Hos. i — xiii. Mic. i. ii. iii. 
vi. vii. Isa. i — x. xvii. and xxii. 
xxiv — xxxi. xxxiii. and xxxvi — 
xxxix. 1 Chron. v. 26. 

Manasseh repented, and the 
Lord brought him back to hi3 
kingdom, where he promoted the 
reformation of his subjects dur- 
ing the rest of his reign ; but his 
son Amon defaced all, and ren- 
dered matters as wicked as even 
His son Josiah mightily promot- 
ed reformation, and brought it 
to such a pitch, as it had never 
heen since the reign of David 
and Solomon ; but the people 
were mostly hypocritical in it, 
and the Lord never forgave the 
nation the murders, and other 
wickedness of Manasseh, as to 
the external punishment thereof 
After Josiah was slain by Pha- 
raoh-Necho king of Egypt, the 
kingdom of Judah returned to 
their idolatry, and other wick- 
edness ; no kind of the above- 
mentioned sins did they forbear. 
God gave them up to servitude, 
first to the Egyptians, and then 
to the Chaldeans. The fate of 
their kings, Jehoahaz, Jehoia- 
kim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, 
was unhappy; and so was the 
case of their subjects during the 
twenty-two years of their reigns. 
It is shocking to think what ta- 
252 



HEB 
mine, pestilence, and murder by 
the Chaldeans, happened among 
them. Provoked by Zedekiah's 
treachery, Nebuchadnezzar fu- 
riously invaded the kingdom, 
sacked and burnt the cities, mur- 
dered such multitudes, that of a 
kingdom, once consisting of 
about six millions of people, un- 
der Jehoshaphat, no more than 
a few thousands were left. The 
few that were left, after the 
murder of Gedeliah, flying to 
Egypt, made the Chaldeans sus- 
pect them guilty of the murder, 
and excited their fury against 
the Jewish nation. Thus the 
kingdom of Judah was ruined, 
A. M. 3416, about three hun- 
dred and eighty-eight years after 
its division from that of the ten 
tribes. In the seventieth year 
from the begun captivity, in the 
fourth year of Jehoiakim, and 
the fifty-second from the de- 
struction of the city, the Jews, 
according to the edict of Cyrus 
king of Persia, who had over- 
turned the empire of Chaldea, 
returned to their own country, 
under the direction of Shesbbaz- 
zer or Zerubbabel, the grandson 
of king Jehoiachin, Joshua the 
high-priest, and others, to the 
number of forty-two thousand 
three hundred and sixty, and 
6even thousand three hundred 
and thirty-seven servants of a 
heathen origin ; but as the par- 
ticulars mentioned by Ezra 
amount but to twenty-nine thou- 
sand eight hundred and eighteen, 
and those by Nehemiah to thir- 
ty-one thousand and thirty-one, 
it seems, the overplus of about 
twelve thousand were of the re- 
mains of the ten tribes. The 
lists of Ezra and Nehemiah are 
different in many particulars ; 
but the one might be the list of 
such as gave in their names to 
return, and the other the list of 
them that actually returned.^- 
Vast numbers of the Jews who 
had agreeable settlements, pre- 
ferred their own carnal advan- 



HEB 

tage to their religion, and re 
mained in Babylon. After their 
return, the Jews, under the di- 
rection of Zerubbabel, Joshua, 
Ezra, and Nehemiah, rebuilt the 
temple and city of Jerusalem, 
put away their strange wives, 
and solemnly renewed their co- 
venant with God ; and vast num- 
bers were turned to the Lord, 
though many were still given to 
contemn the worship of God, 
and to rebel against his law, Isa. 
xiv. xl — xlv. xlviii. xlix. Jer. ii 
— xiiv. 1. 3. Micah iv. Zepha- 
niah i. ii. iii. 2 Kings xxii — xxv. 
2 Chron. xxxiii — xxxvi. Ezra 
i — x. Neh. i — xiii. 

The Jews, after their return 
from Babylon, retained a con- 
stant aversion to idolatry, which 
they justly believed had been a 
chief reason of their ejection 
from their land ; but many cor- 
ruptions, as selfishness, marriage 
of strange wives, rash divorce- 
ment of lawful wives, contempt 
of God's worship, carnal labour 
on the Sabbath, partiality and 
scandalous living among their 
priests still took place ; the year 
of jubilee, and perhaps that of 
release, was scarce ever punc- 
tually observed. Nor were their 
troubles few. Their temple want- 
ed the ancient ark, cherubims, 
Schechinah, pot of manna, and 
budding-rod. The .gift of pro- 
phecy ceased after the death of 
Haggai, Zecharia, and Malachi. 
Tatnai, Shethar-boznai, Rehum, 
&c. mightily opposed the build- 
ing of the Temple. Sanballat, 
Tobiah, and Geshem, no less 
maliciously opposed the repair- 
ing of the walls of Jerusalem. 
About A. M. 34G0 or 3546, they 
escaped the ruin devised by Ha- 
inan. About 3653, Darius Ochus 
king of Persia, who is by some 
pretended to be the husband of 
Esther, and master of Haman, 
ravaged part of Judea, took Je- 
richo by force, and carried off a 
great number of prisoners ; part 
of which he sent into Egypt, 
263 



HEB 

and the rest he transported to 
Hyrcania, on the south of the 
Caspian Sea. When Alexander 
was in Canaan, about A. J\I. 
3670, he was at first provoked 
with their adherence to the Per- 
sians; but if we believe Jose- 
phus, their solemn submission, 
with their high-priest at their 
head, entirely pacified him. He 
caused a great number of vic- 
tims to be offered for his success 
to the God whom they worship- 
ped. He confirmed to them all 
their privileges ; and having built 
Alexandria, he settled vast num- 
bers of them there, endowed with 
the same privileges as his own 
Macedonians. About fourteen 
years after, Ptolemy Lagus, the 
Greek king of Egypt, to revenge 
their fidelity to Laomedon his 
rival, furiously ravaged Judea, 
took Jerusalem, and carried one 
hundred thousand Jews prison- 
ers to Egypt ; but used them so 
kindly, and even assigned them 
places of power and trust, that 
many of their countrymen fol- 
lowed them of their own accord. 
It seems, that, about eight years 
after, he transported another 
multitude of Jews to Egypt, and 
every where gave them equal 
privileges as Alexander had 
done. About' the same time 
Seleucus Nicator having built 
above thirty new cities in Asia. 
sixteen of which were called 
Antioch. nineSeleucia, six Lao- 
j'icea, settled in them as many 
Jews as he could; they being 
reckoned most faithful to their 
friendly sovereigns; and bestow- 
ed on them the same privileges 
as they had at Alexandria : nor 
did Antiochus Theos,his grand- 
son, less favour them. Ptolemy 
Philadclphus of Egypt, about 
3720, at his own expence, bought 
the freedom of all the Jewish 
staves in Egypt ; and, it is said, 
he, or his son, procured a trans- 
lation of their Bible for the use 
of his famous Alexandrian li- 
brary. Ptolemy Euergetes of- 



HEB 

fered a vast number of victims 
at Jerusalem for his victories 
over the Syro-grecians, and was 
extremely kind to Joseph and 
other Jews. Ptolemy Philopater, 
having defeated Antiochus the 
Great, offered a great multitude 
of victims at Jerusalem; but 
provoked with the priests, for 
hindering him to enter their holy 
of holies, and at the affright he 
had received in attempting it, 
he issued forth murderous de- 
crees against all the Jews in his 
dominions ; but the beasts pre- 
pared to devour them in Egypt, 
turned on and destroyed the 
Heathens who attended for di- 
version. Antiochus the Great 
soon after invaded Judea, and 
the Jews readily revolted to hirr*. 
To reward this, he repaired thefr 
temple at his own expence, and 
assigned twenty thousand pieces 
of silver, fourteen hundred mea- 
sures of wheat, and three hun- 
dred and seventy-five of salt, for 
its service ; and confirmed to 
them all the privileges which 
had been ratified to them by 
Alexander. Such dispersed Jews 
as settled at Jerusalem, he for 
three years exempted from tri- 
bute. Such as were slaves to 
his subjects, he ordered to be set 
free; but Seopas quickly re- 
duced Judea, and put an Egyp- 
tian garrison in Jerusalem. lJn> 
der Philometer, Onias, who, 
about 3850, built a temple at On, 
or Heliopoiis, in Egypt, after the 
model of that at Jerusalem, and 
Dositheus, had almost the whole 
management of the Egyptian 
state. "About A. M. 3328, Helio- 
dorus, by his master Seleucus* 
orders, attempted to pillage thrj 
temple; but an angel affrighted 
him. Soon after, Antiochus Epi- 
phanes came to the Syrian 
throne ; severely the Jews felt 
the effects of his fury and madr 
ness. Because Onias the high- 
priest refused to comply with 
some imitations of the Heathen, 
he turned him out, and sold the 
2S4 



HEB 

office to Jason his brother for 
three hundred and fifty talents 
of silver. Soon after, he took it 
from him, and sold it to Mene- 
laus, a third brother, for six 
hundred and fifty talents of sil- 
ver. About A. M. 3834, a re- 
port being spread that Antiochus 
was killed in his Egyptian ex- 
pedition, attempted to turn out 
Menelaus, and retake the high- 
priesthood. Enraged hereat, and 
with the Jews for rejoicing at 
the news of his death, and for 
the peculiar form of their wor- 
ship, Antiochus, in his return 
from Egypt, forced his way into 
Jerusalem, murdered forty thou- 
sand, and sold as many more for 
slaves to the Heathens around, 
carried off a great part of the 
sacred furniture, with about 
eighteen hundred talents of gold 
and silver which he found in the 
treasury ; and appointed two of 
his most savage friends, Philip 
the Phrygian, and Andronicus, 
to govern Judea and Samaria as 
his deputies. About two years 
after, enraged at the Romans' 
check of his designs against 
Egypt, he, in his return, ordered 
his troops to pillage the cities of 
Judea, murder the men and sell 
the women and children for 
slaves. On a Sabbath day, 
Apollonius, his general, craftily 
entered Jerusalem, killed multi 
tudes, and carried off ten thou- 
sand prisoners. Antiochus built 
a fort adjacent to the temple, 
from whence his garrison might 
fall on the people who came to 
worship in the courts ; the tem 
pie was soon after dedicated to 
Jupiter Olympius, an idol of 
Greece, and his statue was erect- 
ed on the altar of burnt-offering. 
For two thousand three hun- 
dred mornings and evenings, or 
three years and about two 
months, the daily sacrifice was 
stopped, and the temple rendered 
a shamble of murder, a sty of 
whoredom, and of all manner of 
baseness. Such Jewa as refused 
M 



HEB 

to eat swine's flesh, and comply 
with idolatry, were exposed to 
all the horrors of persecution, 
torture, and death. While Elea- 
bar, and the widow, with her 
seven sons, and others, bravely 
suffered martyrdom, and others 
with ardour taught their bre- 
thren the evil of idolatrous com- 
pliances, Mattathias the priest, 
with his sons, chiefly Judas, Jo- 
nathan, and Simon, who were 
called Maccabees,bravely fought 
for their religion and liberties. 

After a variety of lesser ad- 
vantages, Judas, who succeeded 
his father about 3840, gave Ni- 
canor and the king's troops a 
terrible defeat, regained the tem- 
ple, repaired and purified it, de- 
dicated it anew, and restored the 
daily worship of God, and re- 
paired Jerusalem, which was 
now almost a ruinous heap. Af- 
ter he had, for four years more, 
with a small handful of troops, 
proved a terrible scourge to the 
Syrians, and other Heathens 
around, the Edomites, Arabs, 
&c. he was slain ; and Jonathan 
his brother succeeded him, as 
high-priest and general. He and 
his brother Simon, who suc- 
ceeded him, wisely and bravely 
promoted the welfare of their 
church and state, and were bot'a 
basely murdered. Hircanus, Si- 
mon's son, succeeded him, A. M. 
3869 ; he at first procured a peace 
with the Syrians, and soon after 
entirely threw off their yoke. He 
subdued Idumea, and forced the 
inhabitants to be circumcised, 
and to accept the Jewish reli- 
gion; he reduced the Samari 
tans,and demolished their temple 
at Gerizzim, and Samaria their 
capital, after a short reign of 
Aristobulus and Shechem. His 
son Alexander Janneus succeed- 
ed him, A. M. 3899. He reduced 
the Philistines, and obliged them 
to accept circumcision ; he also 
reduced the country of Moab, 
Ammon, Gilead, and part of 
Arabia. Under these three reigns 
23 265 



HEB 

alone, the Jewish nation was in- 
dependent after the captivity. 
His widow governed nine years 
with great wisdom and prudence. 
After her death, the nation was 
almost ruined with civil broils, 
raised by the Pharisees, who had 
hated Alexander for his cruel- 
ties, and their opposers : and in 
3939, Aristobulus invited the 
Romans to assist him against 
Hircanus, his elder brother. — 
They, turning his enemy, quickly 
reduced the country, took Jeru- 
salem by force; and Pompey, 
and a number of his officers, 
pushed their way into the sanc- 
tuary, if not the holy of holies, 
to view the furniture thereof. 
About nine years after, Crassus 
the Roman General, to obtain 
money for his mad Parthian ex- 
pedition, pillaged the temple of 
every thing valuable, to the va- 
lue of eight thousand talents of 
gold and silver. After Judea 
had, for more than thirty years, 
been a scene of ravage and 
blood, and during twenty-four 
of which, had been oppressed 
by the Romans, Herod the Great, 
assisted by Mark Anthony, the 
Roman Triumvir, with much 
Btruggling and barbarous mur- 
der, got himself installed in the 
kingdom. Finding that neither 
force nor flattery could make his 
reign easy, he, about twenty 
years before our Saviour's birth, 
with the Jews' consent, began 
to rebuild the temple : in three 
years and a half the principal 
parts were finished, and the rest, 
not till after eight years more, 
if ever, Mic. v. 3. Ezek. xxi.27. 
Dan. ix. 24, 25. Deut. xxviii. 
68. Joel iii. 16, 17. Psal. lxviii. 
29,30. Zech.ix.8.13— 16. Dan. 
viii. 9—14. and xi. 11. 14. 28— 
35. About this time, the Jews 
every where had great hopes of 
the appearance of their Messiah, 
to free them from their bondage, 
and bring their nation to the 
£ummit of temporal glory. The 
Messiah, or Christ, and his fore- 



HEB 

runner John Baptist, actually 
appeared : both were born about 
A. M. 4001, which is three years 
before our common account. In- 
stigated by fear of losing his 
throne, Herod sought to murder 
him in his "infancy. When he 
assumed his public character, 
and after his resurrection, many 
of the Jews believed on him, 
and these chiefly of the poorer 
sort ; but the most part, offended 
with the spiritual nature of his 
office, his pure and self-debasing 
doctrine, his mean appearance, 
and sorry retinue, reproached 
persecuted, and at last got hirr. 
betrayed, and crucified between 
two thieves, as if he had been a 
noted malefactor, and wished 
his blood might be on them and 
their children. Notwithstanding 
of the miraculous effusion of the 
Holy Ghost, and the multitudes 
of miracles thereby produced, 
most of the Jews every where 
poured contempt on the gospel 
of Christ, raged at the conver- 
sion of the Gentiles, and every 
where stirred up persecution 
against the apostles, and other 
Christian preachers, as in Judea, 
in Pisidia, and at Iconium, Lys- 
tra, Thessalonica, Berea, Cor- 
inth, &c. The Jews' rejection 
of Christ was wisely ordered of 
God ; it fulfilled the ancient 
prophecies ; it demonstrated, 
that the report of Jesus's Mes- 
siahship was far from being sup- 
ported with carnal influence; 
and by this means, the Jews 
came to be standing monuments 
of the truth, amidst almost every 
nation under heaven. 

The sceptre was now wholly 
departed from Judah. About 
twenty-seven years before 
Christ's death, Judea was re- 
duced into a province. Nor 
does it appear, that afterward 
they had any power of life and 
death lodged in their hands ; for 
the murder of Stephen appears 
to have been effected by an out- 
rageous mob ; at least, it is 
266 



HEB 

plain, that, after the conversion 
of Cornelius the Gentile to Je- 
sus, they had not the least ves- 
tige of civil power, but were en- 
tirely subject to the Romans. 
After our Saviour's ascension, 
their misery gradually increased. 
Some false prophets, as Judas 
and Theudas, had already risen ; 
now their number exceedingly 
multiplied : Simon Magus, Do- 
sitbeus the Samaritan, and the 
Egyptian who led four thousand 
men into the wilderness, were 
of this sort. Under Felix's go- 
vernment, pretended Messiahs 
were so numerous, that some- 
times one was apprehended 
every day. Caligula had wreak- 
ed his rage on the Jews for re- 
fusing to worship his statue, if 
Herod had not soothed him, or 
death prevented him. At Cesa- 
rea,twenty thousand of the Jews 
were killed by the Syrians in their 
mutual broils, and the rest ex- 
pelled from the city. To re- 
venge which, the Jews murdered 
a vast number of Syrians in Sy- 
ria and Canaan ; and were in no 
smaller numbers murdered in 
their turn. At Damascus, ten 
thousand unarmed Jews were 
killed; and at Bethshan, the 
Heathen inhabitants caused their 
Jewish neighbours to assist them 
against their brethren, and then 
murdered thirteen thousand of 
these assistants. At Alexandria, 
the Jews murdered multitudes 
of the Heathen, and were mur- 
dered in their turn, to about fifty 
thousand. The Jews of Peria 
warred with their Heathen 
neighbours of Philadelphia, a- 
bout adjusting their territory. 
Both Jews and Galileans war- 
red on the Samaritans, who had 
murdered some Galileans in their 
way to a solemn feast at Jeru- 
salem. War, too, often raged 
in the empire between the diffe- 
rent pretenders to sovereignty: 
various earthquakes happened 
in Italy, Lesser Asia, Canaan, 
and the Mediterranean isles : a 



HEB 

terrible famine had oppress-d 
the whole Roman empire. Tie 
gospel had been preached in 
most parts of the Roman em- 
pire, and manifold persecutions 
raised by the Jews, and by Ne- 
ro, against the believers of it. 
Various strange tokens took 
place. A star shaped like a 
sword, hung over Jerusalem for 
a whole year. At the ninth 
hour of the night, during the 
feast of tabernacles, a light as 
bright as noon, shone for half 
an hour on the temple, and 
places adjacent. About the 
same time, a cow led to be sa- 
crificed, brought forth a lamb in 
the court of the temple. The 
eastern gate of the temple, all 
of solid brass, and which twenty 
men could scarce shut, though 
" stened with strong bolts, open- 
ed of its own accord, and could 
scarce be got shut again. Be- 
fore sunset, armies were seen in 
the air, as if fighting and be- 
sieging cities. In the night at 
Pentecost, the priests in the 
temple heard a noise, and a 
voice, as of a multitude, crying, 
Let us go hence. For about 
seven years and a half, begin- 
ning four years before the war 
broke out, one Jesus, a country 
fellow, especially at their solemn 
feasts, ran up and down the 
streets of Jerusalem, crying in a 
rueful manner, ' A voice from 
the four winds — Wo to Jerusa- 
lem, wo to the city, and to the 
people, and to the temple ;' and 
at last, as he added, 'Wo to 
myself,' was immediately struck 
dead by a stone from a sling. 

About A. D. 67, Cestius Gal- 
lus, the Roman governor of Sy- 
ria, laid siege to Jerusalem ; but 
most unaccountably raised it, 
and was pursued at the heels 
by some of the Jewish rebels. 
The Christians, according as 
Jesus had warned them, took 
this opportunity to leave the 
city, and the country westward 
of Jordan, and retired to Pella, 
267 



HEB 

a place on the east of Jordan. 
Soon after, the Romans under 
Vespasian, whom God had mar- 
vellously advanced to the em- 
pire, invaded the country from 
the north-east, furiously besieg- 
ed and took the cities of Galilee, 
Chorazim, Bethsaida, Caper- 
naum, &c. where Christ had 
been especially rejected. Al- 
most every where the Jews 
resisted even unto madness ; 
and sometimes murdered them- 
selves, rather than yield even 
unto the most compassionate 
generals of Rome. While the 
Romans destroyed them in mul- 
titudes, the zealots of the Jew- 
ish nation, with enraged mad- 
ness, fought with one another. 
At Jerusalem, the scene was 
most wretched of all. At the 
passover, when there might be 
two or three millions of people 
in the city, the Romans sur- 
rounded it with troops, trenches, 
and walls, that none might es- 
cape. The three different fac- 
tions within murdered one ano- 
ther, and sometimes united to 
make a desperate but unsuc- 
cessful sally on the Romans: 
they even murdered the inhabit- 
ants in sport, to try the sharp- 
ness of their swords. At last 
Eleazer's party was treache- 
rously massacred by their breth- 
ren. Titus, one of the most 
merciful generals that ever 
breathed, did all in his power to 
persuade them to an advanta- 
geous surrender; but, mad on 
their own ruin, they scorned 
every proposal. The multitudes 
of unburied carcases corrupted 
the air, and produced a pesti- 
lence. The famine, hastened 
on by their destruction of one 
another's magazines, prevailed, 
till people fed on one another, 
and even ladies broiled their 
sucking infants, and eat them. 
After a siege of six months, the 
city was taken ; provoked with 
their obstinacy, the Romans 
murdered almost every Jew they 



HEB 

met with. Titus was bent to 
save the temple; but a false 
prophet having persuaded six 
thousand Jews to take shelter 
in it, all of whom were burnt 01 
murdered therein, a Roman sol- 
dier set it on fire with a brand ; 
nor could all the authority of 
Titus make his troops, who 
highly regarded him, attempt to 
extinguish the flames. The out- 
cries of the Jews, when they 
saw it on fire, were almost in- 
fernal. The whole city, except 
three towers, and a small part 
of the wall, was razed to the 
ground. Turnus Rufus, a Ro- 
man commander, ploughed up 
the foundations of the temple, 
and other places of the city ; and 
the soldiers digged up the rub- 
bish in quest of money, or like 
precious things, and it seems 
ripped up some Jews to procure 
the gold they had swallowed. 
Titus wept as he beheld the 
ruins, and bitterly cursed the 
obstinate wretches who had 
forced him to raze it. Soon af- 
ter, the forts of Herodion and 
Macheron were taken, and the 
garrison of Massada murdered 
themselves rather than surren- 
der. At Jerusalem alone, we 
hear of one million one hundred 
thousand that perished by sword, 
famine, and pestilence. Titus, 
too, crucified of them before the 
walls all around the city, till he 
had no more wood to erect cros- 
ses. In other places, we hear 
of two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand that were cut off. About 
ninety-seven thousand were ta- 
ken prisoners, many of whom 
were sent into Egypt by ships, 
to labour as slaves : part were 
sent to Syria to be exposed for 
shows, or devoured by wild 
beasts, or sold for slaves. All 
the family of David that could 
be found, were cut off; and that 
of Herod was not long after ex- 
tinguished. Every Jew in the 
empire was required to pay the 
yearly half-shekel of soul-ran 
268 



HEB 

som money, which they had paid 
to their temple, for the mainte- 
nance of the idolatrous capital 
at Rome. 

Prodigious numbers of Jews 
still remained in almost every 
part of the Roman empire. 
About fifty years after, they 
brought a superadded ruin on 
tiieir own heads. In Cyrene 
Egypt, Cyprus, and Mesopota- 
mia, they murdered about five 
hundred thousand of the Roman 
subjects, Heathens and Chris- 
tians. With terrible bloodshed, 
and no small difficulty, did the 
conquering Trajan, about A. D. 
119, reduce them. About A. T). 
130, the emperor Elius Adrian 
sent a colony of Romans to re- 
build Jerusalem, and called it 
Eiia, after himself ; and prohibit- 
ed the Jews to circumcise their 
children. Barcocaba, one of 
the thievish banditti who had 
infested Canaan for about a 
hundred years, pretended that 
he was the Messiah, raised a 
Jewish army of two hundred 
thousand, and murdered all the 
Heathens and Christians that 
came in their way. About A. 
D. 134, Adrian's forces defeated 
him in battle, and after a siege 
of three years, took Bitter, his 
capital ; after which fifty of his 
fortifications quickly surrender- 
ed. In this terrible war, it is 
said, about six hundred thou- 
sand Jews were slain by the 
sword, besides what perished by 
famine and pestilence. It is 
said, the rivers were high swel- 
led with blood, and the sea into 
which they ran, for several 
miles, marked therewith. In 
this war they had about fifty 
strong castles taken, and nine 
hundred and eighty-five of their 
best towns demolished. For 
some time the emperor caused 
annual fairs to be held for the 
sale of captive Jews, and trans- 
ported such as had dwelt in Ca- 
naan to Egypt, and every where 
loaded with taxes such as ad- 
23* 



HEB 

hered to their religion. Adrian 
built a city on mount Calvary, 
and erected a marble statue of 
a swine over the gate that led to 
Bethlehem. No Jew was al- 
lowed to enter the city, or to 
look to it at a distance, under 
pain of death. Constantine fur- 
ther enlarged this city : his 
troops repressed the Jews 1 at- 
tempt to seize on it. Multitudes 
of them had their ears cut off, 
and being marked in their bo- 
dies for rebellion, were dispers- 
ed through the empire as vaga- 
bond slaves. About A. D. 360, 
the Jews, encouraged by Julian, 
Constantine's nephew, and now 
emperor, and bent to give Jesus 
the lie, began to rebuild their 
city and temple. They had 
scarce begun to lay one stone 
upon another in building the 
temple, when a terrible earth- 
quake, and flames of fire issuing 
from the earth, killed the work- 
men, and scattered the materials. 
Soon after, Julian dying, the 
edict of Adrian was revived 
against them ; and Romish 
guards prohibited their approach 
to the city. Nor till the seventh 
century, durst they so much as 
creep over the rubbish to bewail 
without bribing the Roman 
guards. However basely the 
Jews have complied with the 
delusions of the countries whith- 
er they are scattered, they have 
been exposed to the most out- 
rageous abuse. In the end of 
the second century, Niger, the 
usurper, persecuted them, be- 
cause of their adherence to Se- 
verus the emperor : and for 
awhile Severus harassed them, 
on the footing of Adrian's edict 
In the third century, Sapor kin<* 
of Persia furiously harassed and 
murdered them ; and much about 
the same time, Manes, one of 
them, founded the sect of the 
Manichees, who believed ther« 
were two Gods, a good and a 
bad. Dioclesian intended to 
persecute them ; but by immens^ 
269 



HEB 

sums of money, they appeased 
his fury. In the fourth century, 
the Council of Elvira in Spain, 
prohibited Christians to eat 
with them. Constantine the 
Great obliged them to undergo 
their share in public services of 
the military, &cc. it is even said, 
that he forced multitudes of 
them to eat swine's flesh, or be 
murdered. Offended with their 
insult of the Christians in Egypt, 
and their insurrection in Pales- 
tine, Constans, his son, terribly 
chastised them, revived every 
harsh edict against them, and 
condemned to death such as had 
Christians either for their wives 
or servants. Encouraged by the 
emperor Theodosius's prohibi- 
tion to pull down their syna- 
gogues, they became very inso- 
lent about the beginning of the 
fifth century : they crucified the 
image of Haman, and some- 
times a Christian, in derision of 
our Saviour. In Egypt they 
insulted the Christians on the 
Lord's day. Provoked here- 
with, the Christians in Mace- 
donia, Dacia, Chalcia, Syria, 
and Egypt, fell upon them, and 
killed prodigious numbers of 
them, especially at Alexandria. 
In the isle of Minorca, vast 
numbers of them were forced to 
turn Christians, or hide them- 
selves in dens and caves of the 
earth. About A. D. 432, one 
Moses of Crete, pretending that 
he, as their Messiah, would 
lead them safe through the sea 
to Canaan, a vast number threw 
themselves into the deep from a 
precipice, and were drowned. 
Just after, many of them, for 
the sake of the presents given to 
new converts, were baptized at 
Constantinople. 

In the sixth century, Cavades, 
and the two Chosroes, kings of 
Persia, terribly harassed them ; 
but the latter Chosroes was af- 
terwards reconciled to them, and 
gratified their malice with the 
murder of about ninety thou- 



HEB 

sand Christians at the taking of 
Jerusalem, A. D. 614. About 
530, the emperor Justinian dis- 
charged them to make testa- 
ments, or to appear witness 
against Christians, and prohibit- 
ed to those in Africa the exer- 
cise of their religion. Soon af- 
ter, one Julian of Canaan, set 
up for Messiah. He and his 
followers did infinite mischief to 
the Christians ; but, in the end, 
twenty thousand of them were 
slain, and as many taken and 
sold for slaves. Just after, 
numbers of Jews were executed 
for occasioning a revolt at Ce- 
sarea. And to revenge their as- 
sistance of the Goths at the 
siege of Naples, the Greek gene- 
ral Belisarius, and his troops, 
killed as many of them as they 
could find, men or women. In 
A. D. 602, they were severely 
punished for their horrible mas- 
sacre of the Christians at An- 
tioch. Heraclius the emperor 
soon after banished them from 
Jerusalem. Multitudes in Spain 
and France were forced to be- 
come Christians ; and the coun- 
cils of Toledo encouraged their 
sovereigns to oblige them to do 
so. About A. D. 700. when 
Erica king of Spain complained 
that the Jews of Spain had con- 
spired with those of Africa a- 
gainst him, the council of Tole- 
do ordered that they should be 
all enslaved, and their children 
taken from them, and educated 
in the Christian religion. In 
France a variety of edicts were 
made against them. Chilperic, 
Dagobert, and other kings, or- 
dered, that such as refused bap- 
tism should be banished. In this 
century, too, numbers of them 
in the East imagined Mahomet 
the Messiah ; and one of them 
assisted him in compiling hia 
Alcoran. 

In the eighth and ninth centu- 
ries, the misery of the Jews still 
continued. In the east, Caliph 
Zayd permitted his subjects to 
270 



HEB 

abuse them. About 760, Jaafar 
the Imam, ordered, that such as 
embraced Mahomedism, should 
be their parents' sole heirs. A- 
bout 841, Caliph Wathek per- 
secuted them, because some of 
their number had embezzled 
his revenues ; and he fined such 
as refused to embrace Mahome 
dism. Motawakhel his succes- 
sor, deprived them of all their 
honour and trust ; and marking 
them with infamy, caused them 
to wear leathern girdles, and 
ride without stirrups on asses 
and mules. Such marks of 
contemptuous distinction still 
partly subsist in the East, and 
have been imitated by other 
princes. Sundry of his succes- 
sors persecuted them in a man 
ner still more severe. While 
the emperor Leo Isaurus, the 
image-opposer, heartily hated 
them, the promoters of image 
worship obliged the Jews to 
comply, and to curse themselves 
with the curse of Gehazi, if they 
did it not from the heart. In 
France and Spain the people 
terribly insulted them. Proba- 
bly provoked with this, they in- 
vited the Normans into France, 
and betrayed Bourdeaux, and 
other places, into their hands. 
About 724, one Serenus of 
Spain set up for the Messiah. 
Multitudes followed him, and 
went so far as to take posses- 
sion of Canaan. The Chris- 
tians seized what they left in 
their absence. Another in the 
East, about 831, pretended to 
be Moses, risen from the dead, 
and was followed by numbers. 

In the tenth, eleventh, and 
twelfth centuries, their miseries 
rather increased ; partly through 
their own divisions, and partly 
by the persecutions which they 
underwent. About A. D. 1037, 
we find about 900,000 of them 
near Babylon, if we may believe 
their own noted traveller ; and 
yet about two years after, all 
their academies there, if not also 



HEB 

their schools, were ruined. A 
bout A. D. 1020, Hakem, the 
founder of the Drusian religion, 
for awhile persecuted them in 
Egypt. Besides the common 
miseries which they sustained 
in the East, by the Turkish and 
sacred war, it is shocking to 
think what multitudes of them 
the eight Croisades, in this or the 
two following centuries, mur- 
dered in Germany, Hungary, 
Lesser Asia, and wherever they 
could find them, as they march- 
ed to recover Canaan from the 
Mahometans ; and what num- 
bers of Jewish parents murdered 
their own children, that these 
Croisaders might not get them 
baptized. The bloody conten- 
tion between the Moors and 
Spaniards might have procured 
them some ease in Spain, had 
not their own mutual broils ren- 
dered them miserable. In 
France, multitudes of them 
were burnt, others were banish- 
ed, and others had their goods 
confiscated, by order of king 
Philip; and such as offered to 

:ell their effects, and remove, 
could get none to buy them. 
About A. D. 1020, they were 
banished from England, but af- 
terwards they returned, and had 
some respite ; but for their at- 
tending at the coronation of 
Richard I. the mob fell upon, 
and murdered a great many of 
them. This popular fury was 
prohibited by law, but still it 

aged, A. D. 1189, and 1190, at 
London and elsewhere. Rich- 
ard had scarce gone off to the 
sacred war, when the populace 
rose and murdered multitudes 
of them, intending not to leave 
one alive in the country. About 
fifteen hundred of them got into 
the city of York, and thought to 
defend themselves in it. A fu- 
rious siege obliged them to offer 
to ransom their fives with mo- 
ney. This being refused, they 
first killed their wives and chil- 
dren; and then retiring to the 
271 



HEB 

palace, burnt it on themselves. 
Between 1137 and 1200, there 
appeared nine or ten pretended 
Messiahs ; two in France ; two 
in the northwest of Africa ; one 
David of Moravia, who could 
render himself invisible at plea- 
sure; one near the Euphrates, 
who had been cured of a lepro- 
sy ; El David, and two others in 
Persia. Most of these occa- 
sioned a great deal of mischief 
to those of their nation in the 
places where they lived. 

Nor in the thirteenth and four- 
teenth centuries was their con- 
dition a whit better. In Egypt, 
Canaan, and Syria, the Croisa- 
cers still harassed and murdered 
them, till themselves were ex- 
pelled from these places. The 
rise of the Mamelukes turned to 
their misery in Egypt. Provok- 
ed with their mad running after 
pretended Messiahs,Caliph Nas- 
ser scarce left any of them alive 
in his dominions of Mesopota- 
mia, &c. In Persia, the Tar- 
tars murdered them in multi- 
tudes ; in Spain, Ferdinand per- 
secuted them furiously. About 
1260, the populace of Arragon 
terribly harassed them. Henry 
III. of Castile, and his son John, 
persecuted them ; and in the 
reign of the last, prodigious 
numbers were murdered. A- 
bout 1349, the terrible massacre 
of them at Toledo forced many 
of them to murder themselves,or 
change their religion. After 
much barbarous murder of 
them, they were, in A. D. 1253, 
banished from France. In 1275, 
they were recalled; but in 1300, 
king Philip banished them, that 
he might enrich himself with 
their wealth. In 1312, they ob- 
tained re-admission for a great 
sum of money ; but in 1320, and 
1330, the Croisades of the fa- 
natic shepherds, who wasted the 
south of France, terribly mas- 
sacred them wherever they 
could find them. And fifteen 
thousand were murdered on an- 



HEB 

other occasion. In 1358, they 
were finally banished from 
France, since which few of 
them have entered that country. 
After oft-repeated harassments 
from both kings and people, and 
six former banishments, found- 
ed on causes mostly pretended, 
king Edward in 1291, for ever 
expelled them from England, to 
the number of one h mdred and 
sixty thousand. He permitted 
them to carry their effects and 
money with them over to France, 
where, in his own dominions, he 
confiscated all to his own use, 
so that most of them died for 
want. Notwithstanding their 
dissimulation and false swear- 
ing, we read little else concern- 
ing those in Germany, but of re- 
peated murders and insurrec- 
tions, and of terrible revenge by 
the Christians. In Italy they 
had most respite ; yet they un- 
derwent some persecutions at 
Naples. Pope John the twenty- 
second, pretending that they had 
affronted the holy cross, ordered 
their banishment from his terri- 
tories ; but recalled the edict 
for the sake of one hundred 
thousand florins. In this period, 
two false Messiahs appeared in 
Spain ; one Zechariah, about 
1258, and one Moses, in 1290. 

In the fifteenth, sixteenth, and 
seventeenth centuries, their mis- 
ery continued. In Turkey, we 
know of no persecution which 
they have suffered, but what 
the common tyranny of the go- 
vernment, and their own frauds, 
have brought on them : only in 
Egypt the populace molest 
them; nor will the people of 
Athens and Salonae in Greece, 
allow them to settle among 
them. In Persia they have been 
terribly used, especially by the 
two Shah Abbas ; from 1063 to 
1666, the murder of them was 
so universal, that but few es- 
caped to Turkey. 

In Portugal and Spain, they 
have been miserably handled. 
272 



HEB 

About A. D. 1420, Vincent half 
converted two hundred thou- 
sand of them to popery. The 
infernal inquisition was appoint- 
ed to render their conversion sin- 
cere and complete. About 1492, 
six or eight hundred thousand 
Jews were banished from Spain. 
Partly by drowning- in their pas- 
sage to Africa, and partly by 
hard usage, the most of them 
were cut off, and many of their 
carcases lay in the fields till the 
wild beasts devoured them. 
The African Mahometans shut 
their gates against the poor re- 
mains, and many were obliged 
to sell to the Moors their children 
for slaves, to obtain food for 
the support of their lives. In 
Spain and Portugal thousands 
of Jews become Papists in ap- 
I pearance, and even monks and 
bishops, and yet continue hear- 
ty in their own religion, and 
educate their children in it from 
age to age. If we depend on 
Orobio's account, we may sup- 
pose there are sixteen or twen- 
ty thousand such, even at pre- 
sent. About 1412, sixteen thou- 
sand Jews were forced to pro- 
fess Popery at Naples. About 
1474, they were barbarously 
massacred in the dominions of 
Venice. No where in Popish 
countries are they better used 
than in the Pope's own territory ; 
for which, no doubt, their purse 
must be emptied. In Germany, 
they have had much hardship. 
In Saxony and elsewhere they 
have been loaded with taxes ; 
they have been banished from 
Bohemia, Bavaria, Cologn, 
Noremberg, Augsburgh, and 
Vienna ; they have been terri- 
bly massacred in Moravia, and 
plundered in Bonn and Bam- 
berg. Between 1520 and 1560, 
three false Messiahs appeared 
in Europe ; two of whom Charles 
V. emperor of Germany, burnt 
to death, and the other he im- 
prisoned for life. 
About 1666, ZabbathasTzevi, 



HEB 

a pretended Messiah, made a 
great noise in Syria, Palestine, 
and the countries about, but at 
last, to save his life, turned 
Mahometan at Constantinople. 
About 1682, Mordecai, a Jew of 
Germany, professed himself the 
Messiah, and had been punished 
in Italy had he not escaped to 
Poland, Deuter. xxviii. 15 — 68 
and xxix. 19 — 28. and xxxi. 29 

d xxxii. 18—35. Psal. xxi. 8— 
12. and Ixix. 19—28. Isa. v. and 
xxiv. and lix. and lxv. 1 — 16. and 
lxvi. 3—6. 24. Dan. ix. 26, 27. 
Zech. xi. Matt. viii. 11, 12. and 
xxi. 41. and xxiii. and xxiv. and 
xxii. 1—7. Luke xxi. and xix. 
41 — 44. Thus they have con- 
tinued scattered, contemned, 
persecuted, and enslaved among 
almost all nations, not mixed 
with any in the common manner, 
but as a body distinct by them- 
selves. While they are standing 
witnesses of the dreadful guilt 
of his murder, and of the truth 
of his divine predictions, they 
continue obstinate rejectors of 
Jesus. About Jl. D. 1650, three 
hundred rabbins, and a multi- 
tude of other Jews, assembled in 
the plain of Argeda in Hungary, 
and had a serious dispute, 
Whether the Messiah was come? 
and whether Jesus of Nazareth 
was he? Many seemed in a fair 
way to believe the truth ; but the 
Popish doctors present, by their 
mad extolling of the papal 
power, the worship of the virgin 
Mary and other saints, prevented 
it, and strengthened their pre- 
judice against the Christian 
faith. At present, their number 
is computed at from 9,000,000 to 
12,000,000. The present cha- 
racter, condition, and prospects, 
of the Jews, may be learned 
from the various missionary 
journals of the day. 

The whole history of the Jew- 
ish or Hebrew nation, as thus 
briefly run over, but more par- 
ticularly that portion of it re- 
corded in the Scriptures, is truly 
273 



HEB 

remarkable. To no nation under 
heaven has God conducted him- 
self in a similar manner ; and 
that because he raised up this 
nation, for the glorious purpose 
of exhibiting a pattern of the 
manner in which he shall intro- 
duce his true Hebrews into the 
heavenly kingdom. 

As the different parts of their 
history are taken notice of as 
they occur alphabetically, it is 
unnecessary to be more particu- 
lar here. 

Hebrews, Epistle to the. This 
very remarkable portion of scrip- 
ture is generally ascribed to 
Paul, and indeed, in this, as in 
all his writings, he appears to be 
a well instructed scribe. The 
Hebrews in the first churches 
laboured under peculiar tempta- 
tions; and their faith in the 
Messiah, and their attachment 
to his despised cause, were much 
tried, from the situation in which 
they were placed. The ordin- 
ances of the law of Moses, un- 
der which they had been edu- 
cated, came to their consciences 
with divine authority, and it was 
not to be wondered at if their 
minds were apt to be faint and 
weary. To relieve them as to 
these matters, by instructing 
them in the great design of the 
Old Testament worship, this 
epistle seems to have been writ- 
ten. 

HEBRON, called Arba, or 
Kirjath-arba, because Arba, the 
noted giant was king of it. It 
was built on a hill, it seems, not 
long after the flood, and seven 
years before Zoan in Egypt, 
Num. xiii. 22. and stood about 
twenty-two miles south of Jeru- 
salem. Here Anak and his fa- 
ther and sons dwelt ; but Caleb, 
receiving it for his inheritance, 
expelled these giants, and it 
seems called it Hebron after one 
of his sons, Josh. xiv. 13, 14. It 
was made a city of refuge, and 
given to the priests, Josh. xxi. 
13. To its elders David sent part 



HEI 

of the spoil which he took from 
the Amalekites; and here he 
reigned seven years over Judah, 
and was crowned to be sole 
monarch of Israel, 2 Sam. ii. 11. 
and v. 3. Here Absalom first set 
up forking,2Sam.xv.9,10. Reho- 
boam repaired and probably for- 
tified this place. During the cap- 
tivity, the Edomites seized it, 
and made it their capital: but 
the Jews afterwards recovered 
it. For many ages after Christ, 
both Jews and Christians had a 
great veneration for Hebron, but 
it is now little else than a heap 
of ruins. 

This place is also celebrated 
as the burying place of Abra- 
ham, who purchased the cave of 
Macphelah, in the neighbouring 
plain of Mamre, of the children 
of Heth ; and where he buried 
Sarah ; and where also he him- 
self was buried, as also Isaac, 
Jacob, Rebecca, and Leah. 

Hebron is at this day called 
Hebraun and Khalyl. It is 
situated in a hilly country, about 
twenty miles south of Jerusa- 
lem, at the foot of an eminence. 
The adjacent country is an ob- 
long valley five or six leagues 
in length, in which are groves 
of firs, vines, and olives. 

HEDGE, for protecting fields, 
gardens, &c. 1 Chron. iv. 23. 
God's protecting providence, 
magistrates, government, or 
whatever defends from hurt and 
danger, is called a hedge, Job i. 
10. Isa.v. 5. Ezek.xiii. 5- Trou- 
bles and hindrances are called 
hedges, as they stop our way, 
and prevent our doing and ob- 
taining what we please, Lam. 
hi. 7. Job xix. 8. Hos. ii. 6. The 
way of the slothful is a hedge of 
thorns; he always apprehends 
great difficulties in the way of 
doing any good, and oft he en- 
tangles himself in inextricable 
difficulties, Prov. xv. 19. 

HEIFER, taken properly for 
a young cow of three years old, 
Gen. xv. 9. Jer. xlviii. 34. used 
274 



HEL 
in sacrifice, Deut. xxi. 3. Vari- 
ous nations are compared to 
heifers, such as Egyptians, Ba- 
bylonians, &c. It is taken figu- 
ratively, for a man's wife, Judg. 
xiv. 18. A red heifer, without 
spot, is one of the most expres- 
sive figures of the Great Sacri- 
fice for sin, Jesus Christ, to be 
found in the Old Testament, — 
*For if the blood of bulls and of 
goats, and the ashes of a heifer, 
sprinkling the unclean, sanctified 
to the purifying of the flesh, how 
much more shall the blood of 
Christ,' &c. Hebix. J 3, 14, 

HEIR. This is a very import- 
ant word in Scripture, because 
it is used to point out the ground 
or title on which the guilty chil- 
dren of men inherit the kingdom 
of heaven. Among men, inherit- 
ances are possessed in virtue of 
two different titles ; the one, na- 
tural birth, the other, by pur- 
chase. In both these respects, 
the Son of God makes his bre- 
thren joint-heirs with him. As 
the Son of God, he is heir of all 
things; therefore, says the apos- 
tle, ' if we are children, then 
heirs? Rom. iv. 14. 

HELBON, the same as Chaly- 
bon, in Syria. It was famed for 
its excellent wine, Ezek. xxvii. 
18. From hence the luxurious 
kings of Persia brought what 
was used at their table. It was 
probably the same with Aleppo, 
which the Arabs call Alep or 
Halab, and which is now the 
most opulent city of all Syria, 



HEL 

business is mostly gone, it is 
still a thoroughfare for Persian 
goods; and here the English, 
Dutch, French, Italians, Arabs, 
Persians, and Indians, have their 
consuls of trade, and who are 
very civilly used by the Turks. 
The city is about three miles in 
circuit, and has handsome build- 
ings. As recently as A. D. 1822, 
this beautiful and flourishing 
city was visited by a tremen- 
dous earthquake, and almost 
entirely destroyed. Previously 
to this disastrous event, the in- 
habitants were computed at 
250,000; and of these, according 
to Mr. Connor, who visited the 
place A. D. 1820, 5000 were 
Greek Catholics, 100 Nestori- 
ans, 8000 Armenian Catholics, 
2000 Armenian Schismatics, and 
500 Greeks, under the Patriarch 
of Antioch ; the rest of the in- 
habitants were Turks and Jews. 
HELI; ascending, or climb- 
ing up, Luke iii. 23. 

HELL. The word Sheol, or 
Hades, sometimes signifies the 
state of the dead, or the grave : 
so David prays that his enemies 
might quickly go down to hell, 
Psal. Iv. 15. Jonah, reckoning 
himself as good as dead and 
buried, calls the whale's belly 
Sheol or hell, Jon. ii. 2. see Gen. 
xxxvii. 35. and xlii. 33. Hell 
ordinarily expresses the place or 
state of misery, in which wicked 
men are tormented with the 
devil and his angels, 2 Pet. ii. 4. 
Rev. i. 18. and vi. 8. To repre- 



nay, of all the Turkish domi- ! sent its dreadful nature, it is 
nions, Constantinople and Grand held out to us as a prison, a 
Cairo excepted. It was a seat I pit, a lake of fire and brimstone, 



of one of the Seljukian sultans, 
and often suffered in the Turk- 
ish wars ; nevertheless, consider- 
ing it as in the Ottoman empire, 
where trade is little encouraged, 
it is still remarkable for traffic. 
It was once a thoroughfare for 
the Indian goods brought up the 



as darkness, &c. There is no 
ground to doubt of the eternity 
of its torments : it is represented 
as afire that cannot be quench- 
ed, and whose smoke ascends up 
for ever and ever. No stronger 
word is used to express the dura- 
tion of the heavenly felicity, 



Euphrates, and transmitted to j than to represent the duration 
Europe by the Mediterranean : of the torments of hell, Matt. 



Sea : but though that branch of xxv. 46. 



Nor do such as fondly 
275 



HEM 

doubt of the eternity of hell-tor- 
ments, and of the proportion be- 
tween temporary sinning and 
eternal punishment, seem to at- 
tend to the infinite excellency of 
God, against whom sin is com- 
mitted. Dreadful and torment- 
ing troubles are likened to hell, 
2 Sam. xxii. 6. Psal. cxvi. 3. At 
the last day, death and hill give 
vp their "dead; the grave the 
dead bodies, and the separate 
state the souls that were in them, 
in order that they may be judged 
in an united state, Rev. xx. 13. 
and are cast into the lake of fire 
and brimstone, when all misery 
is connected and carried to the 
utmost degree, Rev. xx. 14. 

HELMET ; a kind of metal- 
cap for protecting the head of a 
warrior, ] Sam. xvii. 5. The sal- 
vation of his people is God's 
helmet; the deliverance he in- 
tends, and works for them, will 
appear conspicuous, as if on his 
head, and he will have the glory 
of it, Isa. lix. 17. Eternal salva- 
tion, and the hope of it, are their 
helmet ; they defend and render 
them bold and courageous in 
their spiritual warfare, Eph. vi. 
17. 1 Thess. v. 8. 

HELP-MEET ; a wife is call- 
ed a help-meet for the man, be- 
cause she assists and comforts 
him in the business of the family, 
Gen. ii. 20. 

HEMAN, Zimri, Ethan, Cal- 
col, and Darda, or Dara, were 
the sons of Zerah, the son of 
Judah, and were the sons of 
Mahol. They were famous for 
wisdom, 1 Chr. ii. 6. 1 Kings iv. 
31. (2.) Heman the son of Joel, 
and grandson of Shemuel, and a 
chief singer in the reign of king 
David. He had fourteen sons, 
and their families constituted 
fourteen classes of the sacred 
musicians, 1 Chr. vi. 33. and xv. 
17. and xxv. 

HEMLOCK ; a nauseous and 
poisonous herb. The same word 
is often rendered gall; but what 
particular species is intended, it 



HER 

is difficult to determine. Deut 
xxix. 18. xxxii. 2. Psal. lxix. 21. 
Jer. viii. 14. ix. 15. Lam. iii. 5*. 
Hos. x. 4. Amos vi. 12. 

HEPHZIBAH, my pleasure, 
or delight is in her; was the 
name of Hezekiah's queen; and 
given to the church, to signify, 
that the Lord delighted in her, 
Isa. lxii. 4. 

HERALD ; one that publishes 
the order of a king, Dan. iii. 4. 

HERESY. This word signi- 
fies a sect, or choice ; but it is 
generally used to signify some 
fundamental error adhered to 
with obstinacy. Thus we say the 
heresy of the Arians, Pelagians, 
&c. Heresies are works of the 
flesh, that exclude from the 
kingdom of God, Gal. v. 20. Men 
bring in damnable heresies, 
when they deny the Lord that 
bought them, 2 Pet. ii. 1. Not in 
themselves, but in respect of the 
wise purpose of God, heresies 
are necessary in the church, that 
his people may manifest their 
sincerity in cleaving to the truth, 
1 Cor. xi. 19. From the very be- 
ginning of the Christian church 
there were heresies; some de- 
nied the divinity, incarnation, or 
Messiahship of Christ: against 
these, the apostle John directs 
his gospel, and much of his first 
epistle. Some pretended, that 
men's obedience to the moral, or 
ceremonial law, was the ground 
of their justification before God ; 
others, as Hymenius and Phile- 
tus, pretended, that the dead 
rise not ; or that the resurrection 
of the dead was only of a spi- 
ritual kind, and was past: against 
these the apostle Paul often in- 
veighs, particularly in his epis- 
tles to the Romans, Corinthians, 
Galatians, and to Timothy. 
Others pretended, that iaith 
without good works was suffi- 
cient: against these the apostle 
James warmly disputes. Akin 
to this, it seems, was the heresy 
of the Nicolaitans, and of Jeze- 
bel, which it appears tended to 
276 



HER 

the encouragement of fleshly 
usts, Rev. ii. 

HERMON, a mountain on the 
north-east of the promised land, 
beyond Jordan, a little south- 
ward of Lebanon ; the Sidonians 
called it Sirion, and the Amor- 
itesShenir,Deut,iii.9,10. Sihon 
was one of the tops of it, Deut. 
iv. 48. and which seems to have 
been also called Zion, Psalm 
cxxxiii. 3. Mount Hermon was 
the north border of the kingdom 
of Og, as Arnon was the south 
border of the kingdom of Sihon, 
Deut. ii. 36. and iv. 48. There 
was, it seems, a temple on its 
top to the idol Baal. The dew 
that falls on it is beautiful and 
fine, in a summer-night it will 
wet one to the skin, and yet he 
is in no danger of sleeping all 
night in the open field. 

Hermon is, at this day, called 
Djebel Eskeikh, and consists of 
two parts; the west is named 
Djebel Safat ; the east, which is 
the highest, Djebel //iez'sA, which 
-stretches along south, towards 
the east part of the sea of 
Tiberias. A part of tljis moun- 
tain overlooks the town of 
Banias, formerly Paneas, and is 
probably the mount called in 
Scripture Baal-Hermon, Judg. 
iii. 3. 

Besides the Hermon above 
mentioned, there was another 
hill of that name, in the plain 
of Esdraelon, not far from Ta- 
bor, Psal. lxxxix. 12. 

HEROD the Great, the son of 
Antipater and Cypros, and bro- 
ther of Phasael, Joseph, and 
Pheroras, and of a sister called 
Salome. His father is by some 
eaid to have been a Jew; by 
others an Idumean turned a 
Jew; others will have him to 
have been a Heathen, guardian 
of Apollo's temple at Askelon, 
and taken prisoner by the Idu- 
mean scouts, and afterward a 
Jewish proselyte. Herod was 
born about seventy years before 
our Saviour. When he was fif- 
24" 



HER 

teen, or perhaps twenty-five 
years of age, his father, with 
Hyrcanus the high-priest's con- 
sent, gave him the government 
of Galilee. With great prudence 
and valour he cleared the coun- 
try of thievish banditti who 
swarmed in it, and apprehended 
Hezekiah their captain. Hereby 
he procured the esteem of Sex- 
tus governor of Syria; but the 
Jews, who were jealous of An- 
tipaier's authority, and his son's, 
instigated Hyrcanus the high- 
priest to cite Herod to appear 
before the sanhedrim, to answer 
for his conduct. 

Herod came attended with his 
chosen troops. His judges were 
so terrified, that none of them 
durstspeak, except Sameas, who 
laid the blame of Herod's mis- 
conduct on Hyrcanus and the 
judges, for permitting him to 
assume too much power. Hyr- 
canus, however, observing that 
the judges, though afraid to 
speak, were disposed to con- 
demn him, deferred bringing the 
matter to a sentence that day, 
and advised Herod to make his 
escape in the night. He retired 
to Sextus governor of Syria, and 
was by him intrusted with the 
government of Hollow Syria. To 
revenge his late affront, he 
marched an army to besiege 
Jerusalem; but his father and 
brother Phasael prevented him, 
A. M. 3963, when Mark Antony 
was at Daphne, near Antiochin 
Syria, a hundred principal men 
of the Jews brought accusations 
against Herod and his brother 
Phasael ; but Hyrcanus the high- 
priest, who had promised Herod 
Mariamne his grandchild in mar- 
riage, being asked his mind, re- 
presented the two brothers as 
better qualified to govern the 
Jewish state than their opposers. 
Hereupon Antony made Herod 
and his brother tetrarchs; and 
had killed fifteen of their princi- 
pal adversaries, had not Herod 
petitioned for their life. Not 
277 



HER 

long after, Antigonus, the son of 
Aristobulus, invited the Par- 
tbians to his assistance, and 
obliged Herod to flee the coun- 
try. He had not been long at 
Rome, when Antony and Au- 
gustus got the synod to declare 
him king of Judea, and Antigo- 
nus an enemy to the Romans. 
Returning to Judea, and assisted 
by Sosius, the Roman deputy in 
Syria, he, after about three 
years' war, took Jerusalem and 
acted as king. He was disquali- 
fied to hold the double office of 
high-priest and king, as the Mac- 
cabees had for some ages done : 
he therefore made Ananel priest ; 
but quickly turned him out to 
make way for Aristobulus the 
brother of his wife Mariamne, 
to whom the high-priesthood 
more rightly belonged ; but the 
Jews loving him too well, Herod, 
about a year after, caused him 
to be drowned in a bath. After 
the ruin of Antony, Herod was 
obliged to implore the clemency 
of Augustus. He met the em- 
peror at Rhodes, and frankly 
told him he had done all that he 
could for Antony his benefactor, 
and was now ready to do the 
same to him, if he allowed him 
his favour, and permitted him to 
retain his kingdom. Charmed 
with his open frankness, Augus- 
tus granted him his desire. His 
kingdom was now pretty quiet, 
but he was plagued with family 
disorders. He passionately loved 
Mariamne ; and she, disgusted 
with the murder of her brother, 
as heartily hated him. His mo- 
ther and sister persuaded him in 
his fury to murder Mariamne. 
He had scarce done it, when he 
was almost killed with grief. 
Recovering, he ordered Mariam- 
ne's mother to be killed, as she 
had too easily credited the re- 
port spread of his death. To 
divert his tormented mind, he 
applied himself to building, and 
to instituting public sports. To 
ingratiate himself with the Jews, 



HER 

he rebuilt their temple, and ren 
dered it exceeding stately and 
glorious. He sent his two sons 
by Mariamne, Aristobulus and 
Alexander, to be educated at 
Rome. Soon after their return, 
he married them, Aristobulus to 
Bernice, the daughter of Salome 
his sister, and Alexander to Gla- 
phyra, the daughter of Arche- 
laus king of Cappadocia. Herod's 
preference of Antipater, whose 
mother was but of mean birth, 
exasperated both his sons against 
him. By means of Augustus, 
and afterward of Archelaus of 
Cappadocia, a reconciliation 
was twice effected between him 
and them ; but Salome and An- 
tipater never rested till they got 
him to murder them. Having 
got rid of his brothers, Antipater 
next resolved to rid himself of 
his father. To hide his hand in 
the conspiracy, he retired to 
Rome ; but the plot being disco- 
vered, he was imprisoned upon 
his return, and Augustus inform- 
ed of his treachery. Herod was 
in a languishing way when the 
wise men informed him that the 
Messiah was born : he was ex- 
ceedingly troubled, and the prin ■ 
cipal Jews afraid of new warB, 
were troubled along with him. 
He, finding out the place of his 
birth, resolved to murder him, 
while but an infant ; and, under 
pretence of a design to worship 
him, desired the wise men to 
bring him back word where and 
how he might know him. An 
angel ordered the wise men to 
go home, without returning to 
Herod. Provoked with this dis- 
appointment, he ordered his soU 
diers to go murder every child 
about Bethlehem, or near it, un- 
der two years old, that he might 
make sure of murdering the Mes- 
siah among them. Some young 
men, hearing that Herod was 
dead, pulled down the golden 
eagle which he, in honour of the 
Romans, had erected over the 
principal portal of the temple; 
278 



HER 

for this he ordered forty to be 
burnt alive. His distemper still 
increased ; his hunger was insa- 
tiable ; his bowels were ulcerat- 
ed ; his legs swelled ; his secret 
parts rotted, and bred worms ; 
his whole body was afflicted 
with an intolerable itch. To pre- 
vent the Jews rejoicing at his 
death, he convened all the great 
men of the kingdom, and shut 
them up in the circus at Jericho, 
where he then was ; and with 
tears constrained his sister Sa- 
lome, and Alexas, to see them 
put to death that moment he 
should expire: they no doubt 
promised, but did not execute 
this horrid device. In his agony, 
Herod attempted to plunge a 
knife into his own belly ; but 
Achiab his cousin prevented 
him. The outcry on this occa- 
sion made the family believe he 
was dead. In his prison Anti- 
pater heard of it, and begged hi3 
keepers to allow him to escape. 
They informed his father, who 
ordered him to be immediately 
killed, about A. M. 4002 or 4012. 
In five days after Herod died, 
having lived about seventy, and 
reigned about thirty-seven years. 
He had eight or ten wives, and 
fifteen children. He left his king- 
dom to Archelaus the worst ; 
Gaulonites, Trachonitis,and Ba- 
taneato Philip; Galilee andPe- 
rea to Herod Antipas, Matth. ii. 
Luke iii. 1. 

2. Herod Antipas had the 
kingdom of Judea left him in 
his father's first will, but he al- 
tered it, and only gave him the 
tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea. 
In this Augustus the Roman 
emperor confirmed him. With 
great care and labour he adorned 
and fortified the principal places 
of his dominions. He drew upon 
himself an unfortunate war with 
the Arabs, by divorcing the 
daughter of Aretas their king, 
that he might espouse Herodia6, 
the wife of Philip his brother, 
who still lived. For this incestu- 



HER 

ous marriage, John Baptist re- 
proved him. On that account 
he imprisoned the Baptist, and 
would have killed him, had he 
not feared an insurrection of the 
people in his favour. One day 
as Herod and his lords observed 
the festival of his birth, Salome, 
the daughter of Herodias, so 
pleased Herod with the pretty 
airs of her dancing, that he swore 
he would give her any thing she 
asked. Instructed by her spite- 
ful mother, she asked the head 
of John Baptist. To show re 
gard to his oath, and to the lords 
that feasted with him, Herod, 
with great reluctance, ordered 
John to be beheaded in the pri- 
son, and his head delivered to 
Salome in a charger. Pilate 
having sent our Saviour to He- 
rod, he ridiculed him, dressed 
him up as a mock -king, and re- 
turned him to Pilate. About 
A. D. 39, Herodias growing 
jealous of her brother Agrippa, 
who was now deputy king of 
Judea, instigated her husband 
to solicit that dignity at Rome. 
Informed hereof, Herod Agrippa 
accused Herod of Galilee to the 
emperor, as an accomplice in 
Sejanus' conspiracy against Ti- 
berius, and of correspondence 
with the Parthians, and as evi- 
dence, alleged that Herod had 
in his arsenal arms for seventy 
thousand men. Herod could not 
refuse the number of arms, and 
so was instantly banished to 
Lyons in France, where he and 
Herodias died in exile miserable 
enough; and it is said, the pretty 
dancer Salome, falling through 
the ice, had her head chopt off, 
Matth. xiv. Mark vi. Luke 
xxiii. 

3. Herod Agrippa, the son of 
Aristobulus, grandson of Herod 
the Great, and brother of Hero- 
dias. His grandfather sent him 
early to Rome to make his court 
to Tiberius. Herod quickly won 
the affection of the famed Dru- 
sus, at whose death he was 
279 



HER 

obliged to leave Rome, quite 
plunged in debt. When he re- 
turned, Tiberius ordered him to 
pay his debt, and be gone. An- 
tonia the empress lent him mo- 
ney to clear his creditors ; and 
after that he recovered the fa- 
vour of Tiberius. Soon after, 
Tiberius hearing that Herod 
wished him dead, that Caligula 
might reign, threw him into jail. 
Whenever Caligula came to be 
emperor he liberated Herod,gave 
him a chain of gold and a royal 
diadem, appointing him king of 
Batanea and Trachonitis, and 
afterwards of Abilene. When 
Caligula attempted to erect his 
own statue for adoration in the 
Jewish temple, and the Jews re- 
fused to admit it, Herod was in 
no small danger betwixt the two, 
but by a long letter he prevailed 
on the emperor to desist. Herod 
being at Rome when Claudius 
was made emperor by the army, 
contributed not a little to esta- 
blish his dignity. To reward his 
services, Claudius made him de- 
puty-king of all Judea and Chal- 
cis. Returning home, he govern- 
ed his dominions much to the 
satisfaction of his people. About 
A. D. 44, or perhaps 49, he 
caused the murder of James the 
son of Zebedee. Observing the 
Jews pleased with this, he ap- 
prehended Peter, intending to 
murder him also for their farther 
gratification ; butProvidence de- 
feated his designs. After the 
paesover-feast, he repaired to 
Cesarea, to celebrate some 
games in honour of Claudius, 
Thither the inhabitants of Tyre 
and Sidon who had offended 
him, alter making Blastus his 
chamberlain their friend, sent 
their deputies to beg his favour. 
As he gave audience to the de- 
puties, he appeared dressed in a 
robe tissued with silver, to which 
the rising sun, shining on it, gave 
a marvellous lustre. As he spoke 
to the Phoenician deputies, some 
of his parasites cried out, It is 



HEZ 

the voice of a god, not of a man. 
He received the impious flattery 
with pleasure. To punish him, 
an angel smote him directly 
with a mqst tormenting disease 
in his bowels, and he was eaten 
up of vermin, after he had reign- 
ed seven or ten years, and been 
the father of Agrippa, Bernice, 
Drusilla, and Mariamne, Acts 
xii. 

HERODIANS. See Sect. 

HERODIAS; the daughter 
of Aristobulusjwhom Herod the 
Tetrarch married, being his bro 
ther's wife, Matth. xiv. 3, 4. 

HERONS, are of the same 
general kind with the crane, 
bittern, stork. &c. Lev. xi. 19. 

HESHBON, the capital city 
of the kingdom of Sihon, about 
•20 miles eastward of Jordan. It 
was taken by Moses, Num. xxi. 
23 — 26. and afterwards became 
a Levitical city, and was situa- 
ted within the limits of the tribe 
of Reuben, on the borders of 
Gad. After the captivity of the 
ten tribes, it fell into the hands 
of the Moabites, whence it is 
mentioned, both by Isaiah and 
Jeremiah, in their prophecies 
against Moab, Isa. xv. 4. Jer. 
xlviii. 2. 34. 45. 

HEZEKIAH was born to his 
father Ahaz when about eleven 
years of age, and so was 25 at 
his father's death, in the 36th 
year of his age. He succeeded 
him A. J\I. 3278. His idolatrous 
father having left the nation 
plunged into a kind of Heathen- 
ism, Hezekiah, with great vi- 
gour, applied himself to reform 
it. In the first month of the first 
year of his reign, he caused the 
principal doors of the temple to 
be opened and repaired : he or- 
dered the priests and Levites to 
purify it, and prepare it for sa- 
crifice. This done, he and his 
princes solemnized the dedica- 
tion with a multitude of offer- 
ings. As the temple could not 
be purified, or the priests cleans- 
ed, to observe the passover in 
280 



HEZ 

the first month, they agreed to 
observe it in the second. Heze- 
kiah invited such of the ten 
tribes as remained in their coun- 
try, to join with him therein. 
Some ridiculed his pious invita- 
tion, and others complied with 
it. This passover was observed 
with more solemnity than it 
had been for many ages before. 
They continued the feast of un- 
leavened bread fourteen days in- 
stead of seven ; many indeed 
were not duly prepared ; but 
Hezekiah prayed for forgiveness 
of their rashness in approaching 
to God. Hezekiah and his peo- 
ple broke down the idolatrous 
altars and images in his own 
dominions, and in those of Ho- 
shea, who being better than his 
predecessors, took no offence at 
his subjects returning to the 
Lord. He also settled proper 
methods to procure for the 
priests and Levites their due 
maintenance. Cononiah and 
Shimei, two brothers, with ten 
subordinate officers of the tribe 
of Levi, and Koreh, with six 
under him, were appointed to 
overlook this affair. 

Encouraging himself in the 
Lord, Hezekiah s'hook off the 
Assyrian yoke, which his father 
had wickedly taken on himself, 
and refused to pay them the ac- 
customed tribute : he invaded 
the country of the Philistines, 
who had lately ravaged Judea, 
and reduced them under his 
yoke : he fortified Jerusalem, 
and filled his magazines with ar- 
mour. In the 14th year of his 
reign, Sennacherib, king of As- 
syria, invaded his kingdom, and 
took most of his fenced cities. 
Hezekiah, after fortifying Jeru- 
salem, and bringing the south 
stream of Gihon into the city, 
finding that the king of Ethiopia 
and Egypt did not render him 
timely assistance, begged condi- 
tions of peace from the Assy- 
rian. He demanded 300 talents 
of silver and 30 of gold, in all . . 
MS 24* 



HEZ 

about 351,000Z. sterling, as the 
condition of his leaving the 
country. To raise this sum, 
Hezekiah was obliged to ex- 
haust his treasures, and pull off 
the golden plates which he had 
just before put on the doors of 
the temple. No sooner had 
Sennacherib received the money, 
the loss of which, he saw, dis- 
qualified Hezekiah for war, than 
he sent three of his principal of- 
ficers from Lachish, to demand 
Hezekiah's immediate surren- 
der of his capital. Hezekiah 
sent Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah, 
to converse with them without 
the city. Rabshakeh, the prin- 
cipal Assyrian messenger, mag- 
nified the power of his master, 
as if neither God nor man could 
deliver out of his hand : he cried 
to the Hebrews on the wall, that 
if they would not surrender 
themselves, he would quickly 
force them by a terrible siege ; 
but if they surrendered them- 
selves quickly, he would place 
them in a fine country, as agree- 
able as their own. Shocked 
with these blasphemies, Heze- 
kiah's messengers gave no reply, 
but rent their clothes, and re- 
ported the whole to their master. 
He begged Isaiah the prophet to 
intercede with God in behalf of 
the city ; and was assured that 
the Assyrian army should quick- 
ly be ruined, and their king flee 
home in a precipitate manner, 
and there perish with the sword. 
When Sennacherib departed 
from Lachish, to give battle to 
Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia,who 
came to assist Hezekiah, he sent 
Hezekiah a most blasphemous 
and insulting letter. This Heze- 
kiah spread before the Lord in 
the court of the . temple, and 
begged the Lord would deliver 
him from this insolent enemy. 
The Lord, by Isaiah, assured 
him, that he had heard, and 
would quickly answer his prayer; 
that Sennacherib should never 
besiege Jerusalem, nor so much 
231 



HEZ 

as shoot an arrow against it. 
That very night, the whole As- 
syrian army was almost ruined 
by an angel. While Sennache- 
rib was ravaging his kingdom, 
Hezekiah fell dangerously bad 
of an ulcer. God, by the pro- 
phet Isaiah, ordered him to lay 
his account with death, and put 
his affairs into order. Heze- 
kiah, observing that be had no 
child to be the Messiah's pro- 
genitor, or govern the broken 
state of his kingdom, and per- 
haps being in no proper frame 
for dying, wept sore, and begged 
the Lord would not cut him off 
in the midst of his days, as had 
often happened with the idola- 
trous kings. God, by Isaiah, 
assured him, that his prayers 
were heard ; that, in three days, 
he should be able to walk to the 
temple, and should live fifteen 
years more ; and meanwhile or- 
dered him to apply a lump of dry 
figs to the boil, in order to his 
miraculous recovery; and told 
him, the city should not be de- 
livered into the hand of the As- 
syrians. For a sign of the cer- 
tainty of these events, the sun, 
at Hezekiah's choice, went back 
ten degrees on the sun-dial of 
King Ahaz. After Hezekiah's | 
recovery, he composed a hymn 
of thanksgiving, and narrative 
of his temper of mind in his 
trouble. He, however, grew 
proud of the miracles wrought 
in his favour, and was not duly 
thankful to God. When Mero- 
dach Baladan, the son of Bala- 
dan, king of Babylon, sent mes- 
sengers to congratulate him on 
his recovery,and get information 
concerning the ruin of the As- 
syrian host, and the retrograde 
motion of the sun ; and perhaps 
to solicit an alliance against the 
weakened Assyrian empire ; 
Hezekiah vainly showed them 
every thing valuable and rare in 
his treasures. His pride brought 
wrath from the Lord on him- 
gelf and his subjects. God, by 



HIE 

Isaiah, assured him, that his 
wealth should be carried to Ba- 
bylon, and his offspring serve 
there as eunuchs in the palace. 
Hezekiah confessed the threat- 
ening was just, but wished that 
peace and truth might continue 
all his time. Some of his ser- 
vants copied out several of Solo- 
mon's proverbs, and joined them 
to the rest. After he had liv- 
ed 54 years, and reigned 29, 
he died, and was succeeded by 
Manasseh, a boy of twelve 
years, 2 Chron. xxix. — xxxii. 2 
Kings xviii. 20. Isa. xxxvi.— 
xxxix. Prov. xxv. 1. 

HIDDEKEL, called Tigris, 
from its swift motion, and by 
the Arabs Diglat ; a noted river 
that rises in the mountains of 
Armenia, runs southward be- 
tween Assyria, or Curdistan, on 
the east, and Mesopotamia on 
the west, and afterwards meet- 
ing with the Euphrates, runs 
along with it a considerable 
way, and falls into the gulf of 
Persia, some distance below 
Bassora. The Tigris and Eu- 
phrates rise only 15 miles apart. 
This river is famous for the 
great cities which had their site 
on its banks, as Nineveh, Seleu- 
cia, Ctesiphon, Bagdad, Mosul, 
Diarbecker,&c. See Euphrates. 

HIERAPOLIS, a place near 
Colosse, and near to which was 
a large opening of the earth, 
whence issued a deadly steam. 
Christianity was planted here 
very early, Col. iv. 13 ; but not 
long after the city was swallow- 
ed up by an earthquake. It 
was formerly famous for its hot 
baths. It is supposed to have 
derived its name (holy city) from 
the multitude of temples which 
it contained, the ruins of which 
are still visible. The Turks 
call the place Pambuk-Kalasi, 
from the whiteness of the rock 
on which it stands. Nothing 
but the hot baths could have 
furnished a motive for building 
a great city on a spot so sterile 
282 



H1G 

HIGG AXON signifies medita- 
tion, and imports, that what is 
said, deserves to be carefully 
and frequently thought upon, 
Psal. ix. 16. 

HIGH PLACES. Altars,from 
the earliest times, were erect- 
ed on hills or lofty mountains. 
The practice of the Heathen in 
this respect was doubtless bor- 
rowed from the patriarchs. 
Thus, Noah built an altar on 
mount Ararat, on his coming 
cut of the ark. Abraham, also, 
on entering Canaan, built an 
altar on a hill between Bethel 
and Ai, Gen. xii. 7, 8. The 
same patriarch, when command- 
ed to offer up his son, was di- 
rected to mount Moriah, where 
he erected an altar, Gen. xxii ; 
and at the meeting between La- 
ban and Jacob, the latter offer- 
ed sacrifice on mount Galeed, 
Gen. xxxi. 54. So when Balak 
brought Balaam to curse Israel, 
he led him up to a mountain, 
called ' the high places of Baal," 
where he erected his altars, 
Numb. xxii. xxiii. Such were 
the high places dedicated to 
idolatrous worship, so often 
mentioned in the Bible, which 
were interdicted to the Israelites 
after God had chosen a particu- 
lar place for his worship. How- 
ever, before the erection of the 
temple, prophets seem to have 
had the privilege of selecting 
places of temporary worship; 
for we find Samuel building an 
altar and offering sacrifice on a 
high place, 1 Sam. ix. 12. 19. 25, 
Gideon also erected an altar to 
God, and offered sacrifice on the 
top of a rock, Judg. vi. 25, 26. 
At Gideon, there was a famous 
high place, to which the taber- 
nacle was removed, and where 
Solomon sacrificed when God 
appeared to him, 1 Chron. xvi. 
39. xxi. 29. 1 Kings iii.3,4. 
But after the building of the 
temple, all use of high places 
was entirely forbidden. 

Groves were usually connect- 



HIN 

ed with high places, and were 
also consecrated to religious 
purposes. This practice, so 
universal in Pagan worship, 
seems to have been borrowed 
from the patriarchs, for we find 
Abraham planting a grove in 
Beer-sheba, and to have ' called 
there on the everlasting God/ 
Gen. xxi. 33. These groves, 
among the Heathen, especially 
among the worshippers of Baal, 
became scenes of every abomi- 
nation, and were therefore for- 
bidden to the people of God, 
Deut. xvi. 21 ; and the Israel- 
ites were directed to destroy all 
the altars, images, and groves 
of the Canaanites, wherever 
found, Exod. xxxiv. 13. DeuL 
vii. 5. xii. 2, 3. But thi3 in- 
junction seems to have been 
very partially executed, even 
after the temple was erected* 
Asa exerted himself to destroy 
these monuments of Heathen 
worship, but did not completely 
succeed, 2 Chron. xiv. 3. 1 
Kings xv. 14. 2 Chron. xvii. 6. 
xx. Josiah also exerted him- 
self greatly to remove every ves- 
tige of idolatrous worship out 
of the land ; but after his death, 
it may be presumed, ' the groves 
and high places were restored.' 
It is often mentioned, that when 
a certain king did that which 
was right, &c. 'yet the high 
places were not taken away,' 
2 Kings xv. 3, 4. xvi. 3, 4. 2 
Chron. xxviii. 2, 3, 4. 

HIN, a liquid measure for oil, 
or wine, &c. It was the sixth 
part of an ephah, or about 291 
solid inches, which wants but a 
little of our three pints, Exodus 
xxix. 40. 

HIND, the female of the stag. 
It is a lovely creature, and of an 
elegant shape. It is noted for 
its swiftness, and the sureness 
of its step, to which allusion is 
made, when it is said, ' The 
Lord maketh my feet like hind's 
feet, and causeth me to stand 
on the high places,' Psal. xviii. 
233 



HIR 

33. Habb. iii. 19. This animal 
was also the emblem of connu- 
bial love, ' Let the wife of thy 
bosom be as the beloved hind 
and the favourite roe,' Prov. v. 
19. According to our version, 
Jacob says, ' Naphtali is a hind 
let loose, he giveth goodly 
words,' Gen. xlix. 21. Com- 
mentators have been able to 
make nothing satisfactory out 
of this, in relation to that tribe. 
Bochart has, therefore, proposed 
another translation, which ren- 
ders the words intelligible and 
appropriate, which is this, 
* Naphtali is a spreading tree, 
shooting forth beautiful branch- 
es.' And there can be little doubt 
but this is the correct rendering, 
for it is supported by the LXX. 
by the Chaldee paraphrase, 
and by the Arabic version : and 
all that is necessary to elicit this 
appropriate meaning from the 
words, is the alteration of a 
few points. This also agrees 
with the prediction of Moses 
respecting the same tribe, ' O 
Naphtali, satisfied with favour, 
and full with the blessing of the 
Lord,' Deut. xxxiii. 23. 

In Psal. xxix.9.weread, ' The 
voice of the Lord maketh the 
hinds to calve, and discovereth 
the forests.' Here bishop Lowth 
thinks that the original word is 
improperly rendered ' hinds,' 
and thinks it should be ' oaks,' 
and the meaning to be, 'The 
voice of the Lord (thunder) 
breaketh the oaks asunder,' &c. 

HINNOM. The valley of Hin- 
nom lay south of Jerusalem, 
without the walls, and is also 
called Tophet, but by the Greeks 
Gehenna. Here the Canaanites 
first, and afterwards the Israel- 
ites, burnt their children to Mo- 
loch ; and to drown their shrieks, 
drums were beaten ; whence the 
name Tophet, which signifies 
a drum. 

HIRAM, or Huram ; (1.) A 
king of Tyre, son of Abibal. 
When David came to the He- 



HIT 

brew throne, Hiram sent mes- 
sengers to congratulate him; 
and sent him cedars and artifi- 
cers to build him a palace, 2 
Sam. v. 11, 12. He, or his son 
of the same name, congratulated 
Solomon on his accession to the 
crown. He furnished him with 
timber, stone, and artificers, for 
his famed structures, viz. the 
temple, his own palace, &c. ; 
and lent him 120 talents of gold, 
or 1,657,0002. sterling. He as- 
sisted him in establishing his 
trade to Ophir. He was dis- 
pleased with the 20 cities of 
Galilee, which Solomon gave 
him, 1 Kings v. ix. 2 Chron. 
viii. 18. Dius and Menander, 
two Heathen historians, say, 
that Hiram and Solomon cor- 
responded by letters, and tried 
to puzzle one another with hard 
questions. (2.) A famed arti- 
ficer: his father is called a Ty- 
nan, perhaps merely because he 
dwelt for some time at Tyre: 
but he might be of the tribe of 
Naphtali ; and his mother was 
a widow of Naphtali, and a 
daughter of Dan, a native of the 
city of Dan, or descended of the 
tribe of Dan. He is represented 
as the father of King Hiram 
and Solomon; either because 
he was their director in their 
curious works; or perhaps £bi, 
or Jib, which signifies father, 
was his sirname. He was a 
most skilful artificer, in design- 
ing and executing the most cu- 
rious workmanship of brass, 
copper, or other metal. He 
made the brazen pillars, sea, 
lavers, and basons, &c. of the 
temple, 1 Kings vii. 13, &c. 2 
Chron. ii. 13, 14. 

HITTITES, the offspring of 
Heth, the second son of Canaan. 
They dwelt in the south part of 
the promised land, near Hebron ; 
and from Ephron, one of them, 
Abraham bought his cave of 
Machpelah, Gen. xxiii. In the 
days of Joshua, it seems, part 
of them fled southward, and 



HON 

dwelt in the country where the 
Canaanite of Beth-el built Luz, 
Judg. i. 26. Two of David's 
mighties were Hittites, viz. 
Uriah, and Abimelech, 2 Sam. 
xi. 6. 1 Sam. xxvi. 6. 

HIVITES, a tribe of the Ca- 
naanites. They seem to have 
been the same with the Avims, 
whom the Philistines expelled, 
Driven from the south-west of 
Canaan, part of them appear to 
have settled about Avim, Gi- 
beon, and Shechem, whose in- 
habitants are called Hivites, 
Josh. ix. 7, 19- Gen. xxxiv. 2. 
Another part of them settled 
near Mount Hermon, Josh. xi. 3. 

HOBAB, the son of Jethro, 
and brother-in-law to Moses, 
As the Hebrews were on the 
point of leaving Mount Sinai, 
Hobab came to visit Moses, and, 
at his entreaty, went along with 
Israel, as a subordinate guide, to 
direct them to find fuel, &c. 
Numb. x. 29. Some think that 
the Kenites were his descend- 
ants. 

HOLY LAND. See Phil- 
istia. 

HOMER, or omer, the same 
measure as the cor, or 3 pints, 
Isa. v. 10. 

HONEY, is of different sorts, 
and collected by bees, or pro- 
duced by palm-trees or sugar- 
reeds. It much abounded in 
Canaan, and so it is represented 
as a land flowing with milk and 
honey. There bees deposited 
their honey in rocks, or at least 
gathered it from the flowers 
among the rocks, Psal. lxxxi. 16. 
Deut. xxxii. 13 ; or on trees, 1 
Sam. xiv. 26. John Baptist 
lived in the desert on locusts 
and wild honey, Matth. iii. 4: 
butter and honey were common 
fare, Isa. vii. 15. That which 
is eaten from the comb is pecu- 
liarly fresh and sweet ; but it is 
dangerous to eat much of it at 
once, Psal. xix. 10. Prov. xxv. 
27. To restrain the Hebrews 
from imitating the Heathens, 



HOR 

who used the honey in their sa- 
crifices, and to represent the im- 
propriety of carnal pleasure, in 
God's worship, they were pro 
hibited to use honey in their sa 
crifices, Lev. ii. 11. Whatevei 
is sweet, delightful, and medici- 
nal, is likened to honey ; as the 
word of God, Psal. xix. 10. cxix 
103; the prayers, praises, and 
edifying talk of the saints, Song 
iv. 11 ; Christ's gospel-truths, 
and his people's graces, Song v. 
1 ; and the knowledge of wis- 
dom, Prov. xxiv. 13. 

HOODS, among the Jews, 
were probably like the turbans 
of the Turks and Persians, 
consisting of many folds and 
wreaths, and sometimes raised 
up to a great height in the mid- 
dle, Isa. iii. 23. 

HOPHNI. Seem 

HOR, the name of two moun- 
tains, the one on the south of 
Canaan, in the south of Idumea, 
where Aaron died, and near to 
which perhaps was Horhagid- 
gad, or Gudgolah, where the 
Hebrews encamped ; and ano- 
ther on the north of Canaan, 
and seems to have been a top 
of Mount Lebanon, Numb, xx 
25. xxxiv. 7, 8. 

HOREB. See Sinai. 

HORITES, or Horims, an 
ancient people, that dwelt about 
Mount Seir. They were perhaps 
sprung of one Hori ; at least one 
of that name was a chief man 
amonsr them, 1 Chron. i. 39. 

HORMAH, or Zephaalh, and 
perhaps also Arad. When the 
Hebrews approached for the se- 
cond time to the south borders 
of the promised land, Arad, king 
of tliis place, attacked them: 
they vowed to the Lord utterly 
to extirpate his kingdom, if he 
should deliver it into their hand. 
They obtained their desire, and 
fulfilled their vow ; but whether 
in the days of Moses or of Jo- 
shua, we know not : and on this 
account it was called Hormah, 
i. e. destruction. Here the re 
285 



HOH 

bellious Hebrews were griev- 
ously defeated, in the second 
year after their coming out of 
Egypt. It was given to the 
Simeonites ; and to the elders of 
it, David sent part of his Amale- 
kitish spoil, Num. xiv. 45. xxi. 
J, 2, 3. Josh. xix. 4. Judg. i. 16, 
17. 1 Sam. xxx. 30. 

HORN, is used for drinking- 
vessels and for trumpets in the 
east, 1 Sam. xvi. 1, 13. 1 Kings 
i. 39. Josh. vi. 8, 13. 

Horns also signify kings and 
kingdoms: the two horns of Da- 
niel's visionary ram, are the uni- 
ted kingdoms of Media and Per- 
sia ; the notable horn of his he- 
goat between his eyes, is Alex- 
ander, the first king of all Greece, 
amid his sagacious generals ; the 
four horns coming after it, are 
the four kingdoms, into which 
the Grecian empire was divided 
after his death, viz. Egypt, Syria, 
Thrace, and Greece; the little 
horn that sprung out of one of 
them, is Antiochus Epiphanes, 
who, from the contemptible rise 
of a base person, and Roman 
hostage, rose to so much power, 
and did so much mischief in 
Egypt and Judea ; or Antichrist, 
Dan. viii. The ten crowned 
horns of the Romish empire, and 
of Antichrist, are the ten toes, or 
kingdoms, into which the Ro- 
man empire was at last divided, 
and over which the Pope extends 
his influence. In Bishop Chand- 
ler's list, these ten stand thus: 
the Ostrogoths, in Msesia; the 
Visigoths, in Panonia, or Hun- 
gary ; the Suevi or Alan?, in 
Gascoigne and Spain ; the Van- 
dals, in Africa; the Franks, in 
France; the Burgundi, in Bur- 
gundy ; the Heruli and Thuringi, 
in Italy ; the Saxons and Angles, 
inBritain: the Huns, in Hungary; 
and the Lombards, on the banks 
of the Danube, and afterwards 
in Italy. Mede says thev stood 
thus in A. D. 456: the Britons; 
the Saxons; both in Britain : the 
Franks; the Burgundians; the 



HOR 

Visigoths ; the Suevi and Alans ; 
the Vandals ; the Alemans, in 
Germany ; the Ostrogoths, and 
their successors the Longobards ; 
and the Greeks, in the eastern 
part of the empire. Bishop Lloyd 
ranks them according to the 
time of their settlement into 
states, thus : the Huns about j). 
D. 356 ; Ostrogoths, 377 ; Visi- 
goths, 378 ; the Franks, 407 ; the 
Vandals, 407 ; the Burgundians, 
407; the Heruli and Rugians, 
476; the Longobards in Hungary, 
526. Sir Isaac Newton ranks 
them thus : the kingdoms of the 
Vandals and Alans, in Africa 
and Spain; of the Suevians, in 
Spain; of the Visigoths ; of the 
Alans, in Gaul, or France ; of 
the Burgundians; of the Franks ■ 
of the Britons; of the Huns; of 
the Lombards ; and finally, tha 
exarchate of Ravenna. Accord- 
ing to Bishop Newton, they 
stood thus, in the eighth century: 
the senate of Rome ; the Greek 
state of Ravenna; the Lom- 
bards ; the Huns ; the Alemans ; 
the Franks; the Burgundians; 
the Goths ; the Britons ; the Sax- 
ons. The frequent convulsions 
of these states occasion their 
being differently reckoned ; and 
it is observable, that almost ever 
since, there have been ten prin- 
cipal states; and though they 
had not been always ten, they 
might be called ten from their 
original form. At present, we 
may reckon them thus : the states 
of Italy ; the two Sicilies ; Portu- 
gal ; France ; Spain ; Britain ; 
Holland; Germany; Switzerland; 
Hungary ; for Poland, Russia, 
Sweden, and Denmark, did not 
pertain to the ancient Roman 
empire. The horn with eyes, 
and a look more stout than his 
fellows, and who plucked up 
three horns, is the crafty Romish 
Pope, whose high pretensions to 
authority are superior to that of 
earthlv princes, and who has 
often deposed and excomniur:-- 
cated them; and who, quickij 
286 



IIOR 

after his rise, got himself made 
master of three sovereignties, of 
the dukedom of Rome, the ex- 
archate of Ravenna, and the 
region of Pentapolis, Dan. vii. 
20—26. Rev. xii. 3. xiii. 1. xvii. 
3. 7. 12. 

HORNETS; an insect with a 
venomous sting. They are often 
an inch or more in length. 
Whenever this animal is men- 
tioned in Scripture, they are 
promised as an aid to the Israel- 
ites, to drive out their enemies. 
Exod. xxiii. 28. Deut. vii. 20. 
Josh. xxiv. 12. Some have in- 
terpreted the word metaphori- 
cally, in all these passages, but 
Bochart contends, that it should 
be taken literally, and adduces 
examples of other people driven 
out of their country by hornets. 
Elian records, that the Phasi- 
lites were driven out of their 
country by wasps, and as they 
were Phenicians, he probably 
refers to this event. 

HORSE, one of the noblest 
animals of the brute kind, noted 
for comeliness, swiftness, pride, 
natural fierceness, docility, 
strength, and fitness for burden, 
draught, or war, Job xxxix. 19 
— 25. Among the ancient orien- 
tals, horses were reckoned a 
grand present, and riding on 
them an honour, Eccl. x. 7, and 
come will scarce allow any Eu- 
ropeans to ride on them in their 
territories, except at their be- 
coming proselytes to Mahomet- 
anism. The horses of Egypt are 
reckoned more strong and fine 
than the Syrian, Isa. xxxi. 3. 
God prohibited the Hebrews to 
multiply horses : he ordered Jo- 
shua to hough, hamstring, or 
cut the sinews of the legs of all 
the horses of the Canaanites, 
and to burn their chariots with 
fire : the design of which laws no 
doubt were, to prevent their cor- 
respondence with foreigners, or 
trusting in war to their chariots 
and horsemen, Deut. xvii. 16. 
Josh. xi. 6. In this manner, Da- 



IIOS 
vid served the horses ana c\ia 
riots of Hadadezer, the Syrian, 
2 Sam. viii. 4. Solomon hav- 
ing married the daughter of Pha- 
raoh, procured a fine breed of 
horses from Egypt, some of them 
at the rate of 600 shekels of sil- 
ver, which, according to Pri- 
deaux, is 30Z. sterling; and ac- 
cording to Arbuthnot, whom wo 
follow, 68Z. 9s. 1 Kings x. 26. 
He first of the Hebrews began 
to multiply horses, and had 4000 
stables, 40,000 stalls, and 12,000 
horsemen, 1 Kings iv. 26. 2 Chr. 

HORSE-LEECH, a large 
kind of leech which fastens on 
animals in the water, and is very 
insatiable in its thirst for blood. 
It is used by Solomon as a fit 
emblem of rapacity, Prov. xxx. 
15. Cicero uses the same, in 
one of his letters to Atticus, 
where he compares the common 
people of Rome to horse-leeches. 

HOSAXXA, i. e. Save now ; 
or save, I beseech; a word much 
used by the Jews in their pray- 
ers, and exclamations, especially 
at the feast of tabernacles, which 
lasted eight days, and the seventh 
(for special prayer) was called 
grand hosanna, Matth. xxi. 9. 

HOSEA, the son of Beeri, a 
prophet of the Lord. 

HOSHEA, the son of Elah. 
After murdering Pekah his mas- 
ter, and a struggle of eight or 
nine years civil war, he became 
king of Israel, and was less 
wicked than any of his predeces- 
sors, allowing such of his sub- 
jects as pleased, to worship the 
Lord at Jerusalem, 2 Kings xv. 
30. 

HOST ; (1.) An entertainer of 
strangers, lodgers, or guests, 
Rom. xvi. 23. Ministers are the 
host, to whose care Jesus com- 
mits the charge of wounded 
souls, Luke x. 35. (2.) An army; 
so the Levites and priests are 
called the Lord's host, who at- 
tended him, and protected the 
order and purity of his worship 
287 



HOU 

1 Chr. ix. 19. and the saints, on 
account of their number, are 
called the hosts of nations, or 
well ordered multitudes, Jer. iii. 
19. 

HOUR. The Hebrews ap- 
pear to have known nothing of 
hours till the Chaldean captivity. 
The first mention thereof is by 
Daniel, chap. v. 5. They divided 
their day into morning, from 
sun-rising to about nine o'clock; 
high day or noon, which ended 
at mid-day; the first evening, 
which reached from mid-day to 
about our three o'clock after- 
noon; and the second evening, 
which reached to sun-set, Exod. 
xii. 6. The night they divided 
into night, midnight, and morn- 
ing-watch. Becoming tributary 
to the Romans, they divided 
their night into four watches, so 
called, because the watching 
centinels were relieved every 
three hours, Matth. xiv. 25. and 
it is said, that, in the temple-ser- 
vice, the day was divided into 
four watches or great hours, the 
third of which ended about three 
o'clock afternoon. Mark xv. 25. 
In the New Testament, the day 
is plainly divided into twelve 
hours, which perhaps lengthened 
and shortened as the day did; 
the third was about our nine 
o'clock, the sixth at twelve, the 
ninth about three afternoon, and 
the eleventh a little before sun- 
set, Matth. xx. 1 — 6. John xi. 9. 
xix. 14. Hour also signifies any 
fixed season or opportunity, and 
especially what is short : hence 
we read of the hour of tempta- 
tion, of judgment, of Christ's 
death or second coming, of the 
power of Satan and his agents 
against Christ, Rev. iii. 3. 10. 
xiv. 7. Johnviii. 20. Lukexxii. 
53. 

HOUSE ; (1.) The Orientals 
made the walls of their houses 
of stone, brick, and often of mud, 
and ceiled them with wood, or 
even with ivory, and laid their 
floors with plaster, or painted 



HUR 

tiles. The upper apartments 
were most splendid. They often 
planted cypress-trees in their in- 
ner courts. In summer they had 
cooling houses formed to draw 
in and condensate the air, Lev. 
xiv. 40. Exod. i. 11. Jer. xxii. 
14. Psal. xiv. 8. 1 Kings xxii. 
39. Amos iii. 15. Judg. iii. 13. 
23. They burnt lamps before 
their houses all night, Job xviii. 
5, 6. Sides of their house, 
meant the private apartments of 
it, Psal. cxxviii. 3. They often 
slept all night, and entertained 
companies, on the flat roofs of 
their houses. (2.) The house- 
hold, family,or nation who dwell 
together, Acts x.2. And so the fa- 
milies,tribes,and nation of Israel, 
are called a house. Num. i. 18 — 
45. 1 Chron. xxiv. 4. Isa. xlviii. 
1. Hos. v. 1. Mic.iii.l. 9. (3.) Kin 
dred, lineage, Luke i. 27. (4.) 
The substance and wealth per- 
taining to a family. In this sense 
the Pharisees devoured widows' 
houses, Mark xii. 40. (5.) The 
affairs belonging to a family: 
this Hezekiah was to set in or- 
der before his death, Isa. xxxviii. 
1. Heaven, the church, the ta- 
bernacle, temple, and ordinances, 
are represented as God's house, 
or a spiritual house; as God 
planned, formed, furnished, or 
owned them, so he did, or does 
dwell in them, and display his 
glory, power, and grace in a pe- 
culiar manner, John xiv. I. Heb. 
iii. 2. Song i. 17. Judg. xviii. 31. 
2 Chron. v. 14. Psal. Ixxxiv. 10. 

HUL, or Chul, the son of 
Aram, and grandson of Shem 
Josephus says he peopled Ar- 
menia; and here were ancient 
vestiges of his name, Gen. x. 
23. 

HULDAH. SeeJosiah. 

HUR, the son of Caleb, and 
grandson of Hezron ; perhaps the 
husband of Miriam, and grand- 
father of Bezaleel. He and 
Aaron held up Moses's hands 
at Rephidim, during the engage- 
ment with the Amalekites ; and 



HUS 

they governed the people when 
he was on Mount Sinai, Exod. 
xvii. 10. xxiv. 14. 1 Chron. ii. 
19, 20. 

HUSBAND. See Marriage. 

HUSBANDMAN, a dresser 
of the ground, Gen. ix. 20. God 



HYS 

The pods are filled with a sweet 
ish kind of juice. 

HUZZAB, the queen of, of 
perhaps some strong fort in Ni- 
neveh, or even Nineveh itself 
so called from the firm-like esta- 
blishment of it. Huzzab was 



is likened to a husbandman; he j led captive by the Medes and 

sows, plants, cultivates, and ex- Chaldeans, Nahum ii. 7. 

pects fruit from his church, head, I HYMENEUS was probably 



and members, John xv. 1 : and 
the church is his husbandrij, the 
great object of his care and work, 
1 Cor. iii. 9. 

HUSHAI, the Archite, Da- 
vid's trusty friend ; who, hearing 
of his flight before Absalom, met 
him with dust upon his head, 
and his clothes rent. At David's 
advice, he returned, and pre 
tended to comply with Absalom, 
at least uttered words that were 
taken to import friendship. By 
a humorous and flattering ad- 
vice, he prevailed on Absalom 
and his party to defer their pur- 
suit of David for some days ; and 
so, contrary to the advice of 
Ahitophel, their cause was ru- 
ined. He, too, communicated 
proper information to David, 2 
Sara. xvi. 16. 

HUSKS, mentioned as the 
food of swine, Luke xv. 16. Bo- 
chart is of opinion, that by Jcera- 
tia here, Ave should understand 
the fruit of the carob-tree, very 
common in the Levant. And 
Columella informs us, that these 
pods afforded food for swine. 
The first is very common in 
Greece, Palestine, and Africa. 
It is suffered to ripen and grow 
dry on the tree. The poor ga- 
ther it, and cattle are fed by it. 
The tree on which it grows is 
of a middling size, full of branch- 
es, and abounding with round 
leaves of an inch long. The 
blossoms are in little red clus- 
ters with yellow stalks. The 
fruit is a flat pod, from six to 
fourteen inches in length, com- 
posed of two husks, separated 
by membranes into several cells, 
in which are contained flat seeds. 
N 25 



a native of Ephesus : for awhile 
he professed the Christian faith, 
and seemed a real believer ; but 
he fell into grievous errors, and 
perhaps abominable practices, 1 
Tim. i. 20. 

HYPOCRISY, a counterfeit- 
ing of religion and virtue ; an af- 
fectation of religion, without any 
real regard to the thing, Isa. 
xxxii. 6. It is a most dangerous 
evil, and difficult of cure. It is 
hard to be discerned, and the 
very means of salvation deceit- 
fully used, occasion men's har- 
dening themselves in it. Next 
to the divine Spirit dwelling in 
us, the most effectual remedy of 
it, is a steadfast faith in the om- 
niscience of God, Luke xii. 1, 2, 
3. A hypocrite is one, who 
feigns himself to be what he is 
not, assumes an appearance of 
true religion, without the reality 
of it, Luke vi. 42. He will not 
always call on God; will not 
persevere in prayer: his joy is 
but for a moment ; his hope is 
unsubstantial, and shall quickly 
perish, Job xxvii. 8, 9, 10. xx. 5. 
viii. 13. The ancient Pharisees 
were noted hypocrites; they pro- 
fessed a great deal of regard to 
the ancient prophets, while they 
hated John Baptist, Christ, and 
his apostles, Matt, xxiii. 3—31. 
xii. 1—7. xv. 2. 7, 8. vii. 5. 

HYSSOP, in general, is of 
two kinds, garden and mountain 
hyssop. It is a shrub which 
shoots forth a multitude of twigs 
or suckers from one root : it is as 
hard as any large wood, and or- 
dinarily grows about a foot and 
a half high, at proper distances. 
Its stalk on both sides emits 
289 



HYS 

longisli leaves, which are hard, 
odoriferous, warmish, and a lit- 
tle bitter to the taste. Its blos- 
soms appear on the top of the 
stem, of an aznre colour, and 
like to an ear of corn. Hyssop 
probably grew to a greater 
height with the Jews than in 
Europe ; for it was so long in 
the stalk, that the soldiers, fill- 
ing a spunge with vinegar, and 
putting it in a reed or stick of 
hyssop,held it up to our Saviour's 
mouth as he hung on the cross, 
or the bunch of hyssop was 



HYS 

fixed on the reed, John xix, 
29. 

This plant was much used 
in all the Levitical purifica- 
tions; but the particular spe- 
cies cannot easily be ascertain- 
ed. It would remove the diffi- 
culty about " filling the sponge 
with vinegar and putting on 
hyssop," if we suppose that this 
bitter herb was added to the sour 
vinegar, to render the potion 
more nauseous, and that it was 
then handed to Jesus on a reed, 
as is said by St. Mark. 



JAB 

JABBOK, a brook on the 
east of Jordan, rising in the 
mountains of Gilead, and falling 
into Jordan a little south of the 
sea o if Tiberias. Itseparatedi.be 
kingdom of Sihon from that of 
Og king of Bashan; and near to 
it Jacob wrestled with the angel 
of the covenant, and prevailed, 
Deut. ii. 37. Gen. xxxii. 22. Mr. 
Buckingham describes the course 
of the Jabbok as from east to 
west. Its junction with the Jor- 
dan is a considerable distance 
south of the exit of that river, 
from the sea of Tiberias. The 
whole length of the stream is 
about 59 miles ; and although it is 
scarcely more t:ian39feetwide,it 
is very deep, and its banks very 
and precipitous: the_cliffs, 
in some places, rising at least 
599 feet in height. The banks 
are thickly shaded with plane 
trees, wild olives, oleander, wild 
almonds, &c. The water of this 
river is clear, as it runs upon a 
rocky bed, and agreeable to the 
taste. 

JABESH, or Jabesh Gilead, 
a city of the eastern Manassites, 
at the foot of mount Gilead, about 
six miles from Pella, where the 
Christian Jews found refuge, 
amidst the ruin of Judeaby the 
Romans. It was at no great 
distance from Gadara. 

JABEZ appears to have been 



JAB 

a descendant of Judah by Ash- 
ur. 1 Chron. iv. 9, 19. 

JABIN; (1.) A king of Ha- 
zor, in the north parts of Ca- 
naan, and the most powerful of 
all the sovereigns in these quar- 
ters. Struck with the rapidity 
of Joshua's conquests, he en- 
gaged all the kings on the nortH 
of Canaan, particularly the kings 
of Madon, Jobab, Shimron, Ach- 
shaph, &c. to assist him. Their 
whole forces rendezvoused at 
the waters of Merom, to attack 
the Hebrews; but the Lord de- 
livered them into Joshua's hand, 
who gave them an entire defeat, 
pursued their fugitives as far as 
Great Zidori to the north west, 
and to Mezrepothmaim on tha 
east. He then marched back to 
Hazor, and burnt it, and killed 
Jabin its king, Josh. xi. (2.) 
Jabin king of Hazor was a* very 
powerful monarch. His army 
was routed by Deborah ar.il. 
Barak, and it is probable a terri- 
ble storm of rain made the river 
Kishon sweep away multitudes 
of them. Sisera the general tied 
away on his feet, and was kindly 
received by Jael, the wife of 
Heber the Kenite. His fatigue 
occasioned his falling into a deep 
sleep. Jael divinely instiga;ed 
against this murderer of the He- 
brews, killed him, by driving a 
nail through his head, and after- 
299 



JAC 

wards showed him to Barak, 
Judg. iv. 22. 

JABNEH, or Jamnia; a city 
of the Danites, on the sea-shore, 
and at no great distance south- 
ward of Joppa. 

JACINCT, or Jacinth; a pre- 
cious stone, of a violet and pur- 
ple colour, not unlike the ame- 
thyst. It is very hard: but the 
diamond will make an impres- 
sion on it. It was the eleventh 
foundation in the New Jerusa- 
lem, Rev. xxi. 20. That which 
some moderns call jacinth, has 
a yellow colour, something like 
a flame. 

JACOB, the younger son of 
Isaac and Rebekah, was born 
Ji. M. 2168 or 2173. He was 
twin brother to Esau, and re- 
ceived his name, which signi- 
fies supplanter, from a circum- 
stance which occurred at his 
birth. See Gen. xxv. When 
these brothers grew up, Esau 
devoted himself to hunting, and 
often gratified his aged father 
with savoury meat which he 
prepared from the fruits of the 
chase. By this means he be- 
came very much the favourite 
of Isaac; while Jacob, who was 

!a plain, domestic man, was no 
less the favourite of his mother. 
Isaac apprehending that his end 
was drawing near, was desirous 
before his departure of pronounc- 
ing a solemn, paternal benedic- 
tion on his oldest son : and that 
his mind might be excited to the 
lively exercise of affection, he 
requested Esau u to take his 
i weapons, his bow and his quiver, 
and go out to the field and take 
some venison, and make him 
savoury meat, such as he loved, 
and bring it to him, that he 
might eat and bless him before 
he died." Before this time, Ja- 
cob had, for a mess of pottage, 
purchased from Esau his birth- 
right, which included the bless- 
ing now about to be given. Re- 
bekah having overheard Isaac's 
request to Esau, and no doubt 



JAU 

being acquainted with the err 
cumstance of the sale of the 
birth-right, immediately conceiv- 
ed a plan of securing the patri- 
archal blessing, which was pro- 
phetic in its nature, for her 
favourite: for while Esau was 
in the pursuit of venison in the 
field, she induced Jacob to per- 
sonate his brother, and to carry 
to his father savoury meat pre- 
pared by herself from a tender 
kid ; and as Isaac's eyes were 
so dim that he was unable to 
distinguish between his sons by 
their appearance, all that was 
necessary, was to guard against 
detection, in case he should be 
led to feel the hands and face of 
Jacob; for Esau being very hairy 
and Jacob smooth, it readily oc- 
curred to the latter, that his fa- 
ther might resort to this method 
of identifying him. To prevent 
detection in this way, Rebekah 
covered the neck and hands of 
Jacob with the skin of the kid. 
Thus prepared he ventured into 
his father's presence, and bv 
means of lies and fraud carried 
off from his brother the chief 
blessing, which was intended for 
the first-born. When Esau re- 
turned, the deception was ren- 
dered manifest, but Isaac,though 
deeply distressed on account of 
his mistake, and importunately 
and with tears entreated by 
Esau, would not agree to change 
any thing which had gone out 
ofhis mouth: and Esau received, 
indeed, a benediction, but not 
that of the first-born which was 
already given to Jacob. By this 
fraud and injury, the enmity of 
Esau to his brother was excited 
to the highest degree, and he 
threatened to take away his life, 
as soon as his father's funeral 
should be over. Rebekah hear- 
ing of these threats, persuaded 
Isaac to send Jacob away to 
Haran, to her brother Laban, 
until his brother's anger should 
subside. Accordingly Jacob hav- 
ing again received his father's 
291 



JAC 

blessing, and a charge not to take 
a wife of the daughters of Ca- 
naan, as Esau had done to the 
sore grief of his parents, set offon 
his journey to Padan-aram. As 
he journeyed, he lighted on a 
certain place where he resolved 
to lodge, as the sun was already 
set; and taking of the stones of 
the place for'a pillow,he lay down 
to sleep, and dreamed ; ' and be- 
hold a ladder set up on the earth, 
and the top of it reached to hea- 
ven; and behold the angels of 
God ascending and descending 
on it. And behold the Lord 
stood above it, and said, I am 
the Lord God of Abraham thy 
father, a.nd the God of Isaac: 
the land whereon thou liest, to 
thee will I give it, and to thy 
seed. And thy seed shall be as 
the dust of the earth ; and thou 
shalt spread abroad to the west 
and to the east, and to the north 
and to the south; and in thee 
and thy seed shall all the fami- 
lies of the earth be blessed. And 
behold I am with thee and will 
keep thee in all places whither 
thou goest, and will bring thee 
again into this land ; for I will 
not leave thee until I have done 
that which I have spoken to 
thee of. And Jacob awaked out 
of his sleep, and he said, Surely 
the Lord is in this place, and I 
knew it not. And he was afraid, 
and said, How dreadful is this 
place ! this is none other but the 
house of God, and this is the 
gate of heaven. And Jacob rose 
up early in the morning, and took 
the stone that he had put for his 
pillow and set it up for a pillar, 
and poured oil upon the top of 
it. And he called the name of 
that place Bethel; but the name 
of that city was called Luz at 
the first. And Jacob vowed a 
vow, saying, If God will be with 
me, and will keep me in this way 
that I go, and will give me bread 
to eat and raiment to put on : so 
that I come again to my father's 
house in peace, then shall the 



JAC 

Lord be my God ; and this stone 
which I have set for a pillar shall 
be God's house ; and of all that 
thou shalt give me, I will surely 
give the tenth unto thee,' Gen. 
xxvii. xxviii. 

When Jacob came near to the 
residence of his mother's kin- 
dred, ' into the land of the people 
of the east,' he saw in the field 
a well, where were three flocks 
of sheep reclining, and the shep- 
herds with them ; and on inquiry, 
he found that they were of Ha- 
ran, and that Rachel the daugh- 
ter of Laban was then approach- 
ing. The meeting between Jacob 
and Rachel the young and beau- 
tiful shepherdess, was tender ; 
and the impression made on his 
heart by this first interview with 
his cousin, was deep and indeli- 
ble. Soon the young man was 
domesticated in the house of 
Laban, (for Nahorj though liv- 
ing, seems to have been super- 
annuated,) and soon he made 
proposals to Laban for Rachel, 
whom he vehemently loved, 
which showed something of the 
strength of his affection, for he 
said, 'I will serve thee seven 
years for Rachel thy younger 
daughter;' to which Laban 
agreed ; ' and Jacob served La- 
ban seven years for Rachel ; and 
they seemed unto him but a few 
days, for the love he had to her.' 
But as he had been guilty of a 
gross deception of his father, to 
the injury of his only brother, he 
himself became now the dupe 
of a designing and unjust rela- 
tive. Instead of his beloved Ra- 
chel, Leah her elder sister, who 
was ' tender eyed,' was given 
to him deceptiously : and when 
he remonstrated with his father- 
in-law, he was coolly informed 
that the custom of the country 
required that the oldest should 
be disposed of in marriage be- 
fore a younger sister : but pro- 
posed that he should serve as 
much longer, and still he should 
have Rachel. It is not to be un- 
292 



and 1 wil 
the third 
departure. 



AC 
derstood, inat he did not receive 
her until the seven years were 
ended : a careful attention to the 
history will show, that he mu3t 
have received Rachel immedi- 
ately, and served for her after- 
wards. With each of his daugh- 
ters Laban gave a maid, both of 
whom became the wives of Ja- 
cob, of the secondary or inferior 
kind. From all these there were 
born to Jacob while he sojourned 
in Mesopotamia, eleven sons and 
one daughter. Of these, Joseph 
only was the fruit of his mar- 
riage with Rachel. Avarice 
seems to have been the ruling 
passion with Laban ; for the 
gratification of which, he seem- 
ed to be willing to sacrifice even 
the comfort of his ow.i children, 
and to take every advantage of 
a young and inexperienced kins- 
man. Continually, he seems to 

have been studying and contriv- : tions. The mount on which 
ing some scheme by which he ■ this transaction occurred, re- 
might obtain the services of Ja- j ceived its name, Gilead : from. 



JAC 

be with thee.' On 
day after Jacob's 
Laban received in- 
telligence of his flight, and he 
immediately pursued after him 
with a company of men, and on 
the seventh day overtook himirj 
the mount Gilead. There can 
be no doubt, that Laban's inten- 
tions were hostile ; but on the 
night preceding his coming up 
to Jacob, he received an admo- 
nition from the Lord, in a dream, 
not to attempt any thing against 
Jacob. After a warm expostu- 
lation on both sides, they agreed 
to part in peace ; and according- 
ly a solemn covenant was en- 
tered into between them; as a 
sign of which, they piled up a 
heap of stones, on which they 
eat together in token of friend- 
ship, and agreeably to a custom 
prevalent in many ancient na- 



cob for less than their value : 
but the providence of God pre- 
vented him from eventually in- 



the heap of stones set up for 
witness. ' Laban now kissed 
his sons and his daughters, and 



junng his servant Jacob, with | blessed them, and departed and 
whom he had entered into cove- j returned to his place.' 
nant at Bethel. Whatever plan Soon after Jacob was reliev- 
of wages Laban would fix on, ed from all fear from Laban, 
the Lord overruled it for the be- and had the pleasing prospect 
nefit of Jacob. But, at length, ' of speedily coming to the end 
he resolved to return to his own of his journey, new fears and 
country, from which he had been troubles arose. But that he 
so long an exile. And lest his might not be disheartened, ' the 
father-in-law should hinder his j angels of God met him.' By 
purpose, he communicated his this he understood, that God his 
design to his own family, but protector would not leave him 
took the opportunity when La- ! defenceless in the hour of peril- 
ban was absent, to set off with , The danger which now threat- 
his wives and children, and all ' ened him was indeed appalling : 
his cattle and all his goods, to information was received, that 
go to Isaac his father, in the his brother Esau was on his 
iand of Canaan, who still conti- way to meet him, accompanied 
nued to live, beyond his own and by 400 men. No other than a 
the hopes of all his friends. ! hostile attack could be conceiv- 
This important step, however, j ed to be meditated, when this 
was not taken without the di- i vindictive man approaehed with 
rection of his covenant-keeping j such an army, against a corn- 
God : for the ' Lord said unto j pany of helpless women and 
Jacob, return unto the land of children. In this extremity Ja- 
thy fathers, and to thy kindred, ' cob had no other resource but 



25* 



293 



JAC 

to look to heaven for help. 
Ever since God had revealed 
himself to him at Bethel, he had 
made him his confidence and 
refuge in all his troubles. Now, 
therefore he cried to him in his 
distress, Gen. xxxii. 9. 12. 

Having thus committed his 
cause by fervent prayer, to the 
Almighty, he did not think it 
unnecessary to make use of the 
most probable means to avert 
the threatening evil ; therefore 
he sent messengers to meet his 
brother with a valuable present 
from his flocks and herds, in 
separate droves; and the mes- 
sengers were directed to say, ' It 
is a present sent unto my lord 
Esau, and behold thy servant 
Jacob is behind us.' For he 
said, ' I will appease him with 
the present that goeth before me, 
and afterwards I will see his 
face, peradventure he will ac- 
cept of me.' In that night Jacob 
took his two wives, and his two 
women servants, and his eleven 
sons, and passed over the ford 
Jabbok ; and having sent them 
over this stream, together with 
all his property, he remained 
alone on the opposite side. And 
here a very extraordinary thing 
occurred, Gen. xxxii. 21. 30. 

Esau now approached, but a 
secret power had turned aside 
his vengeance, and revived in 
his bosom a strong feeling of 
fraternal affection ; so that when 
he saw Jacob, ' he ran to meet 
him, and embraced him, and 
they wept.' Thus marvellously 
did God provide for the safety 
and comfort of his servant. 
Esau inquired kindly concerning 
his brother's family, who came 
forward successively, and paid 
their respects to him : and he 
would have declined receiving 
the present which had been 
sent forward to him, but Jacob 
insisted on his acceptance of it, 
and he took it. After this in- 
terview, Esau returned to Mount '• 
Seir, and Jacob journeyed to , 



JAC 

Succoth, where he made booths 
for his cattle ; from this circum- 
stance, the place received its 
name, as the word succoth sig- 
nifies booths. But he seems 
only to have sojourned here for 
a short time ; probably to give 
rest to the women and children, 
and to the flocks and herds, 
which had now been driven a 
long distance without much ces- 
sation. But his journey was 
not terminated until he came to 
Shalem, a city of Shechem, 
which is in the land of Canaan, 
where he bought a parcel of 
ground of the children of Ha- 
mor, for a hundred pieces of 
money, and erected there an al- 
tar, and called it El-Elohe-Is- 
rael, that is, God, the God of 
Israel. 

But although Jacob seems to 
have intended this as his place 
of permanent residence, yet 
events occurred which rendered 
it expedient for him to remove 
to another part of the country. 
In consequence of the seduction 
of his daughter Dinah, by the 
prince of the country, a plot 
was formed by her brothers, 
Simeon and Levi, to take signal 
vengeance upon the whole of 
the inhabitants of Shechem, 
which they successfully exe- 
cuted. 

Jacob was greatly grieved at 
the cruel and treacherous con- 
duct of his sons in this affair, 
and foresaw that it would ren- 
der him and his family odious to 
all the people in the neighbour- 
hood, so as to expose him to be 
slain with all his house. But 
the young men stoutly defended 
what they had done, on account 
of the gross dishonour brought 
upon their only sister. 

Jacob seems to have forgot- 
ten the solemn vow which he 
had made at Bethel, on first 
leaving his father's house ; he 
therefore now received an ad- 
monition from the Lord, relative 
to this thing, who said unto him, 
294 



JAC 

« Arise, go up to Bethel, and 
dwell there ; and make there an 
altar unto God that appeared 
unto thee, when thou fleddest 
from the face of Esau, thy bro- 
ther.' This also was intended 
to remove him and his family 
farther out of the reach of those 
who might feel disposed to take 
vengeance on them, in conse- 
quence of the cruel murder of 
the Shechemites. The same 
invisible power, however, which 
preserved him from the hostility 
of Laban and his brother, now 
also shielded him from the re- 
sentment of the Canaanites, so 
that they were not interrupted 
nor pursued in their journey; 
for ' the terror of God was up- 
on the cities that were round 
about them, and they did not 
pursue after the sons of Jacob.' 
During this journey, Jacob 
purged his house from idolatry, 
and purified them by some cere- 
mony, which has commonly 
been supposed to have been by 
washing their bodies in water ; 
for they were commanded ' to 
be clean, and chUftge their gar- 
ments.' And this, by the Jewish 
writers, who are followed by ma- 
ny learned Christians, is made 
the origin of proselyte-baptism 
He now arrived at Bethel, a 
place peculiarly consecrated, 
and rendered interesting to him 
by associations of the most so- 
lemn and tender nature. Here, 
in conformity with vows and the 
divine sanction, he built an al- 
tar, which he called El-Bethel, 
the God of Bethel. Here also 
God appeared unto Jacob again, 
and blessed him ; and under the 
name of God Almighty, renew- 
ed the promise respecting the 
multiplication of his seed, and 
the possession of the land of 
Canaan. After this signal mani- 
festation of the divine favour, 
Jacob set up a pillar in the place 
where he talked with him, ' even 
a pillar of stone ; and he poured 
& drink-offering thereon, and he 



JAD 

poured oil thereon,' and renewed 
the name which he had at first 
iven to this place, by calling it 
Bethel, or the house of God. 

But the domestic troubles of 
this good man, were far from 
being ended. He was now cal- 
led to endure a bereavement of 
the most afflicting kind which 
could have befallen him. Hav- 
ing completed his pilgrimage to 
Bethel, he was on his way to 
Ephratah, and had come near to 
the place, when he lost his be- 
loved wife Rachel, who expired 
soon after giving birth to a se- 
cond son, whom she named with 
her expiring breath, Benoni, but 
his father called him Benjamin. 
After the funeral of his beloved 
wife, Jacob continued his jour- 
ney until he came to a place 
beyond the tower of Edar, 
where he spread his tent, and 
fixed his abode; but domestic 
troubles were allotted to liim, 
for while resident in this place, 
his oldest son, Reuben, aeted in 
a manner so base and dishonour- 
able, that the feelings of his fa- 
ther must have been deeply 
wounded. At length, pursuing 
his nomadic life, he came to 
Mamre, which had been the fa- 
vourite residence of Abraham, 
and from which Isaac was never 
absent for any considerable 
time, until the day of his death. 
This peaceable and pious pa- 
triarch, though in a very ad- 
vanced age, was still alive, but 
soon after Jacob's arrival, ' he 
gave up the ghost, and died, and 
was gathered unto his people, 
being old, and full of days :' and 
his sons Esau and Jacob buried 
him, no doubt in the cave of 
Machpelah, where lay bis fa- 
ther and his mother. For the 
remainder of Jacob's life, see 
Joseph. 

JADDUA, or Jaddus, the son 
of Jonathan, high-priest 01 the 
Jews, who officiated a consider 
able time after the captivity, and 
1 is believed to be the same who 
295 



JAH 

lived in the time of Ale.xandei 
the Great. Concerning him, Jo- 
sephus relates this remarkable 
story: that Alexander having 
sent to him for provisions for 
his army while besieging Tyre, 
he excused himself on the 
ground that he had taken an 
oath of fidelity to Darius, king 
of Persia. The impetuous con- 
queror was highly provoked, 
and voAved vengeance against 
the Jews. Accordingly, as soon 
as Tyre was subdued, he put his 
army in motion towards Jerusa- 
lem ; but before he reached the 
place, Jaddus and the other 
priests, clothed in their pontifi- 
cal robes, and a multitude of 
the principal people, all dressed 
in white garments, met him ; on 
which Alexander bowed him- 
self to the ground, and seemed 
to worship the high-priest, 
which conduct filled all his fol- 
lowers with amazement. And 
Parmenio requesting an expla- 
nation of this extraordinary be- 
haviour, was informed, that be- 
fore he left Macedonia, he had 
seen, in a dream, the appearance 
of the person now before him, 
who promised him the empire 
of the world, and that his adora- 
tion was not addressed to the 
man, but to the deity, whose 
sacred name he bore on his 
forehead. Whatever truth there 
may be in this story, we know 
that Alexander, instead of in- 
flicting punishment on the Jews, 
granted them great immunities, 
especially exemption from taxa- 
tion on every seventh or sab- 
batical year, and took many of 
them into his own service ; and 
when he built the city of Alex- 
andria, in Egypt, he invited 
multitudes of this nation to set- 
tle there, and put them, in re- 
gard to privileges, on a level 
with his own Macedonians. 
The name of Jaddua is found 
in Neh. xii. 11. 

JAEL. See Jabin, Sisera. 

JAH. See Jehovah. 



JAM 

JAHAZ, Jahazah, or Jahzah; 
probably the Ziza of Ptolemy ; a 
city near Aroer, between Me- 
deda and Diblathaim, on the 
north frontiers of Moab, and 
near to the spot where Moses 
defeated the army of Sihon. 
Num. xxi. 23. Josh. xiii. 18. 

J AIR ; (1.) The son of Segub, 
the son of Hezron, of the tribe 
of Judah. (2.) A judge of Israel, 
who succeeded Tola, A. M. 
2795 or 2857, and governed 22 
years. He was a Gileadite, pro- 
bably of Manasseh. He had 30 
sons, who rode on 30 ass-colts, 
and were lords of 30 towns, call- 
ed Havoth-jair, or the towns of 
Jair, Judg. x. 3 — 5. 

JAIR or Jairus, a chief ruler 
of the synagogue at Capernaum. 
His daughter falling grievously 
sick, he begged that Jesus would 
come, lay his hands on her, and 
cure her ; and he did so, Mat. ix. 
18—26. Mark v. 21— 43. Luke 
viii. 41 — 56. 

JAMES the Great, or Elder, 
and JOHN the Evangelist, sons 
of Zebedee and Salome, were 
originally fishers of Bethsaida in 
Galilee, and left every thing at 
our Saviour's call, to follow him, 
Matt. iv. 21. Both were consti- 
tuted apostles: both were wit- 
nesses of Jesus's transfiguration, 
Matt. x. 2. xvii. 2. Both begged 
his leave to call down fire from 
heaven on the Samaritans, who 
refused to receive him. He 
checked their furious zeal, and 
told them that they knew not 
what unreasonable temper they 
were of, Luke ix. 54. Our Sa- 
viour's singular honour of them, 
and regard to them, occasioned 
their mother's begging they 
might be made chief ministers 
of state in his temporal kingdom. 
After they had professed their 
ability to undergo sufferings 
along with him, he told them 
that suffer they must, but his 
Father had the disposal of emi- 
nent places in his kingdom, Mat. 
xx. 20—24. Mark x. 35-45. 
296 



JAM 

They witnessed his agony in the 
garden, Mat. xxvi. 37. After our 
Saviour's resurrection, it seems 
they, for a while, returned to 
their business of fishing, John 
xxi. 2, 3. About A. D. 42 or 44, 
if not 49, James was taken and 
murdered by Herod, Acts xii.12. 
2. James the Less, called the 
brother of our Lord. He was 
the son of Cleophas, by Mary, 
the sister of the blessed Virgin. 
For the admirable holiness of 
his life, he was sirnamed the 
Just. Our Saviour appeared to 
him by himself, after his resur- 
rection, 1 Cor. xv. 7. About 
three years after Paul's conver- 
sion he was at Jerusalem, and 
considered as a pillar or noted 
supporter of the church there, 
Gal. i. 19. About 14 years after- 
wards, he was present at the 
apostolic council at Jerusalem, 
where he seems to have presided, 
as he was the last to give his 
judgment, in which all the other 
members of the council acqui- 
esced. He is the author of one 
* of the canonical epistles, which 
goes under his name ; but when, 
or where written, is unknown. 
It is reported, that he was thrown 
by the Jews from the battle- 
ments of the temple, and then 
dispatched with a fuller's club, 
while on his knees, and in the 
act of praying for his murderers. 
JAMNIA, a populous city of 
Palestine, not mentioned by this 
name, if at all, in the Bible. It 
was situated between Ashdod 
and Joppa, and had the advan- 
tage of a seaport. At this place, 
Judas Maccabaeus, in his wars 
with the Syrians, burnt a part 
of their fleet: the remainder be- 
ing destroyed at Joppa. It is 
stated as a fact, by Strabo, that 
this city and vicinity, were able 
to send out 40,000 armed men: 
which may serve to confirm the 
Scripture account, of the ancient 
populousness of the land of 
Judea. 
In the early ages of Chris- 



JAP 

tianity, Jamnia was an Episco- 
pal see ; and here also the Jews, 
after their expulsion from Jeru- 
salem, had a famous school or 
university. 

JANNES and JAMBRES, 
called by Pliny, Jarane and 
Jotape, and by some Jewish 
writers Johanne and Mamre, 
were two principal magicians 
of Egypt, who withstood Moses 
in aping some of his miracles, 
in the change of their rods into 
serpents, turning waters into 
blood, and producing frogs, 2 
Tim. iii. 8. Exod. vii. 9. 

JAXOAH, Janohah, a city 
of the Ephraimites, on their 
north border, and about twelve 
miles eastward from Shechem, 
Josh. xvi. 6. 

JAPHETH, the elder son of 
Noah, born A. M 1556, Gen. x. 
21. v. 32. To reward his kind- 
ness, his father blessed him, say- 
, that God would enlarge and 
increase him, and make him to 
dwell in the tents of Shem, and 
render the offspring of Canaan 
his servants. His posterity were 
prodigiously numerous ; he had 
seven sons, Gomer, Magog, 
Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, 
and Tiras. Their posterity peo- 
pled the north half of Asia, al- 
most all the Mediterranean isles, 
all Europe, and, I suppose, most 
of America. How the Greeks 
and Romans seized on the ori- 
ginal residence of the descend- 
ants of Shem in Syria, Palestine, 
Mesopotamia, Assyria, Persia, 
&c. how the Scythians, Tartars, 
Turks, or Moguls, the descend- 
ants of Gog and Magog, have 
made themselves masters of 
Southern Asia, may be seen un- 
der these articles. How the 
Dutch, English, Portuguese, 
Spaniards, and Danes, have 
seized the islands or other set- 
tlements in Southern Asia and 
its adjacents, is notorious. I 
know no country of note origi- 
nally belonging to the offspring 
of Shem, part of Arabia exceut 
297 



JAS 

ed, that has not, or is not now 
claimed or possessed by the off- 
spring of Japheth. God has per- 
suaded multitudes of them to 
become his peculiar people, 
when the Jewish descendants 
of Shem are cast off. How the 
Canaanites in Canaan,Phenicia, 
North Africa, Baeotia, Heraclea, 
Arcadia, or Italy, have been en- 
slaved by Japheth's Grecian, 
Roman, Vandal, or Turkish de- 
scendants, is marked in that 
article, Gen. ix. 27. As Japheth 
or Japetus was the father of the 
Greeks, no wonder he is so 
often mentioned in their ancient 
fables. 

JAPHTA, probably the same 
as Japha, a city belonging to the 
Zebulunites, surrounded with a 
double wall, but taken and 
cruelly ravaged by the Romans, 
Josh. xix. 12. 

JAPHO. See Joppa. 

J ARMUTH or Jermus, a city 
about ten miles south-west of 
Jerusalem, and as much north 
east of Eleutheropolis, once a 
famed citv of Judea, Josh. x.5. 

JASHOBEAM the Hachmon- 
ite or Tachmonite, the same as 
Adino the Eznite. It seems he 
sat on a kind of throne, at the 
head of David's mighty men. 
He in one instance attacked 800, 
and in another 300, and cut 
them off to a man: or he routed 
800, slew 300 of them, and his 
followers slew the other 500. 
He, with Eleazer and Sham- 
mah, brake through the army 
of the Philistines, and brought 
their master water from the well 
of Bethlehem, 2 Sam. xxiii. 8. 
16, 17. 1 Chron. xi. 11. 18, 19. 

JASON, a kinsman of Paul's, 
and his host at Thessalonica, 
who hazarded his life in a mob 
to preserve Paul. 

JASPER. The Greek and La- 
tin name Iaspis, as well as the 
English Jasper are of Hebrew 
derivation, and indicate plainly 
the meaning of the word. The 
Jasper is a hard stone of a bright 



IBZ 

beautiful green colour, some- 
times clouded with white ; found 
in masses, and capable of an ele- 
gant polish. It is found in the 
East Indies, Egypt, Africa, Tar- 
tary, and China. There are four 
columns of it in St. Paulina's 
Chapel at Rome ; and one trans- 
parent column in the Vatican 
library, Ex. xxviii. 20. Ez. 
xxviii. 13. Rev. iv. 3. xxi. 
11—19. 

JAVAN, the fourth son of 
Japhet, and the father of the 
Ionians and Grecians. The 
word without the Masoretic 
points, would be pronounced 
Jon. To him were born four 
sons, by whom the several parts 
of Greece were settled : their 
names were Elisha, Tarshish, 
Chittim, and Dodanim. The 
first is reported to have taken 
up his residence in Peloponnesus, 
now the Morea ; the second in 
Achaia; the third in Macedo- 
nia ; and the fourth in Thessaly, 
by. whom Epirus also was peo- 
pled. In process of time, Greece 
was conquered by the Pelasgi,* 
and by colonies from Egypt and 
Phenicia, who were gradually 
incorporated with the descend- 
ants of Javan. 

JAVELIN. See Dart. 

JAW, the bone of the mouth 
in which the teeth are fixed, 
Judg. xv. 15. Job xli. 2. 

JAZER, or Jaazer, a city 
about 15 miles from Heshbon, 
and a little south of Ramoth- 
gilead, at the foot of the moun- 
tains of Gilead, near the brook 
or lake of Jazer, Josh. xxi. 39. 

IBLEAM, or Bileam, a city 
of the western Manassites, on 
the border of Issachar. It seems 
to have been given to the Le- 
vites for Gath-rimmon, but the 
Canaanites kept possession of 
it, Josh. xvii. 11, 12. 1 Chron. 
vi. 70. Judg. i. 27. Gur, where 
Ahazia king of Judah was slain, 
was hard by Ibleam, 2 Kings ix. 
27. 

IBZ AN, of the tribe of Judah 
298 



JEB 

succeeded Jephthah, about A. 
Jil. 2823 or 2878, and judged Is- 
rael seven years, Judg. xii. 8. 

ICHABOD, son of Phineas, 
1 Sam. iv. 21. 

ICONIUM, now Cogni, was 
formerly the capital of Lyca- 
onia, in Lesser Asia, and stands 
in a most fertile plain, near the 
lake Trogilis, which supplies it 
with fish. About A. D. 45, 
Paul and Barnabas preached 
the gospel here ; and, it is said, 
the famous Thecla was convert- 
ed, Acts xiii. 51. 

Iconium is, at this time, a 
flourishing town. In the year 
1099, the Sultans of the Selju- 
fcian Turks, made it their prin- 
cipal residence, by whom the 
walls were rebuilt, and the city 
embellished. A. D. 1189, they 
were expelled by Frederick Bar- 
barossa, who took the place by 
assault ; but the Turks soon re- 
turned, and reigned in splendour, 
until the time of Zenghis Khan. 
It has been included in the do- 
minions of the Grand Seignior, 
ever since the days of Bajazet. 
The modern city, called Cogni, 
has an imposing appearance, 
from the number and size of its 
mosques, colleges, &c. ; but the 
public buildings are now going 
rapidly to decay. According to 
Kinneir, the inhabitants are 
about 80,000. The circumfer- 
ence of the town is about four 
miles, and it is fortified by 108 
tall towers, at equal distances. 
None but Turks inhabit the city, 
but Jews and Christians live in 
the suburbs. A . Greek arch- 
bishop has his residence here, 
Acts xiii. 51. xiv. 1 — 5. xvi. 2. 

IDOL, any thing worshipped 
in room of the true God, and 
particularly an imaga or a re- 
presentation of a true or false 
god, 1 John v. 21. 1 Cor. viii. 1. 

IDUMEA, the south part of 
Judea. 

JEBUSITES, a tribe of the 
Canaanites, that dwelt about Je- 
rusalem, and the mountainous 



JEH 

country adjacent, Numb, xiii 
29. Joshua cut off multitudes 
of them ; and. soon after Jerusa- 
lem was taken from them ; but 
they quickly recovered it, Judg. 
i. 21. 

JEBUS, or Salem. See Je- 
rusalem. 

JEDUTHUN. See Ethan. 

JEHOAHAZ ; (1.) The same 
as Ahaziah, grandson of Jehosh- 
aphat. (2.) The son of Jehu : 
he wickedly followed the pat- 
tern of Jeroboam the son of 
Nebat. To punish his and his 
people's wickedness, God gave 
them up to the fury of Hazael 
the Syrian, who reduced the ten 
tribes to such a degree, that Je- 
hoahaz had but 10 chariots, 50 
horsemen, and 10,000 footmen 
left him, in his army. (3.) Jeoa- 
haz, or Shallwn, the son of Jo- 
siah. He was not the eldest ; 
however, the people judged him 
fittest to govern in that critical 
juncture, when Pharaoh-necho 
had but just killed his father ; 
and it seems, to prevent disputes 
about his right, they solemnly 
anointed him, 2 Kings xxiii. 30. 
2Chron. xxxvi. 2. 

JEHOASH. See Joash. 

JEHOIACHIN, Coniah or Je- 
coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, 
and grandson of Josiah. It 
seems, his father installed him 
when he was but eight years of 
age ; and after his father's death, 
A. J\I. 3404, he, at 18, succeeded 
to the sole government, 2 Chron. 

"jEHOIADA. See Joash. 
JEHOIAKIM, the elder son 
of Josiah. When Pharaoh-ne- 
cho killed Josiah, he perhaps 
took Eliakim prisoner : in his 
return home, he made him king 
instead of Jehoahaz, and chang- 
ed his name to Jehoiakim, and 
laid him under a tribute of 
39,693Z. 15s. sterling. This 
money Jehoiakim exacted of his 
subjects, according to their abili- 
ty. At 26 years of age he be- 
gan his reign, and sat on the 
299 



JEII 

throne 11 years, Jer. xxii. 13. 
— xx vi. 26. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 
Jer. xxii. 18. and 24. 2 Kings 
xxiv. 2. 1 Chron. i?i. 15. 

JEHOraU)AB. SeeRechab- 
ites. 

JEHORAM. See Joram. 

JEHOSHAPHAT, the son of 
Asa king of Judah, by Azubah, 
the daughter of Shilhi. At 35 
vears of age he succeeded his fa 
ther, A. M 3090, and reigned 25 
years. He was one of the best 
kings that ever ruled over Judah, 
and was prosperous in most of 
his enterprizes ; and one very un- 
common excellence is attributed 
to him, ' that the more his riches 
and honour increased, the more 
his heart was lifted up in the 
ways of the Lord.' One part 
of his administration deserves 
the strongest commendation, and 
furnishes the brightest evidence 
of his wisdom, and expan- 
sive benevolence. He sent 
priests and Levites into all parts 
of his dominion, to instruct the 
people in the knowledge of the 
law of the Lord. This is among 
the first missionary efforts of 
which we have any account in 
history. But he was not with- 
out fault, for he joined affinity 
with Ahab king of Israel, one 
of the worst of men, by taking 
in marriage for his son Jehoram, 
Athaliahthe daughter of Ahab. 
which connection was the occa- 
sion of great evils to his own 
house, and to the kingdom of 
Judah. At one time Judah was 
invaded by a mixed multitude 
of Edomites, Moabites, Ishmael- 
ites, and Philistines ; Jehosha- 
phat moved with fear of God's 
righteous judgments, which a 
prophet had already denounced, 
proclaimed a solemn public fast, 
to implore the protection of 
heaven, and a favourable an- 
swer to his prayers was returned 
by the prophet Jahaziel, who 
promised him a certain and 
easy victory. On the ensuing 
day, he boldly marched to meet 



JEH 

the enemy, preceded by a com- 
pany of singers, who praised the 
name of the Lord. The vast 
army of his enemies were panic- 
struck, and fell into irrecovera- 
ble confusion, and instead of 
facing their adversaries, turned 
their swords against each other, 
until they were utterly routed 
and overthrown, so that Jehosh- 
aphat and his men had no occa- 
sion to engage in the conflict. 
And such abundance of spoil 
remained in the camp, that the 
men of Judah were employed 
three days in collecting it. After 
the death of Ahab, Jehoshaphat 
was connected with Ahaziah 
his son, in an important naval 
enterprise ; but this turned out 
disastrously, as had been pre- 
dicted by Eliezer, the son of 
Dodavah: for while the fleet 
lay at Ezion-geber, it was ut- 
terly destroyed by a violent 
storm. 

At another time, Jehoshaphat 
united with Jehoram, the second 
son of Ahab, and also with the 
Edomites, in invasion of the 
country of Moab ; but while 
they attempted to make their 
way through the wilderness, 
their water failed, and the whole 
army must have perished with 
thirst, had not a miraculous sup- 
ply been granted in answer to 
the prayers of Elisha, who ac- 
companied the army, 1 Kings 
xxii. 2 Kings iii. 2 Chron. xviii. 
xx. Psal. lxxxiii. 

The valley of Jehoskaphat 
was either the same with the 
valley of Berachah, or a val 
ley between Jerusalem and the 
mount of Olives ; or perhaps 
that mentioned by Joel signifies 
no more than the valley or place 
where the Lord shall judge and 
punish them, Joel iii. 2. 12. 

JEHOVAH, Jah and Ehyeh- 
asherehyeh, I am that I am ; or, 
will be what I will be : are the 
incommunicable name of God, 
and signify his absolute inde- 
pendent, self-existence, eterni- 
300 



JEH 

ty, and being the cause of exist- 
ence to all creatures. This 
name seems not to have been 
much used in the primitive ages. 
It is not compounded with any 
of their names ; nor is it found 
in the speeches of Job or his 
friends : yet when God says, 
that by his name Jehovah he 
was not known to Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob, it means, that 
they had not seen it efficacious- 
ly displayed in his giving a be- 
iog to, or fulfilling his promises, 
Exodus vi. 2. This name, of- 
ten rendered LORD in our Bi- 
Dles, is printed in capital letters, 
to distinguish it from Lord, sig- 
nifying a governor. It is oft 
joined in sacred inscriptions 
with other words, as Jehovah- 
jireh, the Lord icill see, or pro- 
vide; Jehovah-nisi, the Lord 
is my banner ; Jehovah-shalom, 
the Lord will perfect, or send 
peace; and Jehovah-shammah, 
Hie Lord is there. It is also 
compounded with other words, 
in a multitude of names, as in 
those beginning with Jcho, and 
many of those injo, and in those 
ending with iah. Whenever the 
name Jehovah is given to an 
angel, it signifies that he is the 
Angel of the covenant, i. e. the 
Son of God. Nor is it given to 
the church, in Jer. xxxiii. 16 ; 
for the words would be better 
Tendered, He who shall call her, 
is the Lord our righteousness ; 
or, He shall be called by her, the 
Lord our righteousness. The 
modern Jews superstitiously de- 
cline pronouncing the name Je- 
hovah. Jevo, Jao, Jahoh, Jaou, 
Jaod, and even the Juha of the 
Moors seem to be but different 
pronunciations of Jehovah. 

JEHU; (1.) A prophet that 
rebuked Baasha and Jehosha- 
phat, 1 Kings xvi. 1 — 7. 2 Chr. 
xix. 1, 2. (2.) The son of Je- 
hoshaphat, and grandson of 
Nimshi, captain of the army to 
Joram, king of Israel, 2 Kings 
ix. x. 

26 



JEH 

He was, by divine appoint 
ment, anointed to be king of Is- 
rael, that, as he was a man of 
great violence, he might execute 
the judgments of God on the 
wicked house of Ahab, and es- 
pecially on Jezebel, his cruel 
and idolatrous wife. After Je- 
hu received his commission, he 
came rapidly and suddenly on 
Joram king of Israel, and Aha- 
ziah king of Judah, then on a 
visit to Joram, and slew them 
both. He then approached the 
house where Jezebel was, who, 
from a window above, reproach- 
ed him with his rebellion: 
but, upon his ordering those 
within to cast her down, it was 
immediately done by some of 
her attendants, and she was 
trodden under foot by the horses, 
and her blood was sprinkled on 
the wall: and soon afterwards, 
when Jehu, remembering that 
she was the daughter of a king, 
sent some persons to bury her, 
they found nothing remaining 
but the palms of her hands, for 
the dogs had devoured her car- 
case, so exactly were the words 
of the prophet fulfilled. The 
zeal of Jehu for the Lord of 
hosts was fiery, and not unmix- 
ed with pride and ostentation. 
Such men, however, are often 
raised up to be instruments of 
God's vengeance against his 
enemies. Ahab having taken 
many wives and concubines^ 
had, at Samaria, 70 children, 
who were all slain by order of 
Jehu ; and also 42 near relatives 
of Ahaziah, king of Judah. 
Under pretence of giving honour 
to Baal by a solemn festival, he 
collected together all the priests 
of Baal that were in Israel; 
and when they were all assem- 
bled in one of the temples of this 
false god, he gave strict orders 
that no other persons should be 
in the house, and that none of 
the priests should escape, when 
a general massacre took place. 
His zeal against idolatry, how- 
301 



JEP 

ever, did not keep him from the 
worship of the golden calves set 
up by Jeroboam. Jehu died af- 
ter a reign of 23 years, 2 Kings 
ix. x. Hos. i. 4. 

JEMUEL, or Nemuel, the 
son of Simeon, Gen. xlvi. 10. 1 
Chron. iv. 24. 

JEPHTHAH, who succeeded 
Jair in judging the Hebrews. 
He was the son of one Gilead, 
(not the son of Machir,)by an 
harlot, a native of east Mizpeh 
beyond Jordan. When his fa- 
ther's lawful children expelled 
him the family, he retired into 
the land of Tob, and command- 
ed a gang of robbers. The He- 
brews on the east of Jordan, 
having been long oppressed by 
the Ammonites, and knowing 
his valour, begged that he would 
be their captain, and lead them 
against the enemy. He re- 
proached them with their expul- 
sion of him from his father's 
house ; but on their repeated 
entreaties, he offered to be their 
leader, if they would submit to 
him as their chief after the war 
should be ended. As he pre- 
pared for battle, he rashly vow- 
ed, that if the Lord should suc- 
ceed him, he would devote, or 
sacrifice, whatever should first 
meet him from his house. A 
battle was fought, and Jephthah 
being conqueror, ravaged the 
country of Ammon. In his re- 
turn home, his only daughter, 
with timbrels and dances, was 
the first who met him from his 
nouse. At the sight of her, 
Jephthah cried out, that he was 
ruined. On hearing the mat- 
ter, his daughter consented that 
he should do with her according 
to his vow, Judges xi. 

Whether Jephthah actually of- 
fered up his daughter for a burnt- 
offering, is a question of great 
difficulty, and continues to be 
much disputed. Those who 
maintain the negative, allege, 
that by translating the Hebrew 
prefix or, rendered and in our 



JEP 

version, all difficulty will be re- 
moved. His vow will then read, 
'shall surely be the Lord's, or, 
I will offer a burnt-offering ;' 
and not unfrequently the sense 
requires that the Hebrew should 
be thus rendered. Moreover, 
when Jephthah made this vow, 
he could not have intended to 
insult the Lord by promising a 
sacrifice against which he had 
expressed the utmost abhorrence, 
especially as it is recorded, that 
the spirit of the Lord was upon 
him, when he uttered his vow. 
Suppose a dog had come out of 
the house of Jephthah, can any 
one suppose that he would have' 
offered this unclean animal as a 
burnt-offering to the Lord 1 and 
why then should we suppose, 
that he would offer a human sa- 
crifice, which would have been 
so much more abominable ; and, 
in all such cases, the law allow- 
ed the right of redemption for a 
small sum of money. It is, 
moreover, argued, that no men- 
tion is made of any bloody sa 
crifice of the young woman. 
But merely that he did with her 
according- to his vow which he 
had voiced; and she knew nit 
man, which last words seem to 
convey, not obscurely, the idea, 
that Jephthah devoted his 
daughter to the Lord, by conse- 
crating her to a life of celibacy. 
And it should not be forgotten, 
that in the epistle to the He- 
brews, eh. xi. Jephthah is placed 
among the worthies who were 
distinguished for their faith. 
Now can we suppose, that such 
a man would be guilty of the 
crime of sacrificing his own 
daughter 1 

Those, on the other hand,who 
receive the common reading of 
this passage, and follow the ob- 
vious meaning, reason in the 
following manner. That upon 
every fair principle of construc- 
tion, it must be admitted, that 
Jephthah's vow was single, and 
that he did actually bind him- 
302 



JER 

self by this solemn bond, to of- 
fer as a burnt-offering to the 
Lord, whatever should first 
come forth from his house to 
meet him on his return. That 
the time in which Jephthah liv- 
ed was one of gross ignorance 
and idolatry ; that a pious man 
might have felt himself bound 
by the obligation of a vow, in 
making which he had none but 
a pious intention ; that the law 
of redeeming devoted persons 
and things for money, did not 
apply to the case of a vow ; 
that Jephthah's excessive grief 
on seeing his daughter come 
forth to meet him, can only be 
accounted for on the supposition 
that he considered her devoted 
to death, and that the mourning 
for the daughter of Jephthah for 
four days in the year, can be re- 
conciled only with the opinion, 
that she was offered up as a 
burnt-offering. The arguments 
on each side are so nearly bal- 
lanced, that the case will be sub- 
mitted to the reader without 
any expression of opinion. 

The Ephraimites, who had 
not been invited to take part in 
the war against the Ammonites, 
quarrelled with Jephthah, and 
in a battle with the Gileadites, 
were defeated ; and the latter, 
seizing the fords of Jordan, slew 
every Ephraimite who attempt- 
ed to escape by crossing the ri- 
ver, and the method employed 
to ascertain whether they be- 
longed to Ephraim was, to cause 
them to pronounce the word 
1 shibboleth,' which they sounc- 
ed 'sibboleth;' for, it seems., 
that by this time, a difference in 
the manner of pronouncing at 
least one Hebrew letter had 
arisen between the inhabitants 
on the different sides of Jordan. 
On this occasion, 42,000 men of 
Ephraim were slain, which was 
a just punishment for commenc- 
ing a war with so small a pro- 
vocri ion. Judges xi. xii. 

JEREMIAH, the son of Ilil- 



JER 

kiah, a priest, probably of the 
race of Ithamar, and a native of 
Anathoth. As God very early 
called him to the prophetical 
work, he begged to be excused, 
because of his youth ; but God 
promised to be with him, and 
render him as bold as if he wore 
a brazen wall, in opposition to 
the wicked princes and people 
of Judah. He began his work 
in the thirteenth year of Josiah 
The first part of his prophecy 
chiefly consists of a mixture of 
invectives against the sins of the 
Jews, and of alarming threaten 
ings of heavy judgments, and of 
some calls to repentance, and 
complaints of his own afflic- 
tions. Sometimes the mind of 
God was represented to him by 
figurative emblems. By the vi- 
sionary emblem of an almond 
branch, and boiling pot, with 
its face towards the north, God 
represented that ruinous calami- 
ties should quickly come from 
Chaldea on the Jewish nation 
By the marring of a girdle in 
the bank of the Euphrates, was 
signified the ruinous condition 
of the Jews in Chaldea. By the 
emblem of a potter making his 
vessels, is figured out God's so- 
vereign power to form or des- 
troy the nations at his pleasure. 
By the breaking of a vessel on 
the wheel, is signified the un- 
profitable state of the Jewish 
nation in Chaldea, Jer. i. xiiu 
xviii. xix. Perhaps a great part 
of what we find in the first nine- 
teen chapters, was pronounced 
before Josiah had carried his 
reformation to perfection ; or, 
during it, there might remain 
great obstinacy in sinning, and 
an inward cleaving to their 
It was also, perhaps, during this 
period of Josiah's reign, that his 
fellow-citizens of Anathoth, 
sought to murder him, and were 
threatened with ruinous ven- 
geance on account of it. Or 
rather, a great part of these pro- 
phecies relate to the time of Je- 
303 



JER 

hoahaz and Jehoiakim, chap. 
i. xix. 

Jeremiah continued to pro- 
phesy for 40 years ; during which 
time Jerusalem was in a most 
distracted and deplorable condi- 
tion, and the prophet was op- 
posed, calumniated, imprisoned 
in a deep and muddy dungeon, 
and his life often in danger. But 
no ill-treatment or threatenings 
could deter him from denounc- 
ing the judgments of God, which 
were coming upon that nation 
and that devoted city. His ex- 
hortation to the king and rulers, 
was to submit at once to the 
arms of Nebuchadnezzar, for by 
that means they would preserve 
their lives ; but he assured them, 
as a message received from 
God, that their continued resist- 
ance would have no other effect 
than to bring certain and dread- 
ful destruction upon Jerusa- 
lem, and on themselves. At this 
time, Jerusalem swarmed with 
false prophets, who contradicted 
the words of Jeremiah, and flat- 
tered the king and his courtiers, 
that God would rescue them 
from the impending danger ; and 
after the city was taken, and 
part of the people carried away 
to Babylon, these prophets con- 
fidently predicted a speedy re- 
turn. On the other hand, Jere- 
miah sent word to the captives, 
that the time of their captivity 
would be long, and that their 
Dest course was to build houses 
and plant vineyards in the land 
to which they were carried, and 
to pray for the peace of the 
country in which they resided. 
Indeed, he expressly foretold, 
that the captivity would endure 
for 70 years ; which duration, 
he intimated, was to make up 
for the Sabbatical years which 
they had neglected" to observe. 
He also foretold the deliverance 
of the people, and their return 
to their own country. ToAvards 
the close of his life, he was car- 
ried into Egypt against his will, 



JER 

by the Jews who remained in 
Judea after the murder of Ge- 
daliah. On this occasion, he 
was requested by Johanan and 
his followers, to inquire of the 
Lord whether they should flee 
into Egypt; in answer, after 
accusing them of hypocrisy, he 
warned them in the most solemn 
manner, from the Lord, not to 
go down to Egypt; but they 
disregarded the commandment 
of God, and went and took Je 
remiah forcibly along with them. 
where in all probability he died. 
Besides the book of prophecies 
which he wrote, he left also a 
book of lamentations, which, 
however, was wont to be con- 
sidered as a part of his prophe- 
cy, by the Jews. This is poetry, 
and is one of the most mourn- 
ful and pathetic compositions in 
any language. 

JERICHO, a noted city of the 
Benjamites, near eight miles 
west from Jordan, and nineteen 
east from Jerusalem, and a little 
southward from the lot of 
Ephraim, Josh. xvi. 1. 7. The 
ground was lower than at Jeru- 
salem, Luke x. 30. It was ex- 
tremely fertile, noted for palm- 
trees, and for the best of balm : 
nor was there any want of ven- 
omous serpents. Jericho was the 
first cky that Joshua spied and 
took in a miraculous manner: 
he devoted every person, save 
Rahab and her friends, to ruin, 
and all the wealth to the fire or 
to the Lord; cursed the man 
who should rebuild it, to lose his 
eldest son as he laid the founda- 
tion, and his youngest as he 
set up the gates. This pre- 
diction was fulfilled about 530 
years after it was uttered: when 
in the days of Ahab, Hiel a 
Belhelite, rebuilt the city, and 
laid the foundation thereof, in 
Abiram his first-born, and set 
up the gates thereof, in his 
youngest son Segub, according 
to the word of the Lord, which 
he spake by Joshua the son of 
304 



JER 

pointed a solemn feast on the 
fifteenth day of the eighth month, 
which was a month after the 
feast of tabernacles, 1 Kings xi. 
xii. xv. 2 Chron. x. xiii. 

Jeroboam having set up the 
golden calves at Bethel and Dan, 
assembled the people at the for- 
mer place, to engage in the 
solemn worship of these dumb 
idols ; and to show his zeal for 
the service, he officiated at the 
altar himself. But while he was 
thus occupied, a prophet from 
the land of Judah appeared in 
the midst of the assembly, and 
in the hearing of all the people, 
uttered a prediction, that a man 
by the name of Josiah should 
arise, and destroy that altar, and 
should burn upon it the bones 
of the priests. Jeroboam greatly 
provoked by his bold interfer- 
ence, put forth his hand to 
seize the prophet; but in a mo- 
ment it was stiffened, so that he 
could not draw it in. Intimi- 
dated by this miraculous judg- 
ment, and convinced that the 
man was indeed a prophet of the 
he fortified Shechem, where he I Lord, he begged that he would 
was made king, and rebuilt ; intercede for him, that his arm 
Penuel. God had promised to' might be restored; which was 
establish the kingdom to him j done accordingly. Jeroboam, 
and his seed, on condition they i however, was not reformed by 
should walk in the ways of king this divine message and double 



JER 
Nun, Josh. iii. 13. 1 Kings xvi. 
34. 

JEROBOAM, the son of Ne- 
bat, and Zeruah of Zereda, in 
the tribe of Ephraim. Solomon 
observing him a bold and enter- 
prising youth, appointed him to 
levy the tax from the tribes of 
Ephraim and Manasseh. Ahijah 
the prophet having found him, 
rent his garment into twelve 
parts, and gave Jeroboam ten 
of them, as a token that God 
would make him king over ten 
of the Hebrew tribes. He, with- 
out waiting for Solomon's death, 
began to prepare the people for 
a revolt. Informed hereof, Solo- 
mon sought to apprehend him, 
but he fled into Egypt, whose 
king, Shishak, was disgusted 
with Solomon. Provoked with 
the foolish answer of Rehoboam 
to their petition for redress of 
their burdens, ten of the tribes 
revolted, and set up Jeroboam, 
who was just returned from 
Egypt, for their kinsr. This took 
place A. M. 3029. ~To awe his 
subjects into proper subjection. 



David. Instead of regarding 
these terms, he, fearing that the 
frequent attendance of his sub- 
jects at Jerusalem in the wor- 
ship of God, might issue in their 
re-submission to the family of 
David, formed two golden calves, 
placed the one at Bethel, in the 
south part of his kingdom, and 
the other at Dan, on the north, 
and ordered his subjects not to 
ourden themselves with travel- 
ring to Jerusalem, but to worship 
the God who had brought them 
out of the land of Egypt, as re- 
presented by these calves; he 
built high places, and made 
priests of the lowest of the peo- 
ple, regardless whether they 
were Levites or not. He ap- 



n2 



miracle ; but continued to cause 
Israel to sin, in worshipping the 
calves which he had set up. 
He reigned in Israel twenty-two 
years, and was succeeded by his 
son Nadab. During his life there 
were almost unceasing wars be- 
tween him and the house of 
David; and we read in history 
of no more destructive wars ; 
for in one conflict, the Israelites 
lost no less than 500,000 men. 

2. Jeroboam, the son of Joash, 
and great-grandson of Jehu, be- 
gan his reign about A. M. 3179, 
and reigned 41 years. He fol- 
lowed the former Jeroboam in 
his idolatrous worship. The 
Lord, however, by him, accord- 
ing to the predictions of the pro- 



26* 



305 



JER 

phet Jonah, restored the king- 
dom of the ten tribes to its 
greatest splendour. All the coun- 
tries on the east of Jordan he 
reduced. It appears from the 
writings of Hosea and Amos, 
that idleness, effeminacy, pride, 
oppression, injustice, idolatry, 
and luxury, mightily prevailed 
in his reign. Nor was it long 
after his death, before the Lord, 
according to the predictions of 
Amos, cut off his family with 
the sword, 2 Kings xiv. xv. Hos. 
i. 4. 

JERITBBAAL, or Jerubbe- 
sksth, the same as Gideon. 

JERUSALEM, Jebus, or Sa- 
lem, the most noted city of Ca- 
naan, about 25 miles westward 
of Jordan, and 42 east of the 
Mediterranean Sea. It was built 
on, and had hills around it. 
Some have thought it as ancient 
as the days of Melchizedek, and 
to have been his capital. It is 
far more certain that it consti- 
tuted one of the more powerful 
kingdoms of Canaan in the days 
of Joshua : he routed Adonizedek 
the king of it; but that he re- 
duced the city, is not said. It 
was partly given to the tribe of 
Judah, and partly to the Ben- 
jamites, Josh. xv. 63. xviii. 28. 
Not long after Joshua's death, 
the tribe of Judah took and 
burnt it, Judg. i. 8. The Jebus- 
ites rebuilt and fortified it to 
such a degree, that they thought 
their blind and lame sufficient to 
defend it against all David's 
forces. David, however, by 
means of Joab, made himself 
master of it. He built a new city 
on the north-west of the former ; 
and a valley run from west to 
east, between the two hills of 
Zion on the south, and Acra on 
the north : and over against the 
north-east end of Zion the tem- 
ple was built on mount Moriah. 
t jUnder David and Solomon this 
'"city was exceedingly enlarged. 
We find ten or eleven gates of 
it mentioned, which we suppose 



JER 

situated in the following man 
ner: the sheep-gate, near to 
which was the sheep-market, on 
the north-east and northward 
of the temple ; the fish- gate, at 
some considerable distance to 
the westward ; the old-gate, or 
gate of Damascus, still farther 
westward, and which is perhaps 
the same as the high-gate of 
Benjamin; the gate of Ephraim, 
on the north-west; the valley- 
gate, at the west end ; the dung- 
gate, on the south-west; east 
from it the fountain- gate; on 
the south-east corner, the water- 
gate; and at the east end, south 
of the temple, the horse-gate, 
and the Miphkad or prison-gate. 
The walls round Jerusalem 
never seem to have been above 
four miles and a half, if they 
were anciently so much. Under 
Rehoboam, it was taken and 
pillaged by Shishak, 1 Kings 
xiv. 26, 27. 2 Chron. xii. 2—9. 
Under Amaziah, it was taken 
by Joash, king of Israel, 2 Kings 
xiv. 2 Chron. xxv. No doubt 
the Assyrians took it in the time 
of Manasseh, 2 Chr. xxxiii. 11. 
Pharaoh-necho entered it; but 
we do not find that he plundered 
it when he made Jehoiakim king. 
Nebuchadnezzar ravaged it of- 
tener than once, and after a 
siege of about two years, burnt 
it with fire, in the 11th year of 
Zedekiah, 2 Kings xxiv. 15. 2 
Chr. xxxvi. Jer. lii. After it had 
lain almost in ruins about 136 
years, Nehemiah, together with 
Eliashib the high-priest, and a 
great number of others, repaired 
its walls, and it became popu- 
lous, as in former times. Long 
after, Ptolemy took it by strata- 
gem, and carried off vast multi- 
tudes oftheinhabitants to Egypt. 
Antiochus Epiphanes ravaged it, 
and murdered about 40,000 and 
sold as many more to be slaves. 
Two years after, Apollonius 
took it, and murdered multitudes 
oftheinhabitants. Many of tire 
survivors left it to the Heathen 
306 



JER 

and their idolatries. Judas Mac- 
cabeus retook it, and built a 
third part on the north side, 
which was chiefly inhabited by 
artificers. Pompey the Roman 
took it about sixty years before 
oar Saviour's birth. About 24 
years after, it was taken by 
Socius the Roman, and Herod. 
About A. D. 70, after a most 
miserable siege, it was reduced 
to a heap of ruins by Titus. 
About fifty or sixty years after, 
a new city was built on Mount 
Calvary, where was for some 
ages a Christian church; but 
the Jews were not allowed to 
come near it. About A. D. 360, 
Julian, the apostate emperor, to 
falsify our Saviour's prediction, 
encouraged the rebuilding of the 
city and temple; but fiery earth- 
quakes stopped them. About A. 
D. 614, the Persians took Jeru- 
salem, and 90,000 of the Chris- 
tian inhabitants were sacrificed 
to the malice of the Jews; but 
it was quickly retaken by He- 
raclius the Roman emperor, and 
the Jewish malice returned on 
their heads. In A. D. 637, the 
Arabic Saracens seized on it. 
In 1079, the Seljukian Turks 
took it from them. In 1099, 
Godfrey of Boulogne, with his 
European crusaders, wrested it 
from these. In 1187, Saladin the 
sultan of Egypt took it from the 
Christian croisades. In 1517, the 
Ottoman Turks took it from the 
lans, and remain still mas- 
f it. At present it is a place 
of about three miles circuit, 
poor, and thinly inhabited. On 
the site of the temple there now 
stands a mosque. No Christian 
dare enter this inclosure under 
pain of death ; but those of dif- 
ferent denominations, Papists, 
Greeks, Armenians, &c. visit 
the church of our Lord's sepul- 
chre with much ceremony. 

When Jerusalem was rebuilt 
by Adrian, about 47 years after 
its destruction by the Romans, 
it was called JElia, after one of 



JER 

the emperors' names. This new 
city is supposed, commonly, not 
to have stood on the precise site 
of the old, but to have embraced 
Calvary, which was before with- 
out the walls. But the celebrated 
traveller, Dr. Clarke, who mi- 
nutely surveyed the ground, is 
of opinion, that the place now 
called Calvary, is not identical 
with that where our Lord was 
crucified ; and that the evidences 
of identity exhibited by the 
monks, are so far from being 
satisfactory, that they go to con- 
firm the contrary opinion. Dr. 
Clarke is also of opinion, that 
the tomb shown as that of Jo- 
seph, has been hewn out of the 
rock for the very purpose of de- 
ception ; and so also the crack 
in the rock, and the holes where 
it is said the crosses were in- 
serted. He is also persuaded, 
that what is now called mount 
Zion, is not the hill formerly 
known by that name, which he 
thinks lies farther to the south. 
Dr. Clarke believes, moreover, 
that he has been able to identify 
the genuine tomb of Joseph, in 
which the body of our Lord was 
deposited. Dr. Richardson coin- 
cides with Dr. Clarke, in reject- 
ing the identity of the places 
now shown as Calvary and the 
Holy Sepulchre; but he is of 
opinion, that neither of these 
places were without the walls of 
the city, when Christ was cruci- 
fied. Mr. Buckingham agrees 
with Dr. Richardson, that Cal- 
I vary was within the walls of 
J Jerusalem ; yet he is of opinion, 
I that the place now called Cal 
vary is really the spot where 
Christ was crucified. Chateau- 
briand gives implicit credit to 
all the legends of the monks, re- 
specting the sacred places in 
and about Jerusalem. His de- 
scription of the place is, how- 
ever, very picturesque. It is re- 
markable how different the im- 
pression is, which this city makes 
on the minds of traveller on 
307 



JER 

the first sight. To Dr. Clarke, 
who approached it from the 
north, its appearance was very 
imposing-; but to Mr. Joliff, who 
visited the place more recently, 
the impression was very dif- 
ferent. His description of the 
place is gloomy, but at the same 
time striking. ' Were a per- 
son,' says he, l carried blindfold 
from England, and placed in the 
centre of Jerusalem, or on any 
of the hills which overlook the 
city, nothing, perhaps, would 
exceed his astonishment, on the 
sudden removal of the bandage, 
He would see a wild, rugged 
mountainous desert; no herds 
depasturing the summits; no 
forests clothing the declivities ; 
and no water flowing through 
the vallies ; but one rude scene 
of savnge, melancholy waste, in 
the midst of which, the ancient 
glory of Judea bows her head, 
in widowed desolation. On en- 
tering the town, the magic of 
the name and all his early as- 
sociations, would suffer a still 
greater violence; no streets of 
palaces, and walks of state ; no 
high-raised arches of triumph : 
no fountains to cool the air, or 
porticoes to exclude the sun.' 
Dr. Richardson's account of his 
first view of Jerusalem, will 
also be gratifying to the reader. 
1 Having reached,' says he, ' the 
summit of the mountain, we 
came in sight of Jerusalem, from 
which we were distant about 
ten minutes' walk of our mules. 
Those plain, embattled walls, 
do they include Jerusalem? — 
That hill on the left, supporting 
a crop of barley, and crowned 
with a hoary mansion, is that 
mount Olivet ? Where was the 
temple of Solomon? And where 
is mount Zion, the glory of the 
whole earth ? The end of a lofty, 
contiguous mountain, bounds 
our view beyond the city, to the 
south. An insulated rock peaks 
up on our right; and a broad, 
flat-topped mountain, furrowed 



JER 

by the plough, slopes down upon 
our left. The city is straight be- 
fore us, but the greater part of 
it stands in a hollow, that opens 
to the east, and the walls being- 
built on the higher ground on 
the north and on the west, pre 
vents the interior from being seen 
in this direction. The ground 
sinks on our right into what has- 
been called the Valley of the 
Son of Hinnom, which at the 
north-west of the wall becomes 
a broad, deep ravine, that passes 
the gate of YafTer or Bethlehem, 
and runs along the west side of 
the city. Arrived at the gate, 
though guarded by Turks, we 
passed it without interruption, 
and turning to the left, came to 
the Latin convent of St. Salva- 
dor.' 

Mr. Buckingham's description 
of Jerusalem is more favoura- 
ble; and is very clear and lively. 
' Reposing,' says he, ' under the 
shade of an olive-tree on mount 
Olivet, Ave enjoyed a prospect 
of Jerusalem, on the opposite 
hill. The city occupies an ir- 
regular square of about two 
miles and a half in circumfer- 
ence. Its shortest side is that 
which faces the east; the south 
side is extremely irregular ; the 
north-west walls are not visible 
from this spot, but they are evi- 
dently of modern workmanship. 
The walls are flanked at irregu- 
lar distances by square towers, 
and have battlements running 
all around on their summits, 
with loop-holes near the top. 
The walls appear to be about 
fifty feet high, but are surround- 
ed by no ditch. The north wall 
passes over declining ground: 
the east along the brow of mount 
Mori ah ; the south crosses the 
summit of the hill, now taken 
for mount Zion, at the foot of 
which is the valley of Hinnom 
The west wall passes over a 
more even surface, at the foot 
of the barren mountains, which 
environ the city on that side,, 
303 



ill 

i: 

Qt 



JER 

As the city is seated on the 
brow of one large hill, divided 
by name into several smaller 
hills, and the whole of these 
slope gently down towards the 
east, tins view from the mount 
of Olives, commands nearly the 
whole of it at once. On the 
north it is bounded by a level 
space covered with olive-trees, 
particularly near the north-east 
angle. On the east side, both 
mount Zion and the valley of 
Hinnom showed patches of cul- 
tivation: but on the west, the 
prospect is altogether barren- 
ness ; and on the east there are 
again some spots relieved by 
trees; though in its general ap- 
pearance forbidding as the vale 
of death could ever be desired 
to be, by those who have chosen 
it for the place of their inter- 
ment. This is called by the 
Jews the Valley of Jehoshaphat. 
Within the walls, to the north, 
are to be seen crowded dwellings 
with flat roofs, generally made 
of stone; on the south are some 
gardens and vineyards in sight, 
together with the long red 
mosque, called, Al Sakhara, 
having two tiers of windows, a 
sloping roof, and a dark dome 
at one end. The mosque of 
Sion is in the same quarter. On 
the west is seen a high square 
tower and castle, near the gate 
of Bethlehem, called the tower 
of David. En the centre rise the 
two cupolas of the church of the 
Holy Sepulchre, the one blue, 
the other white. Around in dif- 
ferent directions are seen, the 
minarets of eight or ten mosques, 
and an assemblage of about 
2000 dwellings.' 

Travellers differ much as to 
the present population of Jeru- 
salem. Mr. Buckingham will 
not admit that the permanent 
inhabitants exceed 8000, but sup- 
poses, that with the transient 
population, they may amount to 
ten or fifteen thousand; consist- 
ing of Turks, Arabs, Greeks, Ar- 



JEZ 

meniaus, Copts, Syrians, Abys- 
sinians, Maronites, and Jews, 
Mr. Joliff reckons the number 
to be twenty-five thousand. Dr. 
Richardson, twenty thousand, 
of whom he computes the Jews 
to be one half. Ali Bey is of 
opinion, that Jerusalem contains 
thirty thousand inhabitants. 

According to all accounts, the 
interior of the city is wretched 
and dirty. From the daughter 
of Zion all beauty is departed. 

As to trade and manufactures, 
there is nothing that deserves 
the name, except that of cruci- 
fixes and relics, which are ship- 
ped off every year in large 
quantities from Jaffa, for Italy, 
Spain, Portugal, &c. 

JESSE, the son of Obed, and 
grandson of Boaz. His sons 
were Eliab, Abinadab, Shimea, 
Xethaneel, Raddai, Ozena, and 
David. His daughters were Ze- 
ruiah, the mother of Joab, Abi- 
shai, and Asahel ; and Abigail, 
the mother of Amasa, 1 Chron. 
ii. 13 — 16. Out of his family 
did the most and best of the He- 
brew kings, and even the Mes- 
siah, proceed, 1 Sam. xvi. 1 
Chron. iii. Isa. xi. 1. 

JESTJS. See Joshua the son 
of Nun. Christ. God. 

JETHRO, either the son of, 
or the same with Reuel, a de- 
scendant of Abraham, and priest 
of Midian. From his sacrificing 
when he came to visit Mose3 at 
the foot of Sinai, it is probable 
that the true worship of God re- 
mained in his family, Exod. ii. 
18. 

JEWEL, a precious and cost- 
ly ornament of gold, silver. &o 
Jewels were used on the fore 
head, nose, ear, and hand, oi 
even in the service of idols, 
Ezek. xvi. 12, 17. God's people 
are his jewels, or peculiar trea- 
sure. 

JEWS. See Hebrews. 

JEZEBEL, the daughter of 
Ethbaal, king of Zidon, and wife 
of King Ahab. She used witch 
309 



IMA 

Craft. She was so mad on ido- 
latry, that she maintained, at 
her own expence, 400 priests of 
the groves sacred to Ashtaroth, 
while her husband maintained 
450 for Baal. She instigated her 
husband to murder the prophets 
of God wherever they could be 
found. In the most unjust and 
cruel manner, she caused Na- 
both of Jezreel, to be murdered, 
to obtain for Ahab the vineyard 
which lay near to the seat of the 
king of Israel, 1 Kings xvi. xviii. 
xix. xxi. In just judgment for 
her enormous wickedness, ac- 
cording to the prediction of the 
prophet Elijah, she was thrown 
out of a window, and trodden 
under foot by the horses of Je- 
hu, and then devoured by dogs, 
near the spot where Naboth had 
been stoned to death, 2 Kings 
\x. 30—37. 

The name Jezebel has often 
been proverbially used to signify 
any woman excessively cruel, 
wicked, or jriven to idolatry. 

JEZREEL. (1.) A celebrated 
city of the western Manassites, 
situated on the south border of 
Issachar. 

(2.) Also an extensive plain, 
called sometimes the plain of 
Esdraelon, which see. 

ILLYRICUM, a country on 
the east of the gulf of Venice, 
about 480 miles in length, and 
120 in breadth. It has Austria 
and part of Hungary on the 
north, Mysia or Servia on the 
east, and part of Macedonia on 
the south. Here the gospel was 
preached, and a Christian church 
planted, by Paul. The Centu- 
riators of Magdeburgh trace their 
bishops through eight centuries: 
and to this day there are not a 
few in it, who have the name of 
Christians, Rom. xv. 19. 

IMAGE, the representation or 
likeness of a thing, as pictures or 
statues are of men. Christ is the 
image of the invisible God; as 
God's Son, he has the same na- 
ture as his Father, and resem- 



INC 

bles him in power; and in his 
person, God-man, and mediato 
rial office, he is a bright repre- 
sentation of all the perfections 
of God, Heb. i. 3. Col. i. 15, 
Man was made in the image of 
God: he resembled God in the 
spiritual and immortal nature 
of his soul, and in his true know- 
ledge, righteousness, and holi- 
ness, and in his dominion over 
the creatures, Gen. i. 26, 27. 

IMMUTABILITY, quality 
of unchangeableness, Heb. vi. 
17, 18. 

IMPUTE, to account to one, 
in law-reckoning, what himself 
or another in his room, hatn 
done, in order to reward or pu- 
nish him for it. We haverc^A- 
teousness without works im- 
puted to us, when the obedience 
and sufferings of Jesus Christ in 
our stead is legally reckoned to 
the account of us guilty sinners, 
to render us righteous in law be- 
fore God as a judge, Rom. iv. 6. 
11. Sin is imputed, when one is 
charged with it, in order to his 
suffering of punishment for it, 2 
Sam. xix. 19. Lev. xvii. 4 ; and 
the not imputing it, imports the 
free and full forgiveness of it, 
Rom. v. 13. 

INCENSE, that which is or- 
dinarily so called, is a precious 
and fragrant gum, issuing from 
the frankincense-tree. The in- 
cense used in the Jewish offer- 
ings, at least that which was 
burnt on the altar of incense and 
before the ark, was a precious 
mixture of sweet spices, made 
according to the special direction 
of God for that purpose, Ex.xxx. 
34 — 38. None but priests were 
to burn it, nor was any, under 
pain of death, to make any like 
to it. This incense was burnt 
twice a day on the golden altar. 
For a most interesting account 
of this part of the Jewish ser- 
vice, see Nevin's Biblical .Anti- 
quities — American S. S. Union 
Edit. vol. 2. p. 46. &c. 

INCLINE. The ear is m- 
310 



INS 

dined) when it carefully listens 
to h;-ar, Prov. v. 13. The heart 
is inclined^ when it earnestly af- 
fects, desires, or studies, Judg. 
ix. 3. 

INDIA, a large country on 
the south of Asia, extending 
from north to south, about 2400 
miles, and from east to west 
1800. It is chiefly watered by 
the Indus on the west, and the 
Ganges and Burrampooter in the 
middle of the country, and the 
various rivers that run into these 
three. The soil is very fruitful, 
in rice, miilet, fruits, and spices. 
This country affords elephants, 
camels, monkeys, mines of gold 
and silver, diamonds, rubies, and 
almost all manner of precious 
stones. The empire of the Per- 
sians and Greeks extended to 
the north-west parts of it, Esth. 
i. 1. 

INGATHERING ; the feast 
of ingathering, viz. after all the 
product of fields and vineyards 
was gathered in, was the same 
with the feast of tabernacles, 
Exod. xxiii. 16. 

INiaUITY. See Sin. 

INN, a place for travellers to 
lodge or refresh themselves at. 
In ancient times, hospitality was 
so common that inns were much 
less necessary than now : yet it 
appears there were some, Gen. 
xlii. 27. 

INSCRIPTION, or super- 
scription, a writing on pillars, 
altars, marble, coins, &c. Acts 
xvii. 23. Matth. xxii. 20. An- 
ciently the history of nations and 
the principles of science were 
often marked in inscriptions, 
Deur. xxvii. 8. 

INSPIRATION, God's con- 
veying of directive and exciting 
influence to men's souls, Job 
xxxii. 8. All scripture was given 
by inspiration. By it the writers 
'were rendered infallible in what 
they wrote or spoke under its 
influence. This inspiration is 
called plenary, because it ex- 
cludes all uncertainty. 



JOA 

INTELLIGENCE, corres 
pondence for information, Dan 
xi. 30. 

INTERCESSION, a plead 
ing in behalf of others. Christ 
makcth intercession for us ; he 
appears before God in our na- 
ture, and pleads, that the bless- 
ings purchased with his blood 
may be given us, Isa. liii. 12. 
Heb. vii. 25. The Holy Ghost 
ma/ceth intercession for us with 
groanings which cannot be ut- 
tered, Rom. viii. 20. We make 
intercession for men, when we 
plead with God in their behalf, 
that his grace, and his gifts may 
be bestowed on them, 1 Tim.ii.l. 

JOAB, the son of Zeruiah, 
brother of Abishai and Asahel, 
the nephew and general of king 
David, was a faithful and valiant 
commander ; but imperious, cru- 
el, and revengeful. No doubt 
he attended his uncle in his ex- 
ile, under Saul. 

To revenge the death of his 
brother Asahel, whom Abner 
had killed in self-defence,he trea- 
cherously assassinated this dis- 
tinguished general. He brought 
about a reconciliation between 
Absalom and his father, after the 
murder of Amnor; but when 
Absalom rebelled, Joab cleaved 
to his master, and under his ge- 
neralship, the troops of David, 
though much inferior in number, 
obtained a complete victory over 
the army which had been col- 
lected by this abandoned and in- 
fatuated young man : and, con- 
trary to the express orders of 
David, he put him to death with 
his own hand, as he hung sus- 
pended from the oak-tree. After 
this event,David promoted Ama- 
sa to be his general-in-chief, by 
winch Joab was deeply offend- 
ed, and secretly resolved on the 
death of his rival ; and took the 
first opportunity of assassinating 
him, as he had done Abner. 
David was evidently afraid of 
Joab, and dared not punish him 
as his crimes deserved : but when 
311 



JOA 

the king was become old, Joab 
combined with Abiathar the 
priest, and others, to set Adoni- 
jah on the throne, in defiance of 
the will of David, who had, by 
divine direction, resolved to 
make Solomon king. The plot 
was seasonably defeated, and 
Solomon was proclaimed king 
the same day: but Joab was 
now so odious to David, that he 
solemnly charged Solomon to 
punish him for all his enormous 
crimes, and especially for the 
murder of two valiant men bet- 
ter than himself, Abner and 
Amasa. Joab, conscious that 
his life was forfeited, sought an 
asylum at the horns of the altar, 
which position he absolutely re- 
fused to relinquish ; and Benai- 
ah, now advanced to be the cap- 
tain of the host, slew him by the 
altar, agreeably to the command 
of the young king. He was bu- 
ried in his own house, in the 
wilderness, 1 Kings ii. 34. 

JOASH, or Jehoashy the son 
of Ahaziah, king of Judah. Je- 
ho-shebah, the wife of Jehoiada 
the high-priest, his aunt, preserv- 
ed him from the murderous de- 
signs of JHhaliah, his grandmo- 
ther, when he was but a year 
old, and kept him hid six years 
in a chamber belonging to the 
temple. When he was seven 
years of age, Jehoiada entered 
into a solemn covenant with 
Azariah the son of Jehoram, 
Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, 
Azariah the son cf Obed, Maa 
seiah the son of Adaiah, and 
Elishaphat the son of Zichri, to 
set up young Joash for theii so- 
vereign, and dethrone the wick- 
ed Athaliah. After preparing 
matters in the kingdom, and 
bringing the Levites, and such 
others as they could trust, to 
Jerusalem, they crowned him in 
the court of the temple with 
g*eat solemnity. Joash behaved 
himself well while Jehoiada the 
high-priest lived : but no sooner 
was this good man removed than 



JOB 

he began to listen to the coun- 
sels of his wicked courtiers. The 
worship of God fell into neglect, 
and idolatry prevailed. Zecha- 
riah the priest, son of Jehoiada, 
warned him of his sin and dan- 
ger, but as a reward of his fideli- 
ty he was, by order of Joash, 
stoned to death, between the 
porch and the altar. When dy- 
ing, he assured them that God 
would avenge his death. To 
which event our Saviour is sup- 
posed to refer, Matth. xxiii. 35. 
Hazael invaded the kingdom, 
but Joash with a large sum of 
money redeemed his capital from 
plunder. After suffering other in- 
juries from the Syrians, and af- 
ter being loaded with ignominy, 
he was murdered by his own 
servants, after a reign of forty- 
one years, 2 Kings xi. xiL 2 
Chron. xxiii. xxiv. 

Joash or Jehoash, son of Je- 
hoahaz, and grandson of Jehu 
After a reign of two years in 
conjunction with his father,, he 
reigned fourteen more alone over 
the kingdom of Israel. He co- 
pied after the wickedness of Je- 
roboam the son of Nebat, and 
perhaps honoured him with the 
name of his son. By Joash, God 
delivered the Israelites from their 
Syrian oppressors. With no 
small concern he visited the 
prophet Elisha in his dying mo- 
ments ; and from him had the 
prediction of a triple victory 
over the Syrians. Joash had 
not long routed the Syrians, and 
recovered the cities which they 
had taken from Israel, when 
Amaziah king of Judah pro- 
voked him to war; but Joash 
defeated him, pillaged his capi- 
tal, and returned to Samaria in 
triumph, and died A. M. 3179, 
2 Kings xiii. 2 Chron. xxv. 

JOB, a noted inhabitant of 
the land of Uz, eastward of Gi- 
lead. An addition to the Sep- 
tuagint version of his hook, as 
well as Philo, Aristeas, and Po- 
lyhistor, and a great many of 
312 



JOB 

the fathers, reckoned him the 
same as Jobab 1 one of the an- 
cient kings of Edom, and third 
in descent from Esau ; but it is 
more probable that he was a de- 
scendant of Nahor, by Huz, his 
eldest son, as Elihu was by Buz 
his second. Dr. Owen thinks 
Job was contemporary with 
Abraham : but how then could 
Eliphaz, a descendant of Esau, 
have been his aged friend 1 Some 
place him as late as the times 
of Ezekiel ; but how then have 
we no allusion in his book to 
the passage of the Hebrews 
through the Red Sea, or their 
entrance into Canaan, though 
there is to the deluge, and to the 
burning of Sodom and Gomor- 
rah with fire and brimstone? 
This renders it probable that his 
affliction was before the He- 
brews' departure from Egypt; 
though perhaps a great part of 
his 140 years' life afterwards 
might be posterior to it. This 
is confirmed by the considera- 
tion of Eliphaz, his aged friend, 
who spoke first, his being a Te- 
manite, and consequently at 
least a great-grandchild of Esau. 
Some have pretended, that the 
whole book of Job is but a dra- 
matic fiction, and that no such 
person ever existed : but God's 
mention of him as a righteous 
man, together with Noah and 
Daniel, and James's testimony 
to his patience and happy end, 
sufficiently refute that imagina- 
tion, Ezekiel xiv. James v. 11. 
Job was a man who passed 
through very severe afflictions, 
for the trial of his faith, and 
to furnish a striking example of 
the truth, that the dispensations 
of Providence towards men in 
this world, were no proofs of 
their being the friends or ene- 
mies of God. And on this point 
his three friends were under a 
grievous mistake. The first 
stroke on this good man, for he 
seems to have been prosperous 
before, was the loss of his nu- 
O 27 



JOH 

merous flocks and herds; one 
judgment coming on the back 
of another in quick succession. 
Next, he lost his ten children, in 
one day ; and, finally, his own 
body was subjected to a most 
distressing and loathsome di- 
sease. After much altercation 
with his friends, and much ele- 
vated discussion respecting God 
and his providence, the Al- 
mighty himself spake from the 
whirlwind, and reproved the ig- 
norance and presumption of 
mortals. The integrity of Job 
was, however, declared, and the 
pious man humbled himself with 
self-abhorrence before God, and 
received evident tokens of his 
favour ; and forgiveness was 
granted to the errors of his 
friends upon his intercession. 
After these heavy afflictions, he 
spent a long life in uninterrupted 
prosperity ; having all his losses 
made up, and more than com- 
pensated, by the favour of di- 
vine Providence. 

JOEL, the son of Pethuel, 
whom some, without ground, 
take for Samuel, was one of the 
lesser prophets. 

JOH A NAN, the son of Ka- 
reah, with his brother Jonathan 
and Seraiah, and Jezaniah, and 
some other captains, who had 
fled off in small bodies, came to 
Gedaliah at western Mizpah,and 
he with an oath undertook for 
their safety, if they should con- 
tinue subject to the Chaldeans, 
Jer. xl. 

JOHN Paptist,the celebrated 
forerunner of our Saviour, and 
the Elias of the New Testament. 
He was the son of Zacharias the 
aged priest, and Elizabeth. His 
birth and work were predicted 
by the Angel Gabriel. He grew 
up in solitude ; and when about 
30 years of age, began to preach 
in the wilderness of Judea, and 
to call men to repentance and 
reformation. By divine direc- 
tion, he baptized all who came 
unto him confessing their sins, 
313 



JOH 

with the baptism of repentance. 
His manner of life was ascetic, 
and even austere ; for he seems 
to have shunned the habitations 
of men, and to have subsisted 
on locusts and wild honey, while 
his dress was made of the coarse 
hair of camels, and a leathern 
girdle about his loins. John, 
moreover, announced to the 
Jews the near approach of the 
Messiah's kingdom, called the 
kingdom of heaven. Multitudes 
flocked to hear John, and to be 
baptized of him, from every part 
of the land ; and among the rest 
came Jesus of Nazareth, and 
applied for baptism. John at 
first hesitated, on account of the 
dignity of the person and his 
own un worthiness ; but when 
Jesus told him, that it was meet 
for him to fulfil all righteous- 
ness, that is, to comply with 
every duty incumbent on others, 
John acquiesced, and while this 
solemn ceremony was in the 
performance, in Jordan, heaven 
was opened, and the Holy Ghost 
descended on him in the form of 
a dove, and a voice was heard 
from heaven, saying, This is my 
beloved Son in whom I am well 
pleased. By this John knew 
most certainly, that Jesus of 
Nazareth was the Messiah ; and, 
indeed, before he saw this sign 
from heaven, he knew that the 
Lamb of God who taketh away 
the sin of the world was present, 
and pointed him out to his own 
disciples, and announced to the 
people that he was in their midst. 
John was a man of profound hu- 
mility ; and, although he foresaw 
that his fame would be eclipsed 
by the coming of Christ, as the 
brightness of the morning star is 
dimmed by the rising of the sun, 
yet he rejoiced sincerely in the 
event, saying, He must increase, 
but Imust decrease. The preach- 
ing of John seems to have been 
of a very awakening and alarm- 
ing kind, and produced a lively 
impression on the minds of his 



JOH 

hearers, but with most it was 
but temporary. They rejoiced 
in his light for a season. Among 
the hearers of John was Herod, 
the tetrarch of Galilee. This, 
wicked prince not only heard 
him, but heard him with delight, 
and reformed his conduct in ma- 
ny points in consequence of his 
solemn warnings ; but there was 
one sin which he would not re- 
linquish. He had put away his 
own wife and had married He- 
rodias, the wife of his brother 
Philip, also called Herod by Jo- 
sephus. For this iniquitous and 
incestuous conduct, John faith- 
fully reproved the tetrarch, on 
which account he was so much 
offended, that he would have 
killed the preacher, had he not 
feared an insurrection of the 
people, for all men held John to- 
be a prophet. He went so far, 
however, as to shut John up in 
prison. The resentment of He- 
rodias was still stronger and 
more implacable towards the 
man who had dared to reprove 
her sin. She, therefore, watched 
for some opportunity to wreak 
her vengeance on this excellent 
man. And it was not long be- 
fore an occasion such as she de- 
sired offered itself; for on He- 
rod's birth-day, when all the 
principal men of the country were 
feasting with him, the daugh- 
ter of Herodias came in and 
danced so exquisitely before the 
company,that Herod was charm- 
ed beyond measure,and declared 
with an oath, that he would give 
her whatever she asked, even to 
the half of his kingdom; the 
damsel immediately went to her 
mother to get her advice what 
she should ask, who told her to 
request the head of John the 
Baptist, which she accordingly 
did; and Herod, whose resent- 
ment against him seems to have 
subsided, and his respect to have 
returned, was exceedingly sorry, 
but out of regard to his oath, 
and respect for his company, he 
314 



JOH 

sent to the prison and caused 
John to be beheaded ; and his 
head was brought in a dish and 
presented to the young dancer, 
who immediately gave the 
bloody but grateful present, to 
her mother. Thus terminated 
the life of one, concerning whom 
our Lord declared, that of those 
born of women a greater had 
not appeared. He also declared 
that he was the Elijah predicted 
in the Scriptures ; that is, a pro- 
phet who greatly resembled Eli- 
jah, and who came in his power 
and spirit. John, indeed, in an- 
swer to the questions proposed 
by the deputation from Jerusa- 
lem, asserted that he was not 
Elijah: but this was spoken in 
relation to the opinion enter- 
tained by the Scribes and Phari- 
sees, that Elijah would come in 
person. 

JOHN the Evangelist was 
the brother of James, and the 
son of Zebedee and Salome, 
and was brought up to the oc- 
cupation of a fisherman, on the 
sea of Galilee ; which business 
also his father followed. He, as 
well as his brother, seems to 
have been at first of an impe- 
tuous and ambitious temper, as 
he united in the request, that 
Christ would cause fire to come 
down from heaven on the Sa- 
maritans, and also in the peti- 
tion which his mother presented 
in behalf of himself and his bro- 
ther, that they should have the 
most honourable places in his 
kingdom. But whatever he Avas 
by nature, he seems to have be- 
come by grace one of the sweet- 
est tempered men in the world. 
Love appears to have expelled 
every harsh feeling from his 
heart. He became, therefore, 
the bosom friend of our Lord, 
and was designated among his 
disciples, as the one whom Jesus 
loved. He was present at the 
raising of the ruler's daughter ; 
at the transfiguration, and at 
the place in the garden where 



JOH 

the agony was undergone by 
our Lord. He was also present 
at the trial of his beloved Mas- 
ter ; and at his crucifixion stood 
near enough to the cross to hear 
him speak ; when he received 
the tender charge to consider the 
mother of Jesus as his own mo- 
ther, which charge of his dying 
Lord, he affectionately obeyed. 
Early in the morning of the re- 
surrection he visited the sepul- 
chre, in company with Peter, 
but saw not Jesus until the dis- 
ciples were all collected in the 
evening. After Pentecost he was 
with Peter in the temple, when 
they healed the cripple ; and ac- 
companied him to Samaria, by 
order of the church at Jerusa- 
lem, to confer the gifts of the 
Holy Ghost on the new con- 
verts in that place. John is said 
ultimately to have taken up his 
residence in Ephesus, where, ac- 
cording to tradition, he was bu- 
ried. He is believed to have 
survived all the apostles many 
years, and to have lived to the 
advanced age of 100 years, or 
thereabouts. His gospel seems 
to have been written after the 
destruction of Jerusalem, a9 it 
contains no warnings to Chris- 
tians respecting this judgment 
as approaching. Doubtless he 
had seen the other gospels, and 
only wrote what seemed to be 
necessary to supply their defi 
ciencies. His principal object, 
however, seems to have been to 
teach perspicuously the true de- 
ity of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. His epistles are 
full of love and kindness; but 
contain also solemn warnings 
against false teachers, who al- 
ready began to abound; In the 
persecution under Domitian, ha 
is said to have been immersed in 
a cauldron of boiling oil, but 
was miraculously preserved. Of " 
this we read nothing in the scrip 
tures; but we know from this 
unerring source, that for the tes 
timony of Jesus, he wasbanisb 
315 



JON 

ed to the isle of Patmos ; where, 
on the Lord's day, he was in 
the spirit, and saw wonderful 
visions of God, in which, it is 
believed, that prophecies reach- 
ing to the end of the world are 
contained. This Apocalypse, 
as its meaning is developed, 
and its prophecies fulfilled, will 
become more and more inte-! 
resting to the Church of Christ. ! 

JOKTAN, the eldest son of 
Heber. 

JONADAB, or Jehonadah. 
See Kevites. 

JONAH, the son of Amittai, 
a prophet of Gath-hepher in Ga- 
lilee. He was directed of the 
Lord to go and preach at Nine- 
veh ; but fearing lest by the re- 
pentance of the Ninevites, his 
denunciations would not be ful- 
filled, and that he should be 
viewed as a false prophet, he fled 
to Joppa, where he took ship- 
ping for Tarshish. But the dis- 
obedient prophet was soon made 
sensible that he could not flee 
from the presence of the Lord, 
for the shi-p was overtaken by a 
violent storm ; and when all 
other methods of coming safely 
to land failed, Jonah, at his own 
request, was cast into the sea ; 
for he acknowledged to the hea- 
then mariners, that the storm 
was on his account; and by the 
lot which was cast, the same 
thing was indicated. But God had 
prepared a great fish to swal- 
low up Jonah. This fish is called 
a whale in the New Testament ; 
but, perhaps, the word should, be 
considered as a general name for 
all very large fishes ; for whales 
are never seen in the Mediterra- 
nean; nor is the throat of a whale 
large enough to take down a 
man entire. Bochart is of opi- 
nion, that the fish which swal- 
lowed Jonah was of the species 
called lamia, which has a throat 
and belly capacious enough to 
take in a man. Linnseus agrees 
with Bochart in this opinion. 
But the English editor of Cal- 



JON 

met's Dictionary offers many 
plausible arguments to prove 
that no species offish is here in 
tended, but a fishing boat. After 
three days, the fish cast the pro- 
phet on dry land : when he re- 
ceived a second commission t<j 
go and announce to the Nine- 
vites that in 40 days their citj 
would be destroyed. This pro 
clamation he seems to have made 
from street to street ; for when 
he had spent about one day in 
traversing the city, the king pro- 
claimed a day of fasting and hu- 
miliation ; and thus the threat- 
ened judgment was averted, for 
the denunciation was manifestly 
conditional : otherwise there 
would have been no reason for 
sending a prophet to preach to 
them ; which must have been 
designed to bring them to re- 
pentance. Jonah was still, how- 
ever, dissatisfied, and fretted 
against the Lord, and expressed 
a strong desire to die: where- 
upon God, to protect him from 
the heat, caused a gourd sud- 
denly to spring up, under the 
shade of which he found re- 
freshment ; but the next day it 
was killed by a worm at the 
root, so that it immediately wi- 
thered away. Jonah now was 
greatly molested by the hot sun 
and wind ; on which God rea- 
soned with him on the impro- 
priety of his selfish temper in 
wishing, for the sake of his own 
reputation, the destruction of a 
city in which were six score 
thousand persons that did not 
know their right hand from the 
left, or infants, and also much 
cattle. When Jonah lived can- 
not be ascertained with preci- 
sion. He seems, however, to 
have been one of the earliest of 
the minor prophets. Of his other 
prophecies we have no informa- 
tion, except that he predicted 
the restoration of those cities to 
the Jews, which the Syrians had 
taken from them in the reigns of 
Ahab. Jehoran, Jehu, and Je 
316 



JON 
hoahaz, and therefore he must 
have flourished after the times 
of these kings, 2 Kings xiv. 25. 
Jonah's being three days in the 
belly of the fish, was a type of 
Christ remaining three days in 
the earth, Matth. xii. 39. 

JONATHAN ; (1.) The son 
of Gershom, and perhaps the 
grandson of Moses, Judgesxviii. 
30. 

(2.) Jonathan, the son of Saul, 
was a prince, pious, and of dis- 
tinguished valour. When the 
Philistines invaded the land, and 
established a garrison on certain 
rocks, not far from the army of 
the Hebrews under Saul, Jona- 
than and his armour-bearer, by 
climbing the rocks and slaying 
suddenly about 20 men, pro- 
duced such a panic in the garri- 
son and in the whole army of 
the Philistines, that they fled in 
the utmost confusion, and Saul 
and his men seeing the flight 
pursued after them, and there 
was a great discomfiture. But 
Jonathan was that day near 
losing his life in consequence of 
a rash vow imposed by his fa- 
ther, that whoever should taste 
food that day should die, and 
Jonathan being ignorant of the 
whole matter, put forth his rod 
and tasted some honey. His fa- 
ther was about to put him to 
death according to his oath, but 
the people rescued him out of 
his hand. When David slew 
the giant Goliah the heart of 
Jonathan became knit to that 
of David in the bonds of the 
strongest and tenderest affec- 
tion ; and, indeed, there was a 
mutual friendship between them 
which never ceased until death. 
All the time that Saul sought to 
kill David, Jonathan stood his 
friend, and sometimes exposed 
his own life to imminent hazard 
by defending David. Jonathan 
was slain on the same day with 
his father on the mountain of 
Gilboah, and was tenderly be- 
wailed by David, who manifest- 



JOP 

ed his friendship for the father, 
in his kindness to Mephibosheth, 
the son, 1 Sam. xix. xx. 2 Sam. 
i. ix. 

JOPPA, or Japho, a beautiful 
sea-port on the west of Canaan, 
about 60 miles north-west of Je- 
rusalem, from which it was seen, 
as it stood on a hill amidst a de- 
lightful plain, Josh. xix.4G. In the 
days of Solomon, it was a noted 
sea-port,where the w T ood brought 
from Lebanon was unloaded. It 
was probably so in the time of 
Jeroboam the Second, when Jo- 
nah sailed from it to Tarshish. 
Before its harbour, the Macca- 
bees burnt the Syro- Grecian 
fleet. Here Peter restored Dor- 
cas to life, and received the 
messages of Cornelius. We 
read of no bishops here till the 
fifth and sixth century. It is 
now called, Jaffa or Tafa, 
and is situated on an emi- 
nence in a sandy soil. It is sur- 
rounded by a stone wall, with 
towers alternately square and 
round. When besieged by Buo- 
naparte, this wall rendered it 
necessary for the French to 
break ground and erect batte- 
ries. After a breach was made, 
the place was taken by storm. 
The town has some trade, and 
is inhabited chiefly by Arabs. 
Joppa has always, on account 
of its border situation, been ex- 
posed to great injuries from con- 
tending nations. It was five 
times taken and desolated by 
the Egyptians and Assyrians, in 
their wars with the Jews : three 
times by the Romans, and twice 
by the Saracens, in the wars of 
the crusade. Here are two con- 
vents frequented by pilgrims on 
their way to Jerusalem. The 
buildings are in the usual east- 
ern style, and the streets and 
interior of Ihe town slovenly and 
dirtv. The inhabitants are reck- 
oned by Mr. Wilson at 5000. The 
vicinity ^iounds with orange, 
lemon, alfd other fruit trees. Dr. 
ClarkOTHrpresses his surprize at 



27* 



317 



JOR 

the beauty and variety of the 
fruit which is exposed for sale 
in this market. The water-me- 
lons of this region are said to be 
very superior. The port is form- 
ed, according to Mr. Bucking- 
ham, by a ledge of rocks run- 
ning parallel to the shore at no 
great distance ; but it is very un- 
safe when the wind blows from 
the north or east. 

JORAM or Jehoram, the ton 
of Jehoshaphat. and son-in-law 
of king Ahab, 2 Kings ii. iii. 
v. &c. 

Joram or Jehoram, the son of 
Ahab, succeeded his elder bro- 
ther Ahaziah, A. M. 3108. 
While Jehoram of Judah intro- 
duced the worship of Baal into 
his kingdom ; this Jehoram of 
Israel removed the statues of 
Baal which his father had erect- 
ed. Having Jehoshaphat of Ju- 
dah, and the Edomites for his 
allies, he marched to reduce 
Mesha the king of the revolted 
Moabites. In their march around 
the soutfc of the Dead Sea, they 
had almost perished for want of 
water. After a sharp reproof, 
a nd bidding Jehoram go and apply 
for relief to the prophets of his 
father and mother, Elisha pro- 
cured a miraculous supply of 
water, without either wind or 
rain. The Moabites mistaking 
this water, reddened with the 
beams of the rising sun, for the 
blood of the allies, furiously 
hasted to the spot, and were 
mostly cut off. 

JORDAN. Some have derived 
»he name of this river from two 
streams, by the union of which it 
was supposed to be formed : the 
one called Jor or Yar, and the 
jther Dan ; but they have failed 
jo make it appear that such 
streams existed. The most pro- 
jable derivation of the name is, 
from Yar and Dan, the river of 
Dan. In that country, however 
it has different appellations, in 
different parts of its course, 
'ear its source, it is called Dan ; 



JOR 

below its exit from the sea of 
Galilee, Ordan ; and in the re- 
mainder of its progress, Sherya. 
On the authority of Josephus, it 
is commonly described as rising 
in the lake Phiala, about 12 
miles from Caesarea-Philippi, 
which is on the site of the an- 
cient Dan. Then it is repre- 
sented as running under ground 
to the cave Paneion, where it 
emerges again. According to 
Burkhardt, who visited the 
sources of the Jordan, it rises 
about four miles north-east from 
Caesarea-Philippi, now Banias, 
from two streams, one of which 
immediately forms a river, 12 
or 15 yards across ; this is soon 
joined by the other stream, cal- 
led the river of Banias, and they 
fall, after a short course, into 
the lake of Houle or Samecho- 
nitis. From this lake, the Jor- 
dan runs a course of about 12 
miles, and falls into the lake of 
Tiberias, now called Tabaria. 
From this lake, it has a course 
of about 70 miles through the 
valley of Ghor, or valley of Jor 
dan, when it is lost in the Dead 
Sea. The valley of Ghor is from 
4 to 10 miles in width. Here 
the temperature is much hot- 
ter than on the hills, on account 
of the low and confined situation 
of the place. The contrast be- 
tween this valley and some of 
the neighbouring mountains, is 
great. Burkhardt speaks of 
Djebel el Sheikh, or mount Her- 
mon, on the north, covered with 
snow ; the plain of Djolan, to 
the east, clothed in the blossoms 
of spring; while along the val- 
ley, to the south, all vegetation 
is withered, as if by a vertical 
sun. Within this valley, there 
is another still lower, in the 
midst of which the river flows. 
This is about three quarters of a 
mile in breadth, and is over- 
flowed in the winter ; and the 
low grounds adjacent being 
thickly covered with trees and 
shrubs, lions and other bea3ts 
318 



JOR 
were wont to lie concealed in 
vhese thickets, and were driven 
from their coverts by the swel- 
ling of the river, Jer. xlix. 19. 

The inundations of the Jordan 
were much more frequent for- 
merly than at present. Con- 
cerning the size of the stream, 
travellers have given different 
accounts. Maundrell says, ' that 
it is only 20 yards wide, but so 
rapid that a man could not swim 
against the current.' Volney 
says, it is from 60 to 80 feet 
wide between the two lakes, 
and 10 or 12 feet deep ; but at 
its mouth, he makes it 60 paces 
in width. Chateaubriand reckons 
its breadth to be 50 paces, and 
the depth 6 or 7 feet at the brink. 
Dr. Shaw made it 30 yards wide, 
and Burkhardt, who crossed it 
some distance above Jericho, 
describes it as 30 paces wide in 
he midst of summer, and 3 feet 
deep. Mr. Buckingham, who 
crossed it a little above Jericho, 
in January, says, that its breadth 
is about 25 yards, and so shal- 
low as to be fordable by the 
horses with ease. The same 
traveller crossed the Jordan 
within a few miles of its leaving 
the lake Tiberias, and found its 
width there 120 feet, but 
fordable for horses. Mr. Con- 
nor estimates it at 20 yards, 
and Mr. Joliff at 50 feet, but 
trora 2 to 300 feet at its mouth. 
But although the breadth of this 
river is very inconsiderable com- 
pared with many others, yet, by 
reason of its depth and rapidity, 
it rolls an amazing body of wa- 
ter into the Dead Sea. 

From what has been said of 
this river, we learn why a mira- 
cle was necessary to enable the 
Israelites under Joshua to pass 
over, especially at that season 
when it overflowed all its banks. 
We learn also what to under- 
stand by ' the fords of Jordan,' 
which being few, soldiers sta- 
tioned at them could readily in 
tercept all who might endeavour 



JOS 

to escape by fording the stream. 
Bridges over rivers were an in- 
vention unknown to the ancient 
Jews. There were ferry-boats 
however, in the time of David, 
as, on his return from his flight 
from Absalom, he crossed the 
Jordan in one of these. The 
water of the Jordan is said by 
travellers to be pure and sweet. 
All other streams in Judea be- 
come dry in summer, but the 
Jordan continues to flow all the 
vear round, Gen. xiii. 11. Josh, 
iii. 8. 11. 15. iv. 3. 17. 23. xxii. 
25. Judg. iii. 23. vii. 24. xii. 

5, 6. 2 Sam. xix 15. 2 Kinsrs ii. 

6, 7. 13. v. 10. 14. Job xl. 3. 
Ps. cxiv. 3. Jer. xii. 5. xlix.19. 
Matth. iii. 6. Mark i. 5. 9. 13. 

JOSEPH, the son of Jacob 
and Rachel, was born in Meso- 
potamia, A. M. 2259. Very 
early God favoured him with a 
prophetic dream, of the eleven 
sheaves of his brethren doing 
obeisance to his sheaf, and of the 
sun, moon, and eleven stars do- 
ing reverence to him. These em- 
blems imported, that all his fa- 
ther's family should be under 
his rule. On account of his 
piety, and for the sake of Rachel 
his mother, Jacob was extreme- 
ly fond of him, and made him a 
party-coloured coat, such as 
young princes then wore. Jo- 
seph too informed him of some 
wickedness his brethren,the sons 
of Bilha and Zilpah, had been 
guilty of. On these accounts, 
his brethren heartily hated him. 
When he was seventeen years 
of age, his father, who general- 
ly retained him at home, sent 
him to see where his brethren 
were feeding their flocks, and 
how they were in their circum- 
stances.' Going to Shechem, 
and thence to Dothan, he care- 
fully sought them out. At first 
sight of him, they resolved to 
murder him, and tell their father 
that some ravenous beast had 
devoured him. They took him 
and stripped him. His most 
319 



JOS 

earnest entreaties and outcries 
made no impression on the most ; 
bat Reuben, who detested the 
murder, begged they would throw 
him into a dry pit : from which 
he intended to convey him se- 
cretly, that he might escape to 
his father. While he was medi- 
tating how he should effect this, 
some Ishmaelitish and Midian- 
itish merchants passed that way. 
carrying spices and gums from 
mount Gilead to the land of 
Egypt; on sight of them, Jo 
seph's nine brethren immediately 
resolved to sell him for a slave. 
His price was twenty pieces of 
silver, probably about seven dol- 
lars. His coat of divers colours, 
they dipt in the blood of a kid, 
and carried to their father, as 
what they had found, and de- 
sired him to think whether it 
was Joseph's or not. He knew 
the coat, and was overwhelmed 
with grief for the loss of his son, 
whom he believed to have been 
devoured by some wild beast, 
Gen. xxx. xxxvii. 

The Arabian merchants sold 
him to Potiphar, the captain of 
the royal guards of the Egyp- 
tian king. 

For the sake of Joseph, God 
prospered the affairs of Poti- 
phar, and his confidence in his 
newly acquired Hebrew servant 
was so great, that he placed 
him over his whole household. 
But the wife of Potiphar being 
a woman destitute of virtue,and 
having cast her eye on the 
beauty of Joseph, solicited him 
to sin, which he constantly re- 
pelled ; whereupon, mortified 
and indignant, she falsely ac- 
cused him to her husband, who, 
believing his wife rather than 
Joseph, cast him into the public 
prison. But here again God 
was with him, and gave him 
such favour with the principal 
keeper, that he made him a kind 
of deputy, and entrusted all the 
prisoners to his fidelity. Into 
this prison, the king of Egypt 



JOS 

sent two servants, his chief but- 
ler, and his chief baker. One 
morning when Joseph came in 
to attend to these prisoners of 
state, he found them sad, and 
perceived that their counte- 
nances were fallen; and, upon 
inquiry, learned that this was 
produced by a dream which 
each had had the previous night, 
and which made a deep impres- 
sion on their minds. These 
dreams Joseph interpreted for 
them, and the event answered 
precisely to the interpretation : 
the butler, within three days, 
was restored to his former place, 
and the baker was hung upon a 
tree within the same period. The 
butler, however, in his prosperi- 
ty, forgot the friend of his af- 
fliction, and made no effort to 
obtain the release of the young 
Hebrew. But, in process of 
time, king Pharaoh himself had 
an extraordinary dream, which 
none of his wise men could in- 
terpret ; and this brought Joseph 
to the recollection of the butler, 
who immediately related the 
circumstance of his own dream, 
and informed the king of the in- 
terpretation of Joseph in the 
prison, and the exact accord 
ance of the events. The king 
instantly despatched a messen- 
ger for Joseph, who was soon 
presented to the king, and on 
hearing the double dream of the 
seven lean and fat kine, and the 
seven plump and shrivelled ears 
of corn, declared, that by these 
God signified, that there would 
be seven years of extraordinary 
plenty, which should be suc- 
ceeded by seven years of famine, 
and advised the king to appoint 
a suitable man to gather up the 
exuberant fruits of the years of 
plenty, and store them away 
against the years of famine. 
The king was so struck with 
the wisdom and ingenuity of 
Joseph, that he immediately se- 
lected him to be governor of 
all E#ypt ; and that he might be 
320 



JOS 
duly honoured and obeyed, he 
put a gold chain around his 
neck, clothed him in royal ap- 
parel, and caused him to ride in 
the second chariot of the king- 
dom ; and all people were com- 
manded, by the proclamation of 
a herald, who went before him, 
to bow the knee. Every thing 
turned out as had been predict- 
ed, and Joseph, during seven 
years, was busily employed in 
preparing store-houses, and ga- 
thering in the fruits of the earth 
which could be preserved. In 
their turn, the seven years of 
famine commenced, and soon 
the distress of the people began 
to be great. They cried unto 
the king for provision, but he 
devolved the whole care of sup- 
plying them on Joseph, who 
gave them out corn for their , 
money, as long as that lasted ; 
then he sold them corn for their 
cattle ; and, finally, he purchas- 
ed for the king all the land of 
Egypt, which was so ordered, 
that ever after, they were obli- j 
gated to pay one fifth of the 
produce of their lands into the , 
royal treasury. This famine | 
was not confined to Egypt, but j 
extended to the neighbouring, 
countries, and among the rest to 
Canaan, where Jacob and his 
sons began to suffer for want of 
provisions for themselves, fami- 
lies, and cattle. An expedition 
to Egypt was proposed and de- 
termined on, and all Jacob's 
eons who were at home, except 
Benjamin, went in company, 
furnished with money, to buy 
corn. When they arrived they 
were introduced to the presence 
of Joseph, who immediately re- 
cognised them, while they had 
no knowledge of him. Deter- 
mined to bring them to a sense 
of their enormous guilt in their 
treatment of him, he spoke to 
them roughly, and charged them 
with being spies, come to spy 
out the nakedness of the land. 
They, in their own vindication, 



JOS 

mentioned their father and their 
youngest brother, who had been 
left behind. He seized on this 
circumstance as a test of their 
veracity, and ordered them to 
bring him with them when they 
came again, being sure, that 
from the length of the famine 
yet to come, they would be un- 
der the necessity of returning. 
And as a further pledge, he 
bound Simeon in their presence, 
and put him into close confine- 
ment. Probably he had been 
the most forward in the nefa- 
rious plot which they had laid 
against his life, before Judaii 
persuaded them to sell him to 
the Ishmaelites. Their sacks 
were filled with corn, and each 
man's money placed at the 
mouth of his sack, and they 
were assured by the governor, 
that they should not see his 
face unless they Would bring 
their younger brother along. 
As they returned, they disco- 
vered the money restored to one 
of the sacks, and when they ar- 
rived at home, they found the 
same was the fact in regard to 
them all. This circumstance 
created no small perplexity. 
But the aged Jacob would not 
at first hear of Benjamin's go- 
ing with them, having already 
lost Joseph, and these were the 
only children of his beloved 
Rachel. But, before long, ne- 
cessity compelled him to consent, 
and another expedition was un- 
dertaken, with Benjamin in com- 
pany. As soon as they were intro- 
duced, Joseph in quired for the old 
man of whom they had spoken, 
and paid much attention to Ben- 
jamin. Indeed his feelings must 
have been very strong when he 
saw his only full brother, and the 
only brother who had not injur 
ed him, in his presence. Now 
they were all treated generous 
ly, Simeon was brought forth 
and they were invited to a 
feast in the governor's house, 
after which they were dismissed 
321 



JOS 
-with their sacks filled with corn ; 
and the steward was ordered to 
put Joseph's silver cup into 
Benjamin's sack, privately. 
Soon after they got on their 
way, the steward followed them, 
and charged them with the 
theft, of which they felt con- 
sciously innocent ; but when at 
last the cup was found in Ben- 
jamin's sack, they were filled 
with confusion and grief, and 
returning to the palace, Judah, 
who had become surety for the 
safe return of Benjamin to his 
father, offered to go into bon- 
dage in his place, and made a 
speech to Joseph on the occa- 
sion, which, for simplicity and 
pathetic tenderness, was never 
exceeded. Joseph had con- 
cealed himself behind the cur- 
tain long enough. He could 
refrain no longer. He com- 
manded all other persons in- 
stantly to leave the room, and 
then he said, I am Joseph, your 
brother. At this discovery they 
were filled with consternation, 
but he removed their apprehen- 
sions, embraced them kindly, 
and assured them that God had 
overruled their evil deed, so that 
it had accomplished much good. 
He now sent carriages and all 
necessaries for his aged father, 
for as five years of the famine 
still remained, it was necessary 
for all of them to come down to 
Egypt, where he promised to 
take charge of their wants. 
Jacob, at first, would not believe 
their testimony, until he saw 
the carriages sent to bTing him 
down to Egypt. His other sons 
must have felt badly on the oc- 
casion, as now, for the first 
time, their venerable father be- 
came acquainted with their vil- 
lainous conduct towards his fa 
vourite son. But this was no 
time for reproaches : after in- 
quiring of God in relation to the 
course which he should pursue, 
he left the land of promise, and 
went down to Egypt, where he 



JOS 

was received in the most affec- 
tionate manner by Joseph, and 
presented to the king, who con- 
versed kindly and familiarly 
with the venerable patriarch, 
who did not depart from the 
royal presence without pro- 
nouncing a blessing on him. 
Joseph made ample provision 
for all his relatives, and obtain- 
ed from the king an order for 
them to inhabit the best part of 
the country, and, during all his 
life, he treated his brothers in a 
friendly manner. When Jacob 
died, they were alarmed, and 
seemed to apprehend that he 
would treat them as they de- 
served ; but he removed their 
apprehensions, and confirmed 
their confidence in his friend- 
ship. Joseph lived to be 110 
years of age, when he died. Be- 
fore the arrival of his brethren, 
Pharaoh had given him the 
daughter of the priest of On, to 
wife, by whom he had two sons, 
Manasseh and Ephraim. When 
about to die, he exacted an oath 
of the leaders of the people, 
that when God should bring 
them up out of this land, they 
would carry his bones to Ca- 
naan. After his death, there- 
fore, his body was embalmed 
and deposited in a coffin, and 
was taken along by the Israel- 
ites, when God brought them up 
out of the land of Egypt. 
2. Joseph the carpenter was pro- 
bably dead before our Saviour 
began his public ministry, as we 
never hear of him at the mar- 
riage of Cana or elsewhere ; and 
Christ, when dying, recommend- 
ed his mother to the care <tf 
John, Matt. i. ii. &c. See Christ. 
3. Joseph of Arimathea, a 
private disciple of our Saviour's, 
and a Jewish senator, who con- 
sented not to the deed of the 
sanhedrim, in condemning and 
crucifying Christ. He begged 
his body from Pilate, and he 
and Nicodemus, now more 
avowed followers of Jesus than 
322 



JOS 

before, honourably interred It 
in Joseph's new sepulchre, John 
xix. 38—41. Matth. xxvii.57,61. 

4. Joseph, or Joses, the brother 
of James the Less, and son of 
Cleophas, is, perhaps the same 
with Barsabas, Mark xv. 40. 
Matth. xiii. 55. xxvii. 56. 

JOSHUA, or Jesus, Acts vii. 
45. Heb. iv. 8., a descendant of 
Ephraim, born A. M. 2460. His 
first name was Hoshea, but to 
mark that he would render Is- 
rael safe and happy, he was 
called Jehoshua or Joshua. He 
was a noted servant or agent for 
Moses. At Moses's direction, he 
engaged and routed the Amale- 
kites, and was divinely inform- 
ed of God's perpetual indigna- 
tion against that people. When 
Moses was on the mount,Joshua 
tarried somewhere on the side 
of it, and came down with him. 
His residence was near the ta- 
bernacle. Zealous for Moses's 
honour, he was for prohibiting 
Eldad and Medad to prophesy. 
He was one of the spies that 
searched the promised land, Ex. 
xvii. xxiv. xxxii. xxxiii. 11. 
Numb. xi. 28, 29. xiii. xiv. A 
little before Moses's death, Jo- 
shua was solemnly installed in 
the government of the Hebrew 
nation ; and such honour was 
by Moses put upon him, as 
tended to make them reverence 
and obev him, Numb, xxvii. 18. 
23. Deut iii. 21. xxxi. 14—23. 

After the death of Moses, 
Joshua took upon him the chief 
command, and gave orders to 
prepare to enter the land of Ca- 
naan ; and it was soon manifest 
that God was with him as he 
had been with Moses, for, as the 
Red Sea opened when Moses 
raised his rod, so now Jordan 
was divided, and the descending 
waters were, contrary to their 
natural tendency, held back, 
and accumulated above, while 
the whole host of Israel entered 
into the land of promise. Dur- 
ing the whole passage, the 



JOS 

priests, bearing the ark, stood 
within the brink of the river; 
and when the people were all 
safe over, Joshua commanded 
large stones to be taken up from 
the bottom of the river where 
the priests' feet had stood, which 
he set up as a monument to fu- 
ture ages, of this stupendous 
miracle. Now commenced the 
war with the Canaanites, in 
which Joshua and the people 
of Israel were merely the instru- 
ments of God's righteous judg- 
ments on these wicked nations, 
the cup of whose iniquity was 
now completely full, and whose 
impious and abominable deeds 
loudly cried to heaven for di- 
vine vengeance. Jericho, the 
city nearest to them, and the 
one first attacked, was subdued 
without a contest, for after it 
was encompassed by the Israel- 
ites for seven successive days, 
the walls fell prostrate, while 
the trumpets were sounded, and 
the people lifted up their voice 
in one universal shout. All the 
inhabitants were devoted to 
destruction, according to the 
express command of God, ex- 
cept Rahab and her father's 
house, who were preserved on 
account of her fidelity in con- 
cealing the spies. It was ex- 
pressly forbidden to the Israel- 
ites to touch the spoil of thi3 
city, for it was utterly devoted 
to destruction, with all its 
wealth. But Achan coveted 
and took part of the spoil, and 
concealed it in his tent. In 
consequence of this act, the host 
of Israel were unsuccessful in 
their first attempt on Ai, and 
great distress and discourage- 
ment seized the whole multi- 
tude, and even Joshua lay all 
night upon the ground in mourn- 
ing aud supplication ; for now 
the Israelites being once repuls- 
ed with loss, appeared no longer 
to be invincible. The crime of 
Achan was brought to light by 
recourse to the lot, and he and 
323 



JOS 

all his family suffered an exem- 
plary punishment. 

The Gibeonites, who lived 
near, fearing the destruction 
which was imminent, made use 
of a stratagem to preserve their 
lives and their city. They sent 
messengers to Joshua, who 
should pretend that they came 
from a very remote people, and 
to confirm their story, they 
showed that their bread was 
mouldy, their wine bottles of 
skin old and patched, and their 
shoes and garments very much 
worn. On this occasion, Joshua 
neglected to apply to the Lord 
for direction ; and deceived by 
the false appearances above 
mentioned, entered into a so- 
lemn league with the Gibeon- 
ites, which, although obtained 
by fraud, he did not think it ex- 
pedient to break. The other ci- 
ties of Canaan, with their kings, 
now entered into a formidable 
combination utterly to destroy 
the Gibeonites, because they 
had made peace with Joshua ; 
and a mighty army, led on by 
many kings, were actually draw- 
ing near to Gibeah, when they, 
in all haste, sent messengers to 
Joshua to come instantly to their 
relief. He did not delay to com- 
ply, and marched all night as 
well as day, and immediately 
attacked and defeated this 
mighty army ; and the day not 
being sufficient for the pursuit 
and destruction of the Canaan- 
ites, Joshua commanded the 
sun and moon to stand still, 
which they did for the period of 
one whole day, by which means 
he was able utterly to destroy 
those whom God had devoted 
to death. This was, indeed, a 
stupendous miracle, but as easy 
to the Almighty, as to cause 
those great luminaries to move 
in their regular orbits. 

Joshua was employed about 
six years in the conquest of 
Canaan ; after which, the men 
of war belonging to the tribes 



JOS 

of Gad, Reuben, and the half- 
tribe of Manasseh, were permit- 
ted to return to their families, 
and to the inheritance which 
Moses had given them on the 
other side of Jordan, where the 
land of the Amorites had been, 
at their own request, assigned to 
them. Of those who came out 
of Egypt, in adult age, not one 
survived to enter Canaan, but 
Joshua and Caleb, according to 
the word of the Lord. 

When the war was terminat- 
ed, Joshua lived in retirement 
and peace, in a possession which 
the children of Israel assigned 
him in Timnath-serah, of mount 
Ephraim. When he found that 
his end was approaching, he as- 
sembled the Israelites, rehearsed 
to them the history of the provi- 
dence of God towards them, and 
finally put it to them to choose 
that day, whether or not they 
would serve the Lord, profes- 
sing his full purpose to continue 
in the service of God as long as 
he lived. Joshua died at the 
age of 110 years ; having been a 
witness of more of the wonder- 
ful works of God than any 
man who ever lived, except his 
companion Caleb. 

Joshua or Jeshua, the son of 
Jozadak or Jesedech, was high- 
priest of the Jews when they re- 
turned from Babylon. He as- 
sisted Zerubbabel in rebuilding 
the temple. Zechariah saw 
him represented as standing be- 
fore the Lord in filthy garments, 
and Satan standing at his right 
hand to accuse and resist him : 
but the angel Jehovah rebuked 
the devil, and arrayed Joshua 
in pure raiment. Not long af- 
ter, Zechariah was directed to 
make a golden crown for him. 

JOSIAH, the son of Amon, 
and king of Judah, began his 
reign in the 8th year of his age, 
A. M. 3363. In the 8th year of 
his reign, he began to be noted 
for his piety and zeal. In the 
12th, he began to purge Jerusa- 



JOS 



lem and Judah from idols, and 
burnt the deceased priests' bones 
on the altars of the false gods 
which they had served. 

Josiah being distinguished for 
early and eminent piety, though 
descended from an exceedingly 
wicked father and grandfather, 
exerted himself in the suppres- 
sion of idolatry, and in the re- 
formation of religion ; and al- 
though his life was cut short, 
and he was taken away in the 
vigour of his life, yet he accom- 
plished much good by his pious 
and unwearied efforts. It seems, 
however, that until Hilkiah the 
priest found the book of the law 
among the rubbish of the tem- 
ple, and sent it to him, he was 
not well instructed in the nature 
of his duty, nor did he know 
what the law of God required ; 
but upon hearing the law read, 
he was greatly affected, upon 
finding in how many points 
they had failed in their obe- 
dience. He began henceforth 
to carry on the reformation, in 
gtrict conformity with what he 
found written in the law of the 
Lord. He caused to be cele- 
brated a passover, such as had 
not been witnessed for solemni- 
ty since the days of Samuel the 
prophet. And to engage the 
people to enter with zeal in- 
to the service of God, he as- 
sembled them together and caus- 
ed them to renew, in a public 
and solemn manner, their cove- 
nant with God. To Josiah 
were born four sons, two of 
whom, and two of his grandsons, 
reigned after his death ; but 
they were all wicked and worth- 
less men. This pious king 
seems to have been accessary to 
hi3 own premature death; for 
the king of Egypt, who was 
marching with a great army 
against the king of Assyria, 
assured him that he entertained 
no hostile design against him or 
his kingdom, and entreated him 
not to interfere with him, in his 
28 



JOT 

contest with the king of Assyria ; 
and, to influence Josiah, Necho 
pretended to have received a 
communication from heaven, by 
Which the king of Judah was 
expressly forbidden to meddle 
with him in his expedition. But 
Josiah thinking it a dangerous 
precedent, to permit a large ar- 
my to march through his terri- 
tories, or more probably being 
in league with the king of As- 
syria, he could not consistently 
comply with the demand of the 
king of Egypt ; and even if he 
wished to remain entirely neu- 
tral in the war, he could not al- 
low one of the belligerents a free 
passage through his territory, 
without departing from his neu- 
trality. Whatever might have 
been the motive, Josiah at- 
tempted to oppose the Egyptian 
army, and a battle was fought 
at Megiddo, in which he wag 
mortally wounded, and was car 
ried out of the field in his car- 
riage, and brought to Jerusa- 
lem, where he died, and waa 
buried in one of the sepulchres 
of his fathers. No king, per- 
haps, was ever more deservedly 
beloved ; and certainly we know 
of none who was more sincerely 
and tenderly bewailed by his 
people. Indeed, his death was 
the end of prosperity to the 
kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah, 
the prophet, was greatly affect- 
ed by the death of this excellent 
prince, and composed an elegy 
on the occasion ; and all those 
accustomed to celebrate in song 
the worth and achievements of 
men of great eminence, both 
men and women, spake of Jo- 
siah in their lamentations for 
ages after his death. He was 
only 39 years of age when he 
was slain. 

JOT, the smallest part. There 
is an allusion to the letter Jod, 
which, in the Hebrew alphabet, 
is very small, Matth. v. 18. 

JOTHAM, the youngest son 
of Gideon, who escaped, while 
325 



JOU 

his 70 brethren were slain by 
Abimeleeh, their illegitimate 
brother. 

Jotham, or Joatham, the son 
and successor of Uzziah king of 
Judah. When his father be- 
came leprous, Jonathan for some 
years ruled as his viceroy. In 
the 25th year of his age, he com- 
menced sole governor,^. J/.3246. 

JOURNEYINGS of Israel. 
The habitation of the Hebrews, 
in Egypt, was in Goshen, which 
is supposed to have extended 
from a point above Old Cairo 
to the Mediterranean, including 
the land on both sides of the 
eastern branch, by which the 
Nile discharged its waters ; and 
bounded on the east by the wil- 
derness, and by the mountains 
which separate the waters of the 
Red Sea from those of the Nile. 
Their first journey was from 
Rameses to Succoth, which last, 
as the name signifies booths, 
was probably nothing more than 
a convenient encampment. The 
distance between these two 
places is estimated ai SO miles. 
Their course must have been 
a little north of east, to round 
the end of a mountain which 
stood in their way. • And they 
took their journey from Succoth 
and encamped in Etham, in the 
edge of the wilderness.' This 
was a long march, the stages 
being at least 60 miles apart 
but they were flying from an 
enemy, and there was not one 
sick or feeble among them, and 
their God bore them as on ea 
gles' wings, so that it is notim 
possible that they passed over 
this distance in 24 hours. The 
distance to the Arabian Gulf 
may, however, have been 12 or 
15 miles less, anciently, than at 
present, as there are clear indi- 
cations that the water has reced- 
ed about that distance. Now 
they received an order from God 
to change their course, and in- 
stead of going eastward in the 
wilderness, in a direct line, to 



JOU 

turn southward and coast along 
the Red Sea, keeping it on their 
left, and the mountains already 
mentioned on their right. Pur- 
suing this rout for about 32 
miles from Etham, which was 
formerly on the northern point 
of the Arabian Gulf, or 20 miles 
south of Suez, which now occu- 
pies the land at the end of this 
arm of the Red Sea, they arriv- 
ed at a place where there seems 
to have been a gap or opening 
in the mountains towards Egypt, 
and a creek or estuary which 
obstructed their further progress 
to the south. Here at Migdol, 
over against Baal Zephon, and 
near Pihahiroth, when enclosed 
on every side but one, they w r ere 
overtaken by the chariots and 
horsemen of Pharaoh, and must 
have been utterly destroyed, had 
not God miraculously interpos- 
ed, and opened them a passage 
through the sea: and still the 
Egyptian host would soon have 
overtaken them, had they not 
been overwhelmed by the sud- 
den reflux of the waters to their 
former channel. Niebuhr and 
some other learned men, have 
declared in favour of Suez as 
the place of transit ; but to this 
there are two weighty objections 
In the first place, there was no- 
thing here to shut up or entan- 
gle them , so as to need a miracu- 
lous dividing of the waters : they 
might have marched round as 
easily as through this extreme 
end of the gulf; but, in the 
next place, the channel here is 
not wide enough to admit of the 
supposition, that the whole 
Egyptian army, marching in file, 
could have been drowned by 
the return of the waters. Bry- 
ant, Bruce, and Burkhardt have 
nearly agreed, that the place 
called Clysma, 20 miles south 
of Suez, and by the Arabians, 
Ras Musa, the Cape of Moses, 
must have been the place where 
i this great event occurred. Hav- 
I ing crossed the gulf, they went 



JOU 

forward into the wilderness, a 
journey of three days, and came 
to Marah) whose bitter waters 
were miraculously rendered 
sweet, for their use. Marah 
corresponds with the well now 
called Hawara, whose waters 
are bitter. The next journey 
was to Elim, ' where were 12 
wells of water, and three score 
and ten palm-trees.' This place, 
as Niebuhr and Burkhardt a- 
gree, is now called JVady Gha- 
rendel, about 3 hours from Ha- 
wara. There is at this place 
now, a copious spring, and wa- 
ter may be obtained any where 
around by digging for it; so 
that we need not expect to find 
the precise number of wells 
which existed in the time of 
Moses. Hitherto, their march 
was parallel to the sea, and at 
no great distance from it ; but 
now the coast changes from 
south-east to due south, and the 
straight course to Sinai leaves it 
far to the right. From Elim, 
they journeyed through Dophka 
and Alush to Rephidim, where 
water was first obtained by 
smiting a rock with the rod of 
Moses ; and here the Israelites 
were first attacked by their im- 
placable enemies, the Amale- 
kites, Exod. xvii.3— 8.1 Sam. 
xv. 2. Their next encampment 
was in the desert of Sinai, where 
they remained 11 months, hav- 
ing spent 3 months in com- 
ing from Egypt to this place. 
Here they received the law3 and 
institutions of Jehovah; and here 
the tabernacle was erected and 
consecrated, and the whole cere- 
monial service put into opera- 
tion. On the 20th day of the 
second month of the second 
year, the pillar of cloud and fire 
arose from the tabernacle, where 
it had rested for some time, and 
by its course led them into the 
wilderness of Paran, 4 called the 
great and terrible wilderness.' 
When they came to Kibroth 
Hattaavah, they provoked God 



JOU 

to destroy many of them for 
their inordinate lusting, and for 
their unreasonable rebellion 
This place is also called Tabe 
rah; both names being derived 
from the fearful destruction of 
the people which occurred here 
From this place, where they re- 
mained long, they marched 
northward through Hazeroth, 
Rithma, Rimmon, Parez, Lib- 
nah,and Kadesh-barnea,whence 
the spies w T ere sent to explore 
the land. On the rebellion of 
the people, occasioned by the 
report of the spies, they were 
ordered to get them 'into the 
wilderness of the Red Sea,' 
Num. xiv. 25. Now their march 
was retrograde, and they came 
into the same wilderness of Pa- 
ran, which they had passed 
some time before, but by a dif- 
ferent rout. How much time 
they spent in the wilderness be- 
fore they reached Ezion-geber, 
a port on the eastern arm of the 
Red Sea, is unknown ; but 15 
stations are distinctly named. 
Probably they were sometimes 
stationary for a long period ; but 
in all their marches and restings 
they were under the direction 
of the pillar of cloud and fire 
which went before them, Num. 
ix. 22. For many days they en- 
compassed mount Seir, and 
then turned northward to the 
desert of Zin, and then jour- 
neyed to mount Hor, where Aa- 
ron died and was buried. Being 
disappointed in obtaining a pas- 
sage through the country of 
Edom, they returned to Ezion- 
geber, and passed round the 
south side of mount Seir At 
length they arrived at the brook 
Zared, in the 38th year after the 
time of their leaving Kadesh- 
barnea, and the 40th from their 
departure from the land of 
Egypt. This brook rises in the 
mountains of Korek, and falls 
into the Dead Sea about the mid- 
dle of the western side. From 
Zared they made one march 
327 



JOY 

across the Arnon, now Mudjeb, 
toDibon-Gad, the ruins of which 
place are still visible about four 
miles from the Arnon. Thence 
they proceeded by several stage* 
to the mountains of Abarim, on 
the east of Jordan, which chain 
of mountains they crossed at Pis- 
gah, from the summit of which 
Moses was indulged with a view 
of the land of Canaan, which 
he was not permitted to enter, 
and here also terminated his 
useful and laborious life. De- 
scending from these mountains, 
they came to Beth-jesimoth and 
Abel-shittim, where they en- 
camped on the banks of the Jor- 
dan, which river they crossed, 
as they had done the Red Sea, 
on dry ground. When the Is- 
raelites departed from Egypt, 
the number of males above 20 
years of age was 603,550 ; when 
they arrived insight of Canaan, it 
was 601,730; so that the decrease 
of their number, during the 40 
years' wandering in the wilder- 
ness, was 1820 : but it is re- 
markable, that while some of 
the tribes greatly increased in 
population, others lost half their 
original number, which is not 
very easily accounted for by the 
facts recorded in the sacred his- 
tory. As all who were above 
20 years of age when they left 
Egypt, perished in the wilder- 
ness, it is evident, that when 
they entered Canaan, there was 
not a man in all the host above 
three score, except Caleb and 
Joshua; so that all the men 
were effective and fit for milita- 
ry service. 

JOY, is either, (1.) Divine, 
which denotes that infinite plea- 
sure which God takes in his 
people or work, and to do good 
to, and support the same, Isa. 
lxii. 5. Zeph. iii. 17. Psal. civ. 
31. (2.) Natural among crea- 
tures, consisting in natural cheer- 
fulness, and arising from some 
outward pleasure or profit, Prov. 
xxiii. 24. (3.) Spiritual, excit- 



ISA 
ed by the Holy Ghost, and aris- 
ing from union to, possession of, 
and hope to enjoy for ever, a 
God in Christ ; and is attended 
with an agreeable earnestness 
in acting to his honour, Gal. v. 
22. (4.) Sijiful, when men re- 
joice in their sin, Prov. xv. 21 ; 
and even carnal joy or mirth 
becomes sinful if it is excessive, 
or takes place when God calls to 
mourning and grief, Isa. xxii. 13. 

ISAAC, the son of Abra- 
ham by Sarah. His mother, 
though ninety years old, nurs- 
ed him herself. Abraham was 
then one hundred years of 
age. When Isaac was about 
25, or perhaps 33 years of age, 
his father was ordered to offer 
him for a burnt offering. Isaac 
himself carried the wood for 
burning his body. When the 
knife was about to be plunged 
into his throat, the execution 
was divinely stopped, and a ram 
provided in his stead. When he 
was about 40, his father, by 
means of Eliezer, provided him 
with Rebekah the Syrian to 
wife. Isaac met her in the field, 
as she came, and lodged her in 
his mother's tent, who was now 
dead. Her two children were 
Esau and Jacob ; of whom the 
first was the darling of his father, 
and the last of his mother, Gen. 
xxi. xxii. xxiii. xxiv. xxvi. 

Isaac had fine crops, and his 
flocks multiplied exceedingly. 
He opened the wells which his 
father had digged, and which the 
Philistines had stopped. Finding 
Abimelech wearied of him, Isaac 
retired eastward to the valley of 
Gerar. Here his servants digged 
wells. For two of them the Phi- 
listines strove, and pretended 
that the water was theirs. Isaac 
called the one Esek, i. e. con- 
tention, and the other Sitnah, i. 
e. hatred. For a third they strove 
not, and he called it Rehoboth, 
as a memorial that the Lord had 
made room for him. Weary of 
strife, he retired eastward ta 
328 



ISA 

Beersheba, where God again re- 
newed his promise and covenant 
with him: and Abimelech, dread- 
ing the increase of his wealth, 
came to make an alliance with 
him. When he was about the 
100th year of his age, he and 
Rebekah were mightily grieved 
with the conduct of Esau, in his 
marriage of two Canaanitish 
women, Gen. xxvi. 

When he was about 137 years 
of age, his sight failed him ex- 
ceedingly. Supposing his death 
to be at hand, he desired his 
darling Esau to bring him some 
savoury venison, that he might 
eat and give, him his tenderest 
blessing before his decease. Re- 
bekah overhearing, caused Ja- 
cob go to the fold, and bring her 
some flesh, of which she made 
6avoury meat for Isaac. This 
she caused Jacob, whom she 
had dressed as like Esau as she 
could, to carry to his father, and 
pretend that he was Esau. He 
complied with her sinful direc- 
tions how to obtain the promised 
blessing. His father suspected 
and felt him ; but he constantly 
asserted that he was Esau. 
Isaac thereon blessed Jacob with 
a fruitful land, and dominion 
over all his brethren. Jacob had 
scarce gone off, when Esau 
came with his venison, and de- 
manded his father's blessing. 
Finding that Jacob had imposed 
on him, Isaac trembled to think 
how the providence of God was 
to work: strongly he inclined to 
recal the blessing of Jacob, but 
he could not. At Esau's bitter 
entreaties, he blessed him in an 
inferior degree. Finding that 
Jacob's life was in danger from 
Esau, whom he had tricked out 
of his birth-right and blessing, 
Isaac and Rebekah agreed to 
send him to Mesopotamia, and 
charged him to beware of es- 
pousing a Canaanitess. About 
43 years after, and 10 years be- 
fore Jacob went down into 
Egypt, Isaac died, and was ho- 



28* 



ISH 

nourably interred, by Jacob and 
Esau, in the cave of Machpelah- 
Here too, Rebekah w r as buried, 
Gen. xxvii. xxviii.xxxv. 27 — 29. 

ISAIAH, or Esaias, the pro- 
phet, the son of Amos ; and it 
is said, but without any proba- 
ble ground, that he was the cou- 
sin of King Uzziah, in the lat- 
ter end of whose reign he be- 
gan his predictions. 

He was a married man, and 
had a son called Shearjashub. 
He must have lived to an ex- 
treme old age, as he prophesied 
in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah; and it is 
the tradition of the Jews, that 
he was put to death by Manas- 
seh, by being sawn asunder, 
Heb. xi. 37. It is not improba- 
ble, therefore, that he lived to 
be fourscore, or a hundred years 
of age; and he may have been 
in the prophetic office 60 years. 
The book of prophecies written 
by Isaiah, is one of the most re- 
markable books in the world; 
and deserves to be studied day 
and night, by all who love evan- 
gelical truth ; or who are de- 
lighted with sublime descriptions 
of the triumph and glory of the 
church in the latter days. 

ISHBOSHETH, or JEshbaal, 
the son and successor of king 
Saul. In the 40th year of his 
life, Abner made him king in the 
room of his father, over all the 
Hebrew tribes, except that of 
Judah, which clave to David. 
He reigned two years pretty 
peaceably; but Abner's forward- 
ness drew on a war between the 
party of Ishbosheth and the sub- 
jects of David. 

ISHI. Thou sbalt no more 
call me Baali, but thou shalt 
call me Ishi; thou shalt not look 
on me as a rigid lord, but as a 
kind and affectionate husband; 
and shalt worship me in a man- 
ner quite free from the idolatry 
of Baal, Hos. ii. 16. 

ISHMAEL; 1. The son of 
Abraham by Hagar. When 



329 



ISH 

about 18 years of age, he was ob- 
served to mock Isaac, a child 
of iouror five. On this account, 
he and his mother were expelled 
the family. After being almost 
cut off with thirst in his way to 
Egypt, and miraculously re- 
freshed, he and his mother took 
up their residence in the wilder- 
ness of Pa ran, and lived by his 
shooting of venison. He mar- 
ried an Egyptian, at his mother's 
direction. According to the di- 
vine predictions to his father and 
mother, he had twelve sons, Ne- 
baioth, Kedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, 
Mishma, Duma, Massa, Hadar, 
Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Ke- 
demah; parents and princes of 
twelve Arabian tribes. He had 
also a daughter,called Mahalath, 
or Bathshemath, who was the 
wife of Esau her cousin. His 
posterity took up their residence 
between Havilah and Shur, in 
Arabia the Stony, and in part of 
Arabia Deserta, and were called 
Ishmaelites, Hagarenes, and in 
the later times Saracens. See 
Arabia. After Ishmael had lived 
130 years, he died amidst his 
friends, the offspring of Keturah, 
&c. Gen. xvi. xxi. xxv. 

2. Ishmael^ the son of Ne- 
thaniah, being one of the royal 
family of Judah, was sent by 
Baalis, king of the Ammonites, 
to murder Gedaliah, the deputy 
of Nebuchadnezzar over the 
Jews who were left in Canaan. 
After he had ungratefully mur- 
dered that good man, so averse 
to suspect his wicked designs, 
and a number of Jews and Chal- 
deans along with him, he mur- 
dered other 70 whom he met 
with, all except ten, who begged 
him to spare them, that they 
might discover to him their hid 
treasures. The rest of the Jews 
present, women and children, he 
carried captive, and marched to- 
wards his country of Ammon, 
where he had dwelt for some 
time. But Johanan the son of 
Kareah, and the other warriors, 



ISS 
returning to Mizpeh, and finding 
what he had done, pursued him ; 
recovered his captives and spoil ; 
but himself, and eight of his 
band, escaped safe to the Am- 
monites, Jer. xl. xli. 

ISLE, island; properly a spot 
of earth surrounded with sea 
But the Hebrew word translated 
isles, frequently means maritime 
places. 

ISRAEL. See Jacob. He- 



ISSACHAR, the fifth son of 
Jacob by Leah. The name Issa- 
char, signifying hire, was given 
him, because the occasion of his 
birth was purchased by some 
mandrakes, which Leah gave to 
Rachel. He had four sons, Tola, 
Phuvah or Phua, Job or Jashub, 
and Shimron. When this tribe 
came out of Egypt, they amount- 
ed to 54,400, under the govern- 
ment of Nathaneel the son of 
Zuar. Their spy to view the pro- 
mised land, was Igal the son of 
Joseph ; and their agent to di- 
vide it, was Paltiel the son of 
Azzah : they were stationed be- 
fore the tabernacle, in the camp 
of Judah, and increased in the 
wilderness to 64,300, Gen. xxx. 
14—18. xlvi.13. Num. i. 8. 29. 
x. 14, 15. xiii. 7. xxvi. 23—25. 
xxxiv. 26. They had their lot in 
one of the most fruitful places of 
Canaan, between the Zebulun- 
ites on the north, and the western 
Manassites on the south. They 
were extremely laborious and 
wealthy, ready, like the obedient 
ass, to bear the heaviest bur- 
den of labour or tribute. Nor did 
they forget to invite one another 
to the worship of God, Gen. 
xlix. 14, 15. Deut. xxxiii. 18, 19. 
Tolah the judge, and Baaaha 
the king of Israel, were the most 
noted of this tribe. Their princes 
were very active in the over- 
throw of Jabin's army by Barak, 
Judg. v. 15. Two hundred of 
the principal men, who had the 
rest at their direction, attended 
at David's coronation, and 
330 



JUD 

brought much provision with 
them. Under his reign, Omri, 
the eon of Michael, was their 
deputy-governor, and their num- 
ber able to draw sword was 
143,600, 1 Chr. xii. 32, 40. xxvii. 
18. vii. 1 — 6. Sundry of this tribe 
attended at Hezekiah's solemn 
passover, 2Chron. xxx. 18. 

ISSUE; (1.) Children; pos- 
terity, Gen. xlviii. 6. Ezek. 
xxiii. 20. (2.) A running of 
blood, &c. Lev. xii. 7. xv. 2. 

ITALY, a noted country in 
the south of Europe, stretched 
out to the south-east, between 
the gulf of Venice on the east, 
and the Tuscan sea on the south- 
west: it has part of France, 
Switzerland, and part of Ger- 
many, on the north ; and is 
shaped like a boot. It was an- 
ciently inhabited by the Umbri, 
who are perhaps the same with 
the Gomerians. 

ITHAMAR, the fourth son 
of Aaron. Never but in Eli's 
family was the high-priesthood 
vested in his family ; but his de- 
scendants constituted eight of 
the orders of the priests, 1 Chr. 
xxiv. 1 — 3. 

ITUREA, a country on the 
south-east of Syria, and east- 
ward of Bashan. Probably it 
was denominated from Jetur the 
son of Ishmael, and peopled by 
his posterity. 

JUBILEE. See Feast. 

JUDAH, the fourth son of 
Jacob by Leah: his name im- 
ports, that his mother praised 
the Lord for giving her children. 
When about fourteen years of 
age, he contracted a great fa- 
miliarity with Hira, a Canaan- 
ite of Adullam ; in consequence 
whereof he married one Shuah 
a Canaanitess, by whom he had 
three sons, Er, Onan, and She- 
lah. Judah married Er, when 
very young, to Tamar a Ca- 
naanitess : for some horrid wick- 
edness, the Lord cut him off by 
an untimely death. 

JUDAS ISCARIOT The 



JUD 

name of that disciple of Christ 
who betrayed him. Almost the 
only fact related of him by the 
evangelists, previously to the 
commission of the dreadful crime 
into which he fell, was a marked 
displeasure at Mary for expend- 
ing upon our Lord so much pre- 
cious ointment, which might 
have been sold for much and 
given to the poor. The truth, 
however, was, that he cared not 
for the poor, but he held the 
purse of the company, and if 
this money had been deposited 
with him for the poor, he would 
have had it in his power to steal 
it, and apply it to his own use. 
The reproof which he received 
from his Master, on this occa- 
sion, was probably the imme- 
diate cause of his determination 
to betray him: for none are 
more ready to take offence than 
the guilty ; and the sacred his- 
tory represents him as going 
immediately and agreeing with 
the chief priests and elders to 
deliver him into their hands. 
After this, however, he had the 
impudence to return again, and 
was present at the passover with 
Christ, and his fellow-disciples. 
Here our Lord announced in the 
hearing of all, that one of his 
disciples would betray him ; and 
pointed out Judas as the per- 
son ; on which he seems to have 
left the table in displeasure, and 
abruptly: probably before the 
Lord's Supper was instituted- 
Being now fully under the power 
of the devil, he went and be- 
came the leader of a band of 
soldiers, sent to apprehend Jesus. 
The impious man knew where 
his Master would be that even- 
ing, and he had the effrontery 
to intrude upon him in his hours 
of devotion ; and had agreed 
to make known the proper per- 
son to the soldiers, by prosti- 
tuting, as a signal, the usua/ 
sign of friendship and love 
therefore when he led the banc 
into the sequestered garden of 
331 



JUD 

Gethsemane, he went up to Je- 
sus, and kissed him, saying, 
4 Hail, Master ;' and received 
from the meek Saviour no other 
reproof than 'Judas, betrayest 
thou the Son of Man with a 
kiss V His covenanted work 
was now done, and he had the 
price of his iniquity in his pos- 
session ; it is probable, therefore, 
that he did not accompany the 
soldiers back to the chief priests 
and elders. But T .-,alas ! how soon 
did he find that 30 pieces of sil- 
ver were no cure for a guilty 
conscience. When his mind had 
opportunity for reflection, re- 
morse seized upon him; and 
covetous as he was, he could no 
longer bear about with him the 
price of innocent blood. Having 
learned that his Master was con- 
demned, he returned to the tem- 
]>le, and finding the persons from 
whom he iiad received the mo- 
ney, he cast it down, saying, in 
the agony of black despair, 'I 
have betrayed innocent blood ;' 
but they felt no compassion for 
him, nor any disposition to relax 
in their persecution of Jesus ; 
they said to him with indiffer- 
ence, ' See thou to that/ Imme- 
diately, the wretched man, una- 
ble to bear the burden of his 
misery, went and hanged him- 
self. It would seem, that the 
rope by which the traitor was 
suspended, broke, and that he 
fell on some sharp substance ; 
for Luke, in the Acts, informs 
us, 'that, falling headlong, he 
burst asunder in the midst, and 
his bowels gushed out.' Thus 
did Judas end his wretched life, 
a fearful warning to all hypo- 
crites, and a striking illustration 
of the truth, that 'the love of 
money is the root of all evil.' 
Better had it been for him if he 
had never been born ; for he went 
to his own place, and that could 
oe no other than a place of tor- 
ment. 

JUDAS, or Jude,the same as 
Thaddeus LebbeuSj the son of 



JUD 

Cleophas, and brother of James 
the Less, and the cousin and 
apostle of our Lord, Matth. x. 3. 
JUDEA, or Jewry. The coun- 
try of Judah was never so called 
till after the captivity. It was 
divided into Perea beyond Jor- 
dan ; Galilee, Samaria, and Ju- 
dea, on the west of Jordan. Ju- 
clea, thus taken, contained the 
original portions of the tribes of 
Judah, Benjamin, Dan, and Si- 
meon. It consisted of three parts ; 
the plain country on the west ; 
the hill country southward of 
Jerusalem ; and the south on the 
north borders of the land of 
Edom, Matth. iii. 1. Acts ii. 9. 
Zech. vii. 7. At present the 
name of Judea is applied to the 
whole country, once inhabited 
by the Jews. It is a land beau- 
tifully diversified with hills and 
valleys ; those hills are now bar- 
ren, but were once fruitful by 
skilful cultivation of the olive 
and vine. Some of the hills rise 
to such a height as to deserve 
the name of mountains ; espe- 
cially towards the north of the 
Holy Land, around the Dead 
Sea, and on the east side of Jor- 
dan. Formerly the hills and 
mountains of Judea were clothed 
with forests, but, according to 
modern travellers, these are now 
every where destroyed, except in 
the country of Bashan. There 
are several parts of the coun- 
try which are barren, where the 
population is sparse ; these are 
called, in scripture, wilderness- 
es; some of which are rocky and 
mountainous, and others level 
and sandy. There are, how- 
ever, in this country, beautiful 
and fertile plains, which are now, 
and ever have been, in high cul- 
tivation. The fertility of the 
country, making allowance for 
the Avant of cultivation, is now 
as great as represented in the 
Bible. The climate is different 
in different parts : in the north, 
about the sea of Galilee, it is 
temperate, salubrious, and plea 
332 



IVO 

Bant; while in the valley of Jor- 
dan, the heat is excessive : but 
it often happens here, that when 
the da} 7 is very hot, the air of the 
night is piercing cold. The rains 
fall chiefly in the autumn and 
the spring, and are called the 
former and the latter rain, the 
first serving to make the grain 
spring up ; and the last to ripen 
it in the ear. 

JUDGES, the Book of, is one 
of the canonical books of the 
Old Testament, which was pro- 
bably written by Samuel; to 
which the book of Ruth was an 
appendix, by the same author. 
It includes a period of several 
hundred vears. 

JUDGMENT; (1.) Wisdom 
and prudence, whereby one can 
judge of what is proper or im- 
proper, risdit or wrong, Jer. x. 
24. Isa. xxx. 18. Psal. lxxii. 1. 
(2.) Strict equity, such as should 
appear in judging, Luke xi. 42. 
(3.) The power of governing and 
judging the world; this God hath 
committed to Christ, John v. 22. 
xvi. 8. 

JULIUS, a centurion of 
Augustus's band. Into his hands 
Festus committed Paul, to con- 
vey him prisoner to Bome. He 
showed a great regard for that 
apostle. See Paul. Acts xxvii. 

JUNTA, an early convert to 
the Christian faith, and of note 
among the aposties. But whe- 
ther this person to whom Paul 
sends his salutation was a man, 
or a woman, and the wife of 
Andronicus, I cannot determine, 
Rom. xvi. 7. 

JUNIPER, a well-known 
Bhrub. The leaves are ever- 
green, and are plain and simple, 
not like those of the cypress. Its 
appearance is very similar to 
that of the cedar, and some of 
the Greeks called it by that 
name. 

IVORY, a hard substance, 
white in colour, and capable of 
a fine polish. It is the tusks of 
elephants, which are hollow from 



JUS 

the base to a certain height, and 
the cavity is filled up with a 
marrowy substance mingled with 
glands. These ivory tusks re- 
semble horns, Ezek. xxvii. 15. 

JUPITER, the great god of 
the Heathens. Perhaps the name 
is derived from Jao, Jeve, or Je 
hovah, and pater, father. It is 
certain, the Jupiters among the 
Latins, and Zeus's among the 
Greeks, were as common as the 
Baals in the east. 

JUST, or righteous; what is 
agreeable to giving every one 
his due. God is just and righ- 
teous: of his own nature he is 
infallibly disposed to render to 
himself, and to every one of his 
creatures, what is just and equal, 
agreeable to their nature, or ac- 
cording to their deserts, or the 
deserts of another in their stead, 
Deut. xxxii. 4. Psal.xi. 7. Christ 
is just and righteous; he is infi- 
nitely just and holy as God, per- 
fectly holy and obedient as man, 
and has fulfilled, in our stead, 
the whole demands of the broken 
covenant of works, 1 Pet. iii. 18. 
1 John ii. 1. The saints a.iejust' 
and righteous. 

Justice, righteousness, or 
equity; the giving of every one 
his due. God's justice or righ- 
teousness, is that essential per- 
fection of his nature, whereby 
he is disposed to render to every 
one his due; gives creatures 
laws suited to their nature, and 
which he originally gives them 
sufficient strength to perform ; 
and renders to them the due re- 
ward of that moral good or evil 
which is justly charged to their 
account. Ignorance of this righ- 
teousness of God, occasions men 
going about to establish their 
own righteousness, Rom. x. 3. 
God's righteousness sometimes 
may signify his mercy, goodness, 
and faithfulness, Deut. vi. 25. 
Isa. xlii. 6. 

JUSTIFY, to sustaiu, or de- 
clare one righteous. It never 
signifies to render one holy: God 
333 



JUS 
or Christ cannot be rendered 
holy. It is represented as sinful 
to justify the wicked, or to 
justify one's self; but it could 
never be sinful, to render holy 
the wicked, or one's self. To 
justify, is the opposite of con- 
demnation, Prov. xvii. 15. Deut. 
xxv. 1. Matth. xii. 37. God is 
justified, when the righteous- 
ness of his conduct is openly 
manifested and declared: Da- 



JUT 

vid's sin justified God ; God ap 
peared perfectly righteous in 
threatening of punishing it; and 
his confession justified God, as 
therein he acknowledged God's 
holiness and righteousness in all 
that came upon him for it, Psal. 
li.4. 

JUTTAH, a city of the por- 
tion of Judah ; but whether the 
same as the city Judah, Luke i. 
39., I know not, Josh. xv. 55. 



KAD 

KAB, a measure of about 
ninety-six solid inches. By 
some it is supposed to be more 
than a quart of our measure, 2 
Kings vi. 25. 

KABZEEL, or Jekabzeel^vaiS 
a city of Judah ; it seems, near 
the west shore of the Dead Sea, 
Josh. xv. 21 ; and here Benaiah, 
the general of Solomon's army, 
was born, 2 Sam. xxiii. 20. 

KADESH, Kedesh, or Ka~ 
desh-barnea, was a place on the 
south of Canaan, about 24 miles 
south from Hebron, and on the 
edge of the wilderness of Paran. 
It was anciently called Enmich- 
pat, because there the Canaan- 
ites had judged their people, 
near to a well, Gen. xiv. 7. Per- 
haps it was called Rithmah, 
from the junipers, or turpen- 
tine-trees, or other shrubs, that 
grew near to it, Num. xxxiii. 
18. xiii.26. xxxii. 8. Here the 
Hebrews long sojourned, and 
from hence Moses sent the spies 
to view the promised land, Deut. 
i. 46. Whether this be the Ka- 
desh in the wilderness of Zin, 
where Miriam died, I dare not 
affirm. Lightfoot is positive it 
was; and Wells thinks it was 
not. There was another Kedesh. 
in the lot of Naphtali, which 
was given to the Gershonites, 
and made a city of refuge, Josh. 
xxi. 32. xx. 7. Kishon, of the 
tribe of Issachar, which was also 
given to the Gershonites, was 
also called Kedesh, 1 Chr. vi. 72. 



KED 

KADMONITES, or Easter- 
lings, a tribe of the Canaanites 
who dwelt to the north-east of 
Canaan, near Mount Hermon. 

KANAH ; (1.) A river on the 
south border of the western Ma- 
nassites ; by some thought to be 
the same as Cherith, so called 
from the reeds of canes growing 
about it; but perhaps it was a 
different river, and run west- 
ward into the Mediterranean 
Sea, Josh. xvi. 8. xvii. 9, 10. (2.J 
Kanah, a city of the tribe oi 
Asher, and not far from Zidon, 
Josh, xix.28; but whether this, 
or another place about four 
miles north of Nazareth, was the 
Cana of Galilee, where our Sa- 
viour attended at a marriage, 
I cannot certainly determine; 
though, with Maundrel, I rather 
incline to the latter proposition, 
as it was much nearer the resi- 
dence of Christ's mother, John 
ii. 

KARKOR. We suppose it, 
and Nobah, and Jog beh ah, were 
all cities about the head of the 
river Arnon, or a little north- 
ward from it, Judg. viii. 10. 

KEDAR, a son of Ishmael, 
and father of the Kedarenes, 
who resided about the south 
parts of Arabia the Desert, ordi- 
narily in tents, but sometimes in 
villages, and whose glory and 
wealth chiefly consisted in their 
flocks and herds, Song i. 5. L?a. 
xlii. 11. xxi. 16. 

KEDEM AH, the youngest son 
334 



KEN 

oflehmael. He could not be the 
father of the Kadmonites, as 
hey existed before he was born, 
Gen. xv. 19. xxv. 15. 

KEILAH, a city belonging to 
ihe tribe of Judah. It stood 
north-west of Hebron, and about 
sixteen or twenty miles south- 
west of Jerusalem, Josh. xv. 44. 

KEMUEL, the third son of 
Nahor, and father of Aram ; from 
him probably sprung the Kamel- 
ites, who Strabo says, dwelt east 
of Syria, and westward of the 
Euphrates, Gen. xxii. 21. 

KENATH, a town of the 
eastern Manassites. Nobah, one 
of them, took it from the Ca- 
naanites, and called it after him- 
self, Num. xxxii.42. 

KENITES, a people whose 
origin is not distinctly known, 
but who are supposed to have 
been a tribe of Midianites, and 
to have had their residence near 
the Amalekites in the south- 
west part of Arabia-Petrea, 
where Saul was sent to destroy 
the Amalekites ; the Kenites 
who had joined them, perhaps 
by compulsion, were ordered to 
depart from them, that they 
might not share in their fate; 
and the reason assigned was that 
they " showed kindness to the 
children of Israel when they 
came up out of Egypt," 1 Sam. 
xv. 6. Which, according to the 
margin of our Bible, is to be un- 
derstood of the father-in-law of 
Moses and his family. From 
the story of Jethro, who is ex- 
pressly said to be a Midianite, 
they appear to have retained the 
worship of the true God among 
them, for which, and their kind- 
ness to the Israelites, they were 
spared in the general destruction 
of the nations bordering on Ca- 
naan. Of these Kenites were 
the Rechabites, and others men- 
tioned in 1 Chron. ii. 55. whose 
chief office was that of Scribes. 
See Rechabites. 

The KENIZZITES were a 
tribe of the ancient Canaanites, 



KIN 

who seem to have resided in the 
mountains of Judah, Gen. xv. 19. 

KERIOTH-HEZRON, was 
also called Haior, and was a 
city of the tribe of Judah, Josh, 
xv. 25. There was another city 
called Kirioth, in the country of 
Moab, and which the Assyrians 
and Chaldeans terribly wasted, 
Amos ii. 2. Jer. xlviii. 24. 41. 

KETURAH. SeejSbrakam. 

KID, a young goat, very often 
used in sin-offerings. Kids were 
sometimes given in presents, and 
their flesh was esteemed a deli- 
cious dish, but was never to be 
boiled in its mother's milk, as 
that would have been an appear- 
ance of cruelty, and an imitation 
of Heathen superstition. Gen. 
xxxviii. 17. Judg. xv. 1. 1 Sam. 
xvi. 20. Judg. vi. 19. xiii. 19. Gen. 
xxvii. 9. Ex. xxiii. 19. xxxiv. 26. 

KIDRON or Cedron, a brook 
which runs south-eastward, 
along the east side of Jerusalem, 
through what is called the valley 
of Jehoshaphat, or valley of the 
son of Hinnom. It runs along 
the west side of the mount of 
Olives, between it and the city, 
and then runs south-eastward 
into the Dead Sea. David cross- 
ed it in his escape from Absa 
lom, and Jesus in his way to the 
garden of Gethsemane, 2 Sam. 
xv. 23. John xviii. 1. 

This brook, though it receives 
all the rivulets about Jerusalem, 
is small, and in summer com- 
monly dry ; but after heavy rains 
it swells exceedingly, and rushes 
along with much force. On such 
occasions it is very useful, as it 
carries off all the tilth of the city 
emptied into it, from the com- 
mon sewers. 

KING, a chief ruler of a tribe 
or nation. At first the power of 
kings was of a very small extent, 
over but one city or large vil- 
lage. Benhadad had 32 kings 
subject to him, 1 Kings xx. 1. 16. 
In Canaan, Adonibezek con- 
quered 70 kings, and made then*-' 
eat bread under his table, Jqt 
335 



KIR 

shua conquered 31, Judg. i. 7. 
Josh. xii. Nimrod of Babylon 
"was the first king we read of; 
but soon after, we find kings in 
Egypt, Persia, Canaan, Edom, 
&c. Gen. x. 10. xiii. xiv. xx. 

KINGDOM; (1.) The country 
or countries subject to one king, 
Deut. iii. 4. (2.) The power of 
acting as king, or of supreme ad- 
ministration, 1 Sam. xviii. 8. xx. 
31. God's universal dominion 
over all things, is called his 
kingdom; thereby he preserves, 
protects, gives laws to, and regu- 
lates all his creatures, and can 
dispense favours or judgments 
as he pleaseth, 1 Chron. xxix. 11. 
Ps. cxlv. 12. The visible church, 
especially under the New Testa- 
ment, is called a kingdom ; 
Christ and his Father rule in it, 
and maintain order, safety, and 
happiness therein. It is called 
the kingdom of heaven; it is of 
a heavenly original, has a hea- 
venly governor and laws; and is 
erected to render multitudes fit 
for heaven, Matt. iii. 2. v. 19, 20. 
xiii. 47. xvi. 18. Col. i. 13. 

KIR, Kir her es, Kirharesh, 
Kirharesheth, a principal city 
of the Moabites, ravaged by 
the Hebrews under Jehoram, 2 
Kings iii. 25, and long after ruin- 
ed by the Assyrians, and by the 
Chaldeans, Isa. xv. 1. xvi. 7. 11. 
Jer. xlviii. 31. (2.) Kir, a place 
in Media, whither the Syrians 
and part of the Hebrews were 
carried captive by the Assyrians, 
and part of the inhabitants of 
which served in Sennacherib's 
army against Judah, 2 Kings 
xvi. 9. Amos i. 5. ix. 7. Isa. 
xxii. 6. 

KIRJATHAIM, or double 
city, a city on the east of Jordan, 
about 10 miles west of Medeba. 
It seems to have been built be- 
fore Chedorlaomer's ravages, 
Gen. xiv. 5. Probably Sihon 
took it from the Moabites, and 
Moses took it from him, and 
gave it to the Reubenites; but 



KIS 

the Moabites long after retook 
it. 

KIRJATHARIM, Kirjath- 
jearim, Kirjathbaal,or Baalah; 
a city of Judah, situated in or 
near to a wood, about 9 or 10 
miles north-west of Jerusalem 
It was one of the cities of the 
Gibeonites. Here the ark of God 
continued for perhaps about 80 
or 90 years after it came back 
from the land of the Philistines, 
Josh. ix. 17. xv. 9. 60. ISam. vii. 
1. 1 Chron. xiii. 

KISHON, a stream whose 
principal source is in mount Ta- 
bor, but it receives streams also 
from other hills farther to the 
south. It pursues its course 
north-westward, through the 
plain of Esdraelon, and by the 
foot of mount Carmel, and falls 
into the Mediterranean at a place 
called Caipha, in a gulf formed by 
mount Carmel and the point of 
Acre. Like most other streams 
of Judea, the Kishon is, for a 
considerable part of the year, a 
stream of no great size ; but in 
the winter it is often swelled into 
a rapid torrent, by the rains de- 
scending from the mountains. 
Its course is about 30 miles. 
Near the mouth of this river, a 
smaller stream empties into the 
same gulf, formerly called Belus, 
and celebrated for its sands, 
which were used in making 
glass, Judg. v. 21. Ps. Ixxxiii. 9. 

KISS. In the east, kissing of 
the feet or ground expresseth 
vassalage or reverence ; kissing 
the decrees of judges, imports 
complaisant subjection; kissing 
of petitions, an humble present- 
ing of them. Equals kiss the 
head, shoulder, and beard of one 
another; but they kiss the hand 
of sacred persons, and kiss their 
own hand in honour of idols, 
Ps. lxxii. 8, 9. Isa. xlix. 23. Gen. 
xli. 40. xxxiii. 4. Job xxxi. 26, 
27. At their meeting for reli- 
gious worship, the primitive 
Christians seem to have been 
wont to kiss one another. This 
336 



KOR 

the Scripture requires to be a 
holy kiss, and a kiss of charity, 
L e. proceeding from a pure 
heart, and the most Christian 
and chaste affection, Rom. xvi. 
16. 1 Pet. v. 14. 

KITE. See Vulture. 

KITTIM. See Chittim. 

KOHATH, the second son of 
Levi, and father of Amram, 
Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. From 
him, by Aaron tiie son of Am- 
ram, sprung the Hebrew priests. 
The rest of his family, at their 
departure from Egypt, were 
8600 males, 2750 of which were 
fit for service. They, under 
Elizaphan the son of Uzziel, 
pitched on the south side of the 
tabernacle, and they marched 
after the host of Reuben. Their 
business was, to carry on their 
shoulders the ark, and other sa- 
cred utensils of the tabernacle : 
but were not, under pain of 
death, allowed to look at any of 
these, except perhaps the brazen 
laver, Exod. vi. 15—25. .Numb. 
iii. iv. x. 21. 

KOR AH, Koreh, Core; the 
Cousin of Moses, son of Izhar, 
and father of Assir, Elkanah 
and Abiasaph. Envying the au- 
thority of Moses and Aaron, 
Korah, together with Dathan 
and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and 
On the son of Peleth, chief men 
of the Reubenites, with 250 
other chiefs of the congregation, 
formed a party against them 
They haughtily upbraided Moses 
and Aaron, as taking too much 
upon them, since the whole con- 
gregation were sacred to God. 
aloses replied, that they were 
too arrogant to find fault with 
the prescriptions of God, and 
that to-morrow the Lord would 
Bhow whom he allowed to offi- 



KOR 

ciate in the priesthood. He ad 
vised Korah, and his 250 accom 
plices, to appear with their cen 
sers full of incense, on that 
occasion, to stand the trial. 
They did so, and put sacred fire 
into their censers. They also 
convened a great body of the 
people, to rail on Moses and 
Aaron, at least to witness God's 
acceptance of their incense. 
From a bright cloud hovering 
over the tabernacle, God ordered 
Moses and Aaron to separata 
themselves from the assembly, 
that he might destroy them in 
an instant. Moses and Aaron 
begged that he would not de 
stroy the whole congregation foi 
the sin of a few, who had stirred 
them up. The Lord granted thert 
request, and directed them tr 
order the congregation to flee a? 
fast as they could from the tents 
of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 
They had scarce retired, when 
the earth, according to Moses's 
prediction, opened her mouth, 
and swallowed them up alive, 
and all their tents and families. 
Meanwhile, a fire from God con- 
sumed the 250 men that offered 
incense along with Korah. It 
seems, the sons of Korah de>- 
tested their father's arrogance, 
and were perhaps miraculously 
preserved, and continued in their 
sacred office. Their descendants 
were Samuel,Heman,and others, 
sacred musicians in the time of 
David ; and to them were eleven 
of the Psalms, viz. xlii. xliv — 
xlix. Ixxxiv. lxxxv. lxxxvii. 
lxxxviii, delivered to be set to 
music, Exod. vi. 24. Num. xvi. 
xxvi. 9, 11. 1 Chron. vi. 33—38 
xxv. Some of them were por 
ters to the temple, chap. xxvi. 



LAB 

ABAN, the son of Bethuel, 

I the brother of Rebekah, and 

father of Leah and Rachel. He 
appears to have been a very ac- 
P 29 



L 



LAB 

tive man, and to have had a great 
deal of power in his father's fife- 
time ; but was an idolater, and 
a person covetous and deceitful. 
337 



LAN 

LACHISH, a city of Judah, 
about twenty miles south-east 
of Jerusalem, and seven south- 
west of Eleutheropolis, Josh. x. 
5. 32. xii. 11. xv. 39. 

LAKE, a very large pool of 
standing water, such as the lake 
of Merora, Gennesaret, Scdom, 
&c. See Jordan, Sea. The 
lakes of Egypt are for a defence 
to the country, Isa. xix. 5, 6, 7. 
Ezek. xxix. 3. Hell is called a 
lake burning- zoith fire and brim- 
stone, Rev. xix. 20. xx. 10 — 15. 

LAMECH, a descendant of 
Cain by Methusael. He is reck- 
oned the first that ever married 
more wives than one ; his wives 
were Adah and Zillah. By Adah, 
Lamech had two sons ; Jabal, 
who first invented dwelling in 
tents, and roving about with 
herds of cattle ; and Jubal, who 
was the first, inventor of music 
on harps and organs. By Zillah 
he had Tubalcain, the first in- 
ventor of foundery and smith- 
work, and is supposed to be the 
Vulcan, or god of smiths, among 
the Heathen; and a daughter 
called Naamah, or the comely 
one, who is perhaps the most an- 
cient Venus of the Pagans, Gen. 
iv. 18—24. 

Lamech, the son of Methuse- 
lah, and father of Noah, who 
lived 777 years, and died five 
years before the flood, Gen. v. 
25—31. IChron. i. 3. Luke hi. 
36. 

LAMPS. God is likened to 
a lamp; he enlightens, comforts, 
and honours his people, 2 Sam. 
xxii. 29. The word of God is a 
lamp and light; it discovers ma- 
nifold mysteries ; it directs men's 
course, and comforts their hearts 
amidst the darkness of this world, 
Psal. cxix. 105. 

LANCE, a spear; 1 Samuel 
xvii. 7. 

LANCETS, javelins, short 
spears, 1 Kings xviii. 28. 

LAND; (1.) The whole con- 
tinent of the earth, as distin- 
guished from the sea, Matth. 



LAN 
xxiii. 15. (2.) A particular coun- 
try, especially what parts of it 
are fit to be ploughed, Matth. 
ix. 26. Gen. xxvi. 12. Acts iv. 
37. Matth. xix. 29. (3.) The in- 
habitants of a country, Isaiah 
xxxvii. 11. Canaan is called 
hnmanueVs land, or the Lord's 
land. 

LANGUAGE, a set of words 
made use of by the people of 
any particular country, or coun- 
tries, to express their thoughts. 
No doubt God, at the first, in- 
spired men with language. With- 
out supposing this, we see not 
how they could so early con- 
verse with God, or with each 
other. While men lived so long, 
and applied only to the more 
simple methods of life, as before 
the flood, their ideas were few, 
and their language was easily 
preserved without alteration. 
For some time after the flood, 
mankind were still of one lan- 
guage and speech, but what it 
was, is not so readily agreed. 
Could we, with Shuckford, be- 
lieve that Noah went almost di- 
rectly eastward to China, we 
should readily imagine the Chi- 
nese language, which is but sim- 
ple, and its original words very 
few, was the first one. But as it 
is certain Noah did not retire to 
these eastern regions before the 
building of Babel, nor evident 
that he did so afterwards, we 
cannot adopt this opinion. When 
we observe the simplicity and 
emphasis of the Hebrew tongue ; 
when we consider how exactly 
the Hebrew names of animals 
suit their natures, and how ex- 
actly the names of persons suit 
to the reason of their imposition, 
we cannot but declare for the 
Hebrew. It is absurd for the 
Chaldaic, Assyrian, Arabic, or 
Ethiopic, to compete in this 
claim. Every unbiassed observ- 
er will plainly see them but dia- 
lects of the Hebrew tongue; and 
perhaps they, as well as the 
Phenician. were for many ages 
338 



LAW 

almost the same with the He- 
brew. As the Jews lived in a 
manner so distinct from other 
people, they bid fairest to pre- 
serve the language uncorrupted. 
As we have no standard book 
in the Hebrew besides the Old 
Testament, the signification of 
not a few of its words, seldom 
used, is not altogether certain to 
us ; but by tracing them in simi- 
lar words of the Arabic, &e. we 
may arrive at what is very pro- 
bable. 

LAODICEA. There were at 
least six cities of this name; 
but the scripture mentions only 
that of Phrygia, on the river Ly- 
cus, near Colosse. It was an- 
ciently called Jupiter's city, and 
then Rhoas ; but Seleucus, or 
perhaps Antiochus, the Syro- 
Grecian king, rebuilt it, and 
called it Laodicea after his wife. 
Though Paul never preached 
here, yet a Christian church was 
early planted in this place. 

LAVER, a vessel for wash- 
ing. The Mosaic laver was 
made of the fine brazen looking- 
glasses, which the Hebrew wo- 
men brought to him for the ser- 
vice of the tabernacle. This 
laver held the sacred water for 
the priests to wash their hands 
and feet with, by cocks, at which 
the water run into basons. It 
stood between the altar and the 
entrance of the tabernacle, Ex. 
xxxviii. 8. 

A LAW properly is the de- 
clared will of a superior, oblig- 
ing his subjects to perform what 
is pleasing to him, and to avoid 
what displeases him; but the 
scripture uses this word to ex- 
press any thing that communi- 
cates instruction to or occasions 
any obligation on an inferior. 
It is the same with command- 
ments, precepts, statutes. When 
God created man at first, he im- 
printed the knowledge, love, and 
awe of his law on tiieir minds. 
3in has defaced, but not utterly 
erased this inwrought impres- 



LAW 

sion, as to the knowledge and 
awe of the divine law, Rom. ii. 
14, 15. Our consciences still 
suggest to us our obligation to 
believe in, worship, and serve the 
Supreme Being ; to honour our 
parents and governors ; to pro- 
mote our own real welfare and 
happiness, in time and eternity; 
and to do to others as we rea- 
sonably wish they would unto 
us, &c. : but how to perform 
these things truly and accepta- 
bly, or how to obtain pardon of 
what we do amiss, they inform 
us not. In the innocent state, 
God added the positive laws of 
observing a Sabbath ; of absti- 
nence from the fruit of the tree 
of knowledge, and of fruitful- 
ness in and government of the 
earth, Gen. i. ii. After the fall, 
the law of sacrifices was im- 
posed, Gen. iii. 21. The Jews 
often mention the seven pre- 
cepts imposed on Noah and his 
family; the first whereof, they 
say, enjoined subjection to go- 
vernors : the second prohibited 
blasphemy; the third prohibited 
idolatry and superstition ; the 
fourth forbade incest, and the 
like impurities ; the fifth prohi- 
bited murder ; the sixth prohi 
bited all kinds of theft ; and the 
seventh forbade the eating any 
part of an animal while it was 
yet living : but we cannot safely 
depend on their accounts of this 
seven-fold law, Gen. ix. God 
imposed the law of circumcision 
on Abraham and his family, Gen. 
\ xvii. To Moses and the He~ 
: brews in the desert, God gave a 
I threefold system of laws ; a mo- 
| ral system, which binds all per- 
! sons of mankind, in every nation 
' and age ; a ceremonial, which 
j prescribed the rites of their wor- 
I ship and sacred things, and 
! thereby pointed out Jesus Christ 
1 in his person and work, and the 
| blessings of his New Testament 
church and heavenly kingdom ; 
j and which were obligatory only 
till Jesus had finished his pur- 
339 



LAW 

chasing work, and began to erect 
his gospel-church, Heb. x. 1. vii. 
9—11. Eph. ii. 15, 16. Col. ii. 14. 
Gal. v. 2, 3 ; and a judicial or 
political system, which directed 
the policy of the Jewish nation, 
as under the peculiar dominion 
of God as their Supreme Ma- 
gistrate, and never, except in 
things relative to moral equity, 
was binding on any but the He- 
brew nation, especially while 
they enjoyed the possession of 
the promised land. 

The ceremonial law regulated 
the office and conduct of priests, 
Levites, JVethinims, Nazarites, 
and of circumcision, feasts, of- 
ferings, tabernacle, temple, and 
utensils thereof, vows, purifica- 
tions, &c. In respect of observ- 
ance, this law was a heavy yoke 
and partition-wall ; but in re- 
spect of the signification of its 
ceremonies, it was an obscure 
gospel, Gal. v. 1. Eph. ii. 14. 
Col. ii. 17. The judicial law re- 
gulated the affairs of their kings, 
judges, fields, marriages, pun- 
ishments, &c. Some laws rela- 
tive to redeemers, murders, adul- 
tery, cities of refuge, hanged 
malefactors, strangers, &cc. seem 
to have been partly ceremonial 
and partly judicial. Great care 
was taken to keep up the know- 
ledge of the divine law. Besides 
the tables of the ten command- 
ments reposited in the ark, a co- 
py of the books of Moses was 
laid up somewhere in the side 
of the ark. The Jews say that 
every tribe had a copy "of it. 
From this other copies were ta- 
ken. Every king was obliged 
to transcribe one for himself. 
The whole law was to be pub- 
licly read over at the feast of ta- 
bernacles in the year of release, 
besides the reading of it on other 
public occasions. Nay,fheywere 
required to have it written on 
(heir hearts, and to teach it dili- 
gently unto their children, Deut. 
xvii. xxxi. 9—19. vi. x. To this 
day, the Jews have the utmost 



LAZ 

regard for their law, reading, Jn 
the ancient manner, so much of 
it every Sabbath in their syna* 
gogues. The book of it publicly 
used, is written with the greatest 
exactness, and is carefully pre- 
served from every thing tending 
to defile it. 

Lawgiver. God or Christ ig a" 
Lawgiver; his sovereign will is 
the infallible rule of our conduct; 
and he hath prescribed laws to 
us in his word, Isa. xxxiii. 23L 
James iv. 12 ; and he is the only 
Lord of our conscience, whose 
mere will binds it to obedience, 
and whose laws are subject to no 
examination, being absolutely 
supreme and infallible. Moses 
was a lawgiver; by him God 
gave his system of laws to the 
Hebrews : the law is called his, 
and he is said to give its com- 
mandments, Num. xxi. 18. Deut. 
xxxiii. 21. 

Lawyer, an explainer of the 
Jewish laws. 

LAZARUS, together with his 
sisters Martha and Mary, dwell 
at Bethany. Jesus sometimes 
lodged in their house. Not ma- 
ny months before our Saviour's 
crucifixion, Lazarus fell dange* 
rously sick : his sisters sent to 
Jesus, who was then beyond 
Jordan, to come with all expe- 
dition to cure him: but he re* 
mained where he was until La- 
zarus was actually dead. On 
the fourth day after his inter- 
ment, Jesus came to Bethany, 
and after much interesting con- 
versation with Martha and Ma»- 
ry, in which he manifested a 
deep and tender sympathy with 
their affliction, even to groans 
and tears, he went to the grave, 
accompanied by the two sisters 
and by all the Jews who were 
present at the house; some of 
whom, observing that Jesus 
wept, said, 'Behold, how he 
loved him;' and they inquired 
one of another, 'whether he 
who had opened the eyes of the 
blind could not have prerented 
340 



LEA 

the death of this man.' Jesus 
now gave orders that the stone 
which served as a covering to 
the cave, should be removed: 
to this Martha objected, on ac- 
count of the length of time that 
the corpse had been buried. Je- 
sus admonished her to believe, 
and she should quickly see a 
display of the glorious power of 
God. He then gave thanks to 
his heavenly Father, and called 
to Lazarus to come forth. The 
command was no sooner given 
than obeyed, for instantly Laza- 
rus came forth enveloped in his 
* grave clothes,' which Jesus or- 
dered to be removed, and restor- 
ed him alive to his weeping sis- 
ters. The enemies of Christ at 
Jerusalem, in the vicinity of 
which city this stupendous mi- 
racle was wrought, were so in- 
censed by the report of it, that 
they not only determined to put 
him to death, but Lazarus also, 
because, by means of him, many 
Jews were induced to believe in 
Jesus. 

The house of these three 
friends, seems to have been the 
home of Jesus when he was at 
Jerusalem, for we never read of 
his lodging in the city ; but 
when he had laboured there all 
day, it is said, that he went out 
to Bethany in the evening. Ac- 
cordingly, six days before his 
■crucifixion, we find him again 
here, when Lazarus sat at the 
table with him, John xi. xii. 1—2. 
Matt.xxvi.6— 13. Markxiv.3— 9. 

Lazarus, the name of the 
poor man in Christ's parable. 

LEAH. See Jacob. 

LEASING, falsehood, lies, 
Psal. iv. 2. v. 6. 

LEAYEX, a substance used 
to mix with dough, to make 
it light by fermenting. Such 
bread as was made of dough 
unsoured and unfermented, was 
called unleavened; and what 
was made of fermented dough, 
was called leavened^ Exodus 
xii. 15. 



LEB 

LEBANON, a famed moun- 
tain in the south of Syria, and 
north of Canaan. When taken 
at large, it is about 300 mMes 
in circumference, and consists 
of two large mountains, Leba- 
non or Libanus, and Antiliba- 
nus. According to the ancient?, 
these mountains lay east and 
west ; but the moderns say, thai 
they lie south and north, Lebar 
non on the west side, and Antk- 
libanus on the east, with Hot- 
low Syria, or the pleasant valley 
of Lebanon, between them, 
Josh. xi. 17. According to Cat- 
met, Mount Lebanon is shaped 
like a horse-shoe, with its oper>- 
ing towards the north. 

This mountain is often men- 
tioned and much celebrated in 
scripture, on account of its 
large and valuable cedars, its 
choice wines, its snow, and its 
pure water. But, of the noble 
cedars which once adorned the 
summits of this mountain, few 
now remain, and these much 
decayed. Burkhardt, who cross*- 
ed it A. D. 1810, counted 36 
large cedars, 50 of middling size, 
and 300 young ones ; but there 
might have been more on othe? 
parts of the mountain not visit- 
ed by him. The wine, espe- 
cially that of the convent of 
Canobin, still preserves its an- 
cient character, and is reported 
by travellers to be of the most 
exquisite flavour. The springs 
and streams of Lebanon are very 
numerous. Its snow seems to 
have been formerly conveyed to 
a distance, for the purpose of 
cooling wine and other liquors- 
Some of Isaiah's most elegant 
imagery is derived from this 
mountain and its appurtenances. 
Moses mentions, in his earnest 
prayer to God, recorded DeuL 
iii. 25 — 27., as a reason for wish- 
ing to go over, his desire to see 
' this goodly mountain Leba- 
non.' "The height of this moun- 
tain has not been ascertained it, 
any other way than by the pei ■ 
»* 341 



LED 

petuity of snow observed on 
some parts of its summit, par- 
ticularly on the north-east part. 
Now, the region of perpetual 
congelation in that warm cli- 
mate, must be as high as 10,000 
feet : it is probable, therefore, 
that the highest ridge of Libanus 
is not less than 11,000 feet in al- 
titude. The name Lebanon or 
Libanus, is derived from the 
whiteness of its summits, in con- 
sequence of the snow which 
covers them. This chain of 
mountains extends from Cilicia 
to Phenicia, even to mount Ta- 
bor, where it bounds the beauti- 
ful plain of Esdraelon. Its 
whole length, therefore, may be 
computed at 40 or 50 leagues. 
The soil, in general, is rich and 
productive. These mountains 
are at present inhabited by 
Greeks, Maronites, Druses, and 
Mahomedans. Many rivers 
or streams take their rise in 
mount Libanus, the largest of 
which is the Orontes, which 
runs almost due north, a course 
of 30 leagues : then turning to 
the west by Antioch and Se- 
leucia, falls into the Mediterra- 
nean sea, about 20 miles below 
the last mentioned city. Its 
whole course measures nearly 
330 miles. La Roque describes 
these mountains as much in- 
fested with wild beasts. Un- 
doubtedly Lebanon is the most 
elevated ground in all Syria. 
Soon after leaving the island of 
Cyprus, the mariner beholds 
the snow-capped mountains of 
Libanus, and few prospects in 
the world are more grand and 
extensive than from their sum- 
mit, Jer. xviii. 14. Hos. xiv. 5. 
Josh. xi. 17. Hab. ii. 17. Isa. 
xxxiii. 9. xl. 16. Cant. vii. 4. 
1 Kings vii. 2. Jer. xxii. 23. Isa. 
xxix. I7.xxxvii*24.x.34. xxxv. 
2. lx. 13. Ezek. xxxi. 3. 15, 16. 
Zech. xi. 1. 

LEDGE, a roll of short brazen 
staves,with a plate of brass along 
their heads, 1 Kings vii. 28.35.37. 



LEP 

LEEK, A plant much like the 
onion, Num. xi. 5. 

LEES, the dregs of wine 
settled to the bottom ; and so, 
wines on the lees, are wines 
strong and purified, by the lees 
settling to the bottom, Isa. xv. 6. 

LEGION, a band of soldiers 
in the Roman army, consisting 
of from 6 to 7,000 men : the origi- 
nal number was 6,200 foot and 
730 horse. 

LENTILES, a kind of grain, 
like vetches or pease, of which 
was made a coarse kind of food, 
used by mourners, Gen. xxv. 34. 

LEOPARD. Its upper part 
is beautifully spotted, and the 
lower is streaked. It is smaller 
than the tiger; but surprisingly 
swift, strong, and active, and no 
less voracious and fierce, and 
incapable of being tamed. He 
attacks all sorts of animals, nor 
is man an exception. His eyes 
are lively, and continually in 
motion ; his aspect is cruel, and 
indicative of ferocity. His ears 
are short, round, and always 
erect. His neck is thick, his feet 
large, and armed with strong 
pointed claws, which he closes 
as the fingers in the hand, with 
which, as well as with his teeth, 
he tears the prey. These ani- 
mals were probably numerous 
in Palestine in ancient times, 
as many places seem to have 
received their names from it 
Thus we read of 'the moun- 
tains of leopards ;' and 4 the 
waters of Nimrah,' (leopards.) 
Cant. iv. 8. Is. xi. 6. Jer. v. 6. 
xiii. 23. Hos. xiii. 7. Hab. l 8. 
Dan. vii. 6. Rev. xiii. 2. 

LEPER, one affected with 
the leprosy. Lepers were ex- 
cluded from the society of other 
people, and hence sometimes 
formed one of their own. We 
find four of them in one, in the 
day3 of Elisha, and ten of them 
in another, in the days of our 
Saviour, 2 Kings vii. 8. Luke 
xvii. 12. The leprosy is two- 
fold in kind or degree. That of 
342 



LET 
lie Jews was probably much 
the same with the elephantiasis,. 
or leprosy of the Arabs, Egyp- 
tians, &c. and which came into, 
and raged in Italy about sixty 
years before the birth of our Sa- 
viour. It chiefly rages in warmer 
climates. It begins within the 
body, and throws out a mois- 
ture, that corrupts the outside 
of it, covering it with a kind of 
white scales, attended with a 
most tormenting itch. 

LETTER ; (1.) A mark used 
in writing. The Egyptian me- 
thod of writing, by a kind of 
pictures of the things themselves, 
was perhaps the most ancient 
in the world. The Chinese me- 
thod of using a distinct charac- 
ter for every word, somewhat 
Jike our short hand, is also very 
ancient, but it is very incommo- 
dious, as it would take a man's 
life to learn the half of their 
80,000 letters,unless these letters, 
as some say, be formed from 
simple ones, by stated rules. 
The invention of letters, that 
may be combined in so many 
thousand different forms, is so 
marvellous and useful, that I 
arn almost disposed to believe 
God himself the author of it, 
perhaps in the tables of the law. 
No letters were known in Eu- 
rope, till Cadmus, about the 
time of David, brought sixteen 
of the Phenician characters hith- 
er. From these, the Greek, Ro- 
man, Coptic, Gothic, and Sclavo- 
nic characters were formed, one 
after another. From the Hebrew 
or Assyrian characters, the Phe- 
nician, Syrian, Samaritan, Ethio- 
pic, and Arabic characters, seem 
to have been formed, though 
with considerable alterations. 
(2.) A missive or epistle, sent by 
one person to another, 2 Sam. 
xi. 14. Sanballat insulted Ne- 
hemiah in sending him his letter 
open, and not rolled up in the 
Asiatic form, Neh. vi. 5. 

LEVI, the third son of Jacob, 
by Leah, born about A. M. 



LEV 
2254. He assisted Simeon in 
murdering the Shechemites, and 
for that reason had his father's 
dying denunciation, that his 
family should be scattered a- 
mong the Hebrew tribes in Ca- 
naan, Gen. xxxiv. 25 — 30. xlix. 
5 — 7. He had three sons, Ger- 
shon, Kohath, and Merari, and 
a daughter, called Jochebed. 
Himself died, aged 137 years; 
but his three sons produced three 
different families. At their re- 
turn from Egypt, the tribe of Le- 
vi was by fur the least of all the 
Hebrews, consisting of but 22,273 
males above a month old. The 
Levites faithfully cut off their 
idolatrous friends, for their wor- 
shipping of the golden calf. God 
rewarded their zeal, constituting 
them his sacred ministers. — 
Aaron and his male descendants 
were chosen to be priests. The 
rest of the tribe were made a 
kind of inferior agents in holy 
things. See Matthew. 

LEVIATHAN, a monstrous 
animal ; but whether it be the 
crocodile, the teethed whale, or 
the huge land-dragon, is not 
agreed ; and indeed all the three 
mi^ht be known to Job. 

The ancient expositors seem 
to have been unanimously of 
opinion, that the whale was sig- 
nified by this name in scripture. 
Beza was probably the first who 
expressed the opinion that the 
crocodile was intended ; which 
opinion has been since support- 
ed by Bochart, with so great a 
force of argument, that most 
succeeding commentators have 
adopted this opinion. If, how- 
ever, our information respecting 
the sea-serpent were more exact 
and satisfactory, it would seem 
to come nearer to the descrip- 
tion in Job than any other ani- 
mal, Job xli. 1. Psalm lxxiv. 
14. civ. 26. Isa. xxvii. 1. 

LEVITES. The tribe of Le- 
vi was set apart by God to at- 
tend on the peculiar services of 
the temple. They were taken 
343 



LIC 

in room of the first-born, Num. 
iii. 5—13. For a very full de- 
scription of the manner of sepa- 
ration, the nature and duties of 
the office, &c. see Biblical An- 
tiquities, published by the Ame- 
rican Sunday School Union, vol. 
2. p. 93—107. 

LEVITICUS, the third book 
of Moses, so called, because it 
chiefly consists of laws relative 
to the Levitical priesthood. 

LEVY, to raise, by taking a 
part from among the rest, as a 
tribute is raised from the rest of 
the incomes of the nation ; or 
an army, or number of workmen 
raised in a nation, 1 Kin^s he. 
21. v. 13, 14. 

LIBERTINES, such Jews 
as were free citizens or burges- 
ses of Home ; they had a sepa- 
rate synagogue at Jerusalem, 
and sundry of them concurred in 
the persecution of Stephen, Acts 
vi. 9. 

LIBNAH; (1.) A place in 
the Arabian desert, where the 
wandering Hebrews encamped, 
Num. xxxiii. 20. (2.) A city of 
Judah, given to the priests, and 
which I suppose stood about 12 
or 16 miles south-west of Jeru- 
salem, Josh. xxi. 13. 

LIBYA, a large country west 
of Egypt. A number of the in- 
habitants lived anciently in a 
vagabond manner, roving from 
place to place. They were, we 
suppose, the descendants of Le- 
habim, the son of Mizraim, and 
are called Lubim. The eastern 
part of Libya was generally 
subject to Egypt. 

LICE, mentioned Exod. viii. 
16, 17, 18. and Ps. cv. 31. The 
Jewish commentators and most 
af the Christian, render the origi- 
nal word by this term ; and Bo- 
chart and Bryant have exhaust- 
ed stores of learning to prove 
that this is the correct interpre- 
tation. The Septuagint trans- 
lators, however, were in favour 
of gnats, as the animal designa- 
ted by Moses among the plagues 



LIG 

of Egypt, and Jerome follows 
them in both passages where 
the word is used ; and, in things 
of this kind, the ancients are 
much more worthy of confidence 
than the moderns. The learned 
men above named, offer several 
weighty, if not conclusive ob- 
jections to this rendering, as, L 
These insects originated, not 
from the water as do gnats or 
mosquitoes, but from the dust. 

2. They were on both men and 
cattle, but gnats do not take up 
their residence on any animak 

3. The Hebrew word signifies to 
be fixed or firm, which does not 
agree to gnats, which are ever 
on the wing. 4. And, finally, 
the plague of flies came after- 
wards, in which gnats would be 
included. Dr. Adam Clarke, 
however, dissents from both 
these opinions, and, though sin- 
gular, declares in favour of 
' ticks,' as the animal here sig-- 
nified, which stick their claws ii> 
to man and beast, so fast, that it 
never lets go its grasp but by 
leaving them in the flesh. In 
some parts of the United States 
of America there is a species of 
tick so small as to be almost in- 
visible, and so numerous that 
millions are often grouped on a 
single spire of grass. If Dr. 
Clarke had been acquainted 
with this insect, it would proba- 
bly have confirmed him in his 
opinion. 

LIEUTENANTS, the depu- 
ty-governors of the Persian king, 
Ezra viii. 36. Esth. iii. 12. 

LIGHT, the medium through 
which objects are discerned. Its 
motion is extremely quick, and 
is said to move about ten mil- 
lions of miles in a minute. It 
renders other bodies visible and 

reeable, Eccl. xi. 7. 

Whether light really ema- 
nates from the sun, or whether 
it is a fluid universally diffused 
through the universe, which the 
sun causes to radiate, or gives ii 
a vibratory motion, is not agreea 
344 



LIG 
among philosophers. Light is 
capable of being divided into 
seven distinct species, each of 
which, when entering our eyes, 
gives us the idea of a specific 
colour. This division of light 
is made by means of a triangu- 
lar glass body, called a prism. 
The colours of the rainbow are 
produced in the same way, by 
rays of light meeting with drops 
of falling rain. Light was cre- 
ated on the first day, although 
the celestial luminaries did not 
appear until the fourth. It 
seems, therefore, to be capable 
of existing independently of the 
sun. Light is an emblem much 
used in the language of scrip- 
ture. Christ is often called a 
light, and God is said to dwell 
in light, which no man can ap- 
proach ; yea, ' God is light, and 
in him is no darkness at all.' It 
is constantly used as the em- 
blem of knowledge and of joy. 
The holy lives of Christians are 
also represented bv light. Matt. 
iv. 16. v. 16. Ephetr. v. 8. Col. 
i. 12. 1 John i. 5. Prov. iv. 18. 
Psal. iv. 6. Isa. ii. 5. Hos. vi. 5. 
Eccl.xi.7. Isa. x. 17. Ps.xxvii.l. 
LIGHTNING, is the electric 
fluid, which, when suddenly 
discharged from one body to 
another, emits a vivid flash, 
which, when it proceeds from 
the clouds, is called lightning ; 
and by its rapid passage through 
the atmosphere, produces the 
awful sound called thunder. 
The identity of lightning and the 
electric fluid, has been clearly 
ascertained by numerous experi- 
ments. This subtile fluid moves 
with astonishing rapidity, and 
strikes with such force when it 
meets with an opposing obsta- 
cle, that the stoutest oaks are 
rent, and the strongest buildings 
torn to pieces by it. To rescue 
houses from its destructive ef- 
fects,long metallic rods, reaching 
above the highest part of the 
building, have, for some time, 
been much in use, and are sup- 



LIG 

posed to convey off the accu- 
mulating electricity of the clouds 
by degrees, or, when it is sud- 
denly discharged, conduct it to 
the earth without injury to the 
edifice ; for the metals being the 
most perfect conductors of this 
fluid, it has often been observed, 
that, when it enters a building, 
it runs along any metallic sub- 
stance, and even leaps from its 
direct course to reach such a 
substance. When the electrici- 
ty of the atmosphere is equally 
diffused, it remains quiescent; 
but when this equilibrium is dis- 
turbed by excessive heat or 
any other cause, or when there 
is not an equilibrium between 
the clouds and the parts of the 
earth over which they pass, it 
makes a violent effort to restore 
it, which occasions a rapid dis- 
charge from the body which has 
a surcharge, to one within reach 
which has less. The facts ob- 
served, have led many philoso- 
phers to adopt the theory of a 
positive and a negative state 
of electricity ; but others prefer 
the opinion that there are two 
kinds of electricty,one of which 
they call vitreous^ the other re 
&inous. 

As some bodies are found to 
collect and retain this fluid much 
more readily than others, and 
as it freely passes through such 
as do not re'tain it, bodies are 
divided into electrics and con- 
ductors ; but the degree x in 
which the above qualities of bo- 
dies is manifested, is very diffe- 
rent in different substances, and 
the same body in a different 
temperature, or state of dryness 
or dampness, may be both an 
electric and a conductor. Glass 
is the most perfect of the first 
class, and the metals of the se- 
cond. When a glass globe or 
cylinder is rubbed with the 
hand or a warm woollen cloth, 
or hairy skin, it accumulates 
the electric fluid in such quan- 
tities, that spaxks are emitted 
345 



LIG 

whenever the finger is present- 
ed. When any body is filled 
with electricity, and all con- 
ducting substances are removed 
from contact with it, it is said 
to be insulated. Moreover, as 
it has been found that the oppo- 
site sides of the same body may 
be placed in opposite states of 
electricity, so, if a communica- 
tion be formed between them, a 
sudden discharge to restore the 
equilibrium will take place. 
The knowledge of this fact, led 
to the invention of electric jars 
and batteries, which are glass 
bottles coated with a metallic 
substance within and without, 
except a small portion of the 
bottle or jar, near its open 
mouth ; when one side of such a 
jar is charged with one kind of 
electricity, the other will always 
be found in the opposite state, 
and if a connection be formed 
by wires, or other conducting 
substances, between the two 
sides of the jar, a discharge 
from the one to the other will 
instantly take place, and, by 
wires, the circuit around which 
it is made to pass may be of 
any extent; and if human bo- 
dies are made to form a part of 
this circuit, a shock will be felt 
by each individual in the con- 
nection. When a number of 
jars are thus charged and con- 
nected with each other, it is 
called a battery, and the stroke 
will be in proportion to the sur- 
face of the coated jars, and may 
be made strong enough to take 
away animal life. Another fluid 
has been discovered possessed 
of wonderful powers, which has 
received the name of the gal- 
vanic fluid, between which and 
electricity, there is an affinity 
and striking analogy. In the 
Bible, the terrors of the divine 
wrath are often represented by 
thunder and lightning ; and thun- 
der, on account of its awful 
impression on the minds of mor- 
tals, is often spoken of in scrip- 



LIN 

ture as the voice of the Lord, 
Job xxviii. 26.xxxviii.25.xxxvii. 
4, 5. xl. 9. Psalm xviii. 4. 13 
xlvi. 6. cxliv. 6. Ezek. i. 13, 14. 
Exod. xix. 16. Dan. x. 6. Zech* 
ix. 4. Nah. ii. 4. Matt, xxviii. 3. 
1 Sam. vii. 10. Rev. vi. 1. 
xiv. 2. iv. 5. viii. 5. xi. 19. 
xvi. 18. 

To lighten; (1.) To make 
light by unloading, Acts xxvii. 
18. (2.) To make to see or 
shine; or to fill with comfort, 
Psal. lxxvii. 18. xxxiv. 5. 

LIGURE, a precious stone, 
of a deep red colour, with a con- 
siderable tinge of yellow. It re- 
sembles the carbuncle. It was 
the first in the third row of the 
high priest's breast-plate, and 
had the name of Gad inscribed 
on it, Exod. xxviii. 19. 

LILY, a graceful and fra- 
grant flower, of a bell-form, 
and generally of the purest white. 
The flower is inclosed in strong 
thick leaves, which gradually 
expand and suffer the flower to 
unfold itself. It is well selected 
to illustrate the glory of the 
field. The lily is said to have 
medicinal qualities. The "lily 
of the valley," Cant. ii. 2. is not 
that found in our valleys, but that 
which adorns our gardens, and 
grows wild in the valleys of Pa- 
lestine. Tourneforl mentions 46 
kinds of lilies, and besides, there 
is the lily of the valley, which 
has but one leaf, formed in the 
manner of a bell ; and of which 
there are seven kinds. Lilies 
were so plentiful in Canaan, 
that, it seems, they heated their 
ovens with withered ones, Matt 
vi. 28. 30. 1 Kings vii. 19. 26. 
Hosea xiv. 5. Cant. ii. 2. iv. 5. 
vi. 2, 3. vii. 2. Lilies are 
commonly white ; some are 
red, to which reference may 
be had, Cant. v. 13. Matt. vi. 
28—30. 

LINEN, a cloth made of flax. 

It was much valued and used 

in ancient as it is in modern 

times. Fine white linen is, in 

346 



LIO 

icripture, the emblem of in- 
nocence, or moral purity, Rev. 
xv. 6. 

The best linen was anciently 
made in Egypt, as their country 
afforded the finest flax ; but, it 
is said, the most of their linen 
was coarse ; and Solomon, it 
seems, bought linen-yarn in 
Egypt, and established a factory 
for weaving it in Judea, Prov. 
vii. 16. 1 Kings x. 28. It seems 
that linen was anciently used 
for writing on, and the letters 
formed with a pencil. 

LION, the noblest and strong- 
est of animals. It is found in 
Africa and the hottest parts of 
Asia, and seems to delight in the 
most torrid regions of the globe. 
Its rage is tremendous, and its 
courage undaunted. Happily, 
however, the species is not pro- 
lific ; but lion3 seem to have 
been much more numerous in 
former days than at present. 
They seem" to have abounded in 
Judea, where now none are to 
be found. Mr. Shaw remarks, 
that in one year the Romans 
brought more lions from Libya, 
than could now be found in all 
that region. The generosity of 
the.lion has often been celebrat- 
ed ; it has been known not only 
to spare a feeble animal when 
in its power, but to treat it 
with marked kindness. 

The appearance of the lion is 
majestic and terrible, and his 
roar, when hungry, will cause 
the stoutest heart to tremble. 
The length of the body of the 
largest, is about eight or nine 
feet, and its height about four 
feet and a half. 

The lion generally attacks by 
surprise, unless when impelled 
by hunger. To take his prey, 
he crouches on his belly in some 
thicket, where he waits till his 
prey approaches, and then, with 
a spring of 15 or 20 feet, he 
seizes the helpless animal. His 
lurking places are generally near 
a river or spring, where other 



LOC 

animals come to quench their 
thirst. Lions have been known 
to live above three-score years, 
and one in the tower of London 
lived above 70 years. The 
fierceness of the lioness is fre- 
quently spoken of in scripture, 
and it is known, that in defence 
of their young, they are more 
ferocious than the male. Few 
things are more frequently re- 
ferred to in the scripture, by 
way of comparison, than the 
lion; but for this animal there 
are several names, each of 
which has a distinct and appro- 
priate meaning, as — A lion's 
whelp, Deut.xxxiii.22.Jer. li. 38. 
Ezek. xix. 2. Nah. ii. 13. 

A young lion weaned from 
the lioness. ' The lioness hath 
brought up one of her whelps : 
it became a young lion, (che- 
phir ;) it learned to catch the 
prey,' Ezek. xix. 2. 

A grown and vigorous lion., 
(ari.) This is the name more 
commonly used, 2 Sam. xvii. 10. 
Num. xxiii. 24. 

An old, or black lion. Job 
iv. 10. x. 16. Ps. xci. 13. Prov. 
xxvi. 13. Hos. v. 14. xiii. 7. 

A fierce or enraged lion, Job 
iv. 11. Prov. xxx. 30. Is. xxxv.9. 

LIVER, an inward part of an 
animal ; and which was one of 
the entrails of beasts, inspected 
by the Chaldeans, and other 
heathens, in their divination, 
Ezek. xxi. 21. 

LIZARD, Lev. xi. 30. An 
animal resembling a serpent, and 
having legs attached to it. It is 
supposed to have been eaten, as it 
is prohibited bythe Levitical law. 

LO-AMMI, i. e. not my peo- 
ple. See Uosea. 

LOCK, an instrument for shut- 
ting a door. In the east, they 
are often of wood and wire, and 
may be easily opened with a 
stick, or one's ringer. 

LOCUSTS, flying insects, 

most destructive to the fruits of 

the ground, particularly vines, 

and the corn after it is in the 

347 



LOG 
ear; they are of divers kinds; 
are very fruitful, and go forth by 
bands. The great green locusts, 
with a sword -formed tail, are 
near two inches long, and about 
the thickness of a man's ringer. 
The common great brown lo- 
cust, is about three inches in 
length ; has two antenna, or 
feelers, about an inch in length ; 
the head and horns are brown, 
the mouth and inside of the legs 
bluish ; the upper part of the 
body and outer wings brown ; 
the back has a sort of shield of 
a greenish hue; the under wings 
are nearly transparent, but are 
slightly tinctured with light 
brown and green. The general 
form and aspect of the animal 
is like the grasshopper. Locusts 
were one of the dreadful plagues 
inflicted on Egypt, when Pha- 
raoh refused to dismiss the Is- 
raelites from his service ; and 
throughout the Scriptures are 
mentioned as instruments of 
God's judgments against Israel 
for their sins. When their ar- 
mies go forth, they always fol- 
low a leader, whose motions 
they carefully observe. They 
frequently migrate in incredible 
multitudes from one country to 
another; and wherever they 
approach the air is darkened by 
them, and the noise of their 
wings is like distant thunder. 
These flights occur usually in 
the end of March, or first of 
April. Wherever they alight, 
every green thing is consumed. 
Of locusts there were various 
species, for which the Hebrews 
bad distinct appellations ; some 
of which were allowed, by the 
Levitical law, to be eaten ; and 
it is a fact that locusts are still 
eaten, and counted a delicacy, in 
several parts of Arabia and Per- 
sia. John the Baptist also lived 
on locusts and wild honey while 
he remained in the wilderness, 
Lev. xi. 20. 22. Matth. iii. 4. 
Loeusts have often been the 
eause of pestilence, when after 



LOC 

being drowned in the seas, they 
have been cast on the land ; for, 
in such cases, the whole air ia 
filled with their stench. Many 
facts have been related by tra- 
vellers and historians of veraci- 
ty, to show the immensity of the 
numbers of locusts which have 
been observed to pass over some 
countries. In 873, in Germany, 
clouds of locusts came from the 
east and continued to darken the 
air for two months ; and in one 
hour would consume every green 
thing on a hundred acres of land ; 
and when driven back into the 
sea by the wind, they occasioned 
a dreadful pestilence. Even the 
heathen viewed the locusts a3 
a dreadful judgment from hea- 
ven. Pliny says, ' This plague 
is considered a manifestation of 
the wrath of the gods ; by their 
number they darken the sun, and 
the nations view them with 
anxious surprise ; their strength 
is unfailing, so that they cross 
oceans and pervade immense 
tracts of land. They cover the 
harvest with a dreadful cloud ; 
their very touch destroying the 
fruits of the earth, and their bite 
utterly consuming every thing.* 
The celebrated traveller Volney 
undesignedly illustrates the sa- 
cred scriptures in relation to this 
plague, as he does respecting 
many other things : ' Syria, as 
Egypt and Persia,' says he, ' and 
almost all the south of Asia, is 
subject to a calamity not less 
dreadful than that of volcanoes 
and earthquakes, I have men- 
tioned ; I mean those clouds of 
locusts so often mentioned by 
travellers. The quantity of these 
insects is incredible to all who 
have not themselves witnessed 
their astonishing numbers. The 
whole earth is covered with then* 
for the space of several leagues. 
The noise they make in brows- 
ing on the trees may be heard at 
a great distance. The Tartars 
themselves are less destructive 
than these little animals. One 
348 



LOR 

would imagine, that fire had fol- 
lowed their progress. Wherever 
their myriads spread, the ver- 
dure of "the country disappears : 
trees and plants stripped of their 
leaves give the appearance of 
winter to the spring. When 



LUK 

See Acts iv. 24. Luke ii. 29. 
Jude 4. Rev. vi. 10. 2 Pet, ii. K 
Jesus Christ is called Lord of 
lords, and Lord of all; he sup- 
ports and governs all kings, mas- 
ters, and other rulers, nay, all 
persons and things in heaven 



clouds of them take their flight, j and earth, Rev. xix. 16. Acts i 



the heavens are literally ob 
scured by them.' Judg. vi. 5. 
Lev. xi. 22. Jer. xlvi. 23. Ex. 
x. 14—19. Joel i. 4. Rev. ix. 3. 
11. Psal. cv. 34, 78, 46. Nah. 
iii. 15. Isa. xxxiii. 4. 5. 

LOG, a measure for things li- 
quid, containing about twenty- 
four solid inches and a quarter, 
which is near a wine pintEnglish, 
(6 egg-shells full,) Lev. xiv. 10. 

LOINS, the lower parts of the 
back, Exod. xxviii. 42. 1 Kings 



36. 

LO-RUHAMAH, not obtain- 
ing mercy: as Ruhamah signi- 
fies, having obtained mercy* 
Hosea.i.6. 

LOT, the son of Haran, and 
nephew of Abraham, and, as we 
suppose, brother of Sarah. Af- 
ter the death of his father, he 
lived and travelled with Abra- 
ham. 

Lot, any thing cast or drawn 
in order to determine a point in 



viii. 19 ; and sometimes they are . debate. It is a solemn appeal 
put for the whole man, Psalm to God, for an immediate inter- 



Ixvi. 11. 



I posal of his directive power, foi 



LORD, one that has rule and I determining the affair ; and, on 
authority ; such as a husband, I that account, ought to be used 
Gen. xviii. 12; a master, John j in nothing but what is important, 
xv. 15; a prophet, 1 Kings xviii. i and cannot otherwise be peace- 
7 ; a prince, or noted person, ! fully determined in ; and it is to 
Gen. xxiv. 13. And the wives or be used with reverence and 



daughters of such great men ar 
called ladies, Judg.v.29. When, 
in the Old Testament, Lord is 
printed in capitals, it is ordinari- 
ly the translation of Jehovah. In 
lesser characters, it is the trans- 
lation of Adonai, which signi- 
fies a connecting and supporting 
ruler. God, Father, Son, and 
Holy Ghost, is often called Lord, 
to denote his self-existence, his 
giving being to, and his support- 
ing and ruling everv creature, 
Psal. ex. 1. 2 Thess.'iii. 5. He 
is called Lord of Hosts, or 



praver, Prov. xvi. 33. xviii. 18 
Acts i. 24, 25, 26. 1 Sam. xiv. 41 

LOVE, charity; (1.) A natn» 
ral affection of rational crea* 
tures, inclining them to show 
kindness to, or desire fellowship 
with, or close possession of some 
person or things, on account of 
some excellency apprehended 
therein. (2.) A gracious habii, 
principle, or disposition , wrought 
in our soul bv the Spirit of God. 

LUBIM. 'See Libya. 

LUCIFER, Isa. xiv. 12. A 
term applied to the king of Ba- 



Lord of Sabbaoth; as he made, ; bylon, denoting his glory, as of 
- the morning star. 

LUD, thesonofShem. 
Lud, the son of Mizraim, and 
father of the Ludim in Africa. 
These we suppose the same as 
the Nubians, on the south oi 
west of Egypt, Isa. xv. 5. 

LUHITH, a town in the lanfl 
of Moab, between Ar and Zoar. 
LUKE, or Lucas, the evao- 
" 30 249 



owns, supports, and rules all the 
armies of angels, men, and other 
creatures, Psal. xxiv. 10. James 
v. 4. When Lord, in the New 
Testament, is the translation of 
kurios, it very often signifies 
Christ, Rev. xiv. 13 ; but Lord, 
the translation of despotes, or 
master, is perhaps never ascribed 
to Christ, but to God essentially. 



LUZ 
greUst ; a native of Antioch in 
Syria, and a physician in his bu- 
siness. Whether he was a Jew 
or Gentile, or whether he was 
the same as Lucius the kinsman 
of Paul, Rom. xvi. 21. we know 
not. 

LUKEWARM, neither cold 
nor hot ; the professed Chris- 
tians of Laodicea are so called, 
because they neither wholly dis- 
regarded Christ and his cause, 
nor were they zealous in loving 
him and promoting his honour ; 
and so were loathsome to him, 
Rev. iii. 16. 

LUNATIC, originally meant 
a person affected with a disease 
which the moon influenced, but 
is now applied to a particular 
species of mental derangement, 
Matth. xvii. 15. Mark ix. 17—24. 
Luke ix. 38—42. That it was 
not possession, see Matt. iv. 24. 

LUZ. The most ancient Luz 
was called Bethel; but a Ca- 
naanitish inhabitant of it, being 
saved alive for discovering to the 
Hebrews a secret entrance into 
the city, he and his family re- 
tired into the land of the Hit- 
tites, and built another city, call- 
ed Luz. Judg. 1. 23. 



LYS 
LYBIA. See Libya. 
LYCAONIA, a province of 
Lesser Asia, having Cappadocia 
on the east, Galatia on the north, 
Phrygia on the west, and Pisidia. 
on the south, Acts 14. 6. 

LYCIA, a province of Lesser 
Asia, having Caria on the west v 
| the Mediterranean Sea north- 
ward of Syria on the south, and. 
Pamphylia on the north-east. 

LYDDA, or Lod, was builir 
by Shamed the son of Elpaal, 
and stood about fourteen miles 
north-east from Joppa, and thir- 
tv-two westward from Jerusa- 
lem, Acts 9. 32. 

LYDIA : (1.) A woman who< 
ihad been born in Thyatira, but 
I was a seller of purple-dye or pur- 
| pie-silks in Phihppi. (2.) A coun- 
try in Asia, and another in Afr'v- 
ca. Acts 16. 14. 

LYSTRA was a city of Ly- 
caonia; but some think it rather 
pertained to Isauria. Here Ti- 
mothy was born ; here Paul and? 
Barnabas healed a man who had 
j been lame from his birth, and 
I were taken for Mercury and Ju~ 
jpiter; here Paul some years- 
j after confirmed the Christians. 
| Acts xiv. 6. 18. xvi. 1. 



MAA 

MAx^CHAH, the son of Na- 
hor, by his concubine Re- 
umah, Gen. xxii. 24. 

Maachah. Also a city and 
kingdom so called, but of small 
extent, situated under mount Li- 
banus, near the source of the 
Jordan. It was given to the 
half tribe of Manasseh, who 
were settled on the east of the 
river, Josh. xiii. 2 Sam. iii. 3. 

MAALEH ACRABBIM,i.e. 
the ascent of Acrabbim ; so cal- 
led, from the multitude of ser- 
pents and scorpions that fre- 
quented that place, Num.xxxiv. 
4. Josh. xv. 3. 

MACCABEES. (Derivation 
uncertain) It was given to cer- 
tain persons who suffered from 



MAC 

persecution under Antiochng 
Epiphanes, and the apocryphal 
books of the Maccabees contain 
a history of their sufferings. See 
Josephus, vol. i. p. 409. 

MACEDONIA, a large com*- 
try, on the north-east of Greece^ 
anciently called ^Emathia, from 
one of its kings. It had the moun- 
tains Scodrusand Haemuson the» 
north and north-east, the iEgeau 
Sea or Archipelago, with part of 
Thrace, on the east, Thessaly o» 
the south, Epirus on the south- 
west, and Albania on the west. 
It was peopled by avast number 
of tribes, which, "we think, were 
mostly descended from Chittim> 
the son of Javan. This country 
has a conspicuous place in the 
350 



MAC 

prophecies of Daniel. In Nebu- 
chadnezzar's dieam : Alexander 
and his Macedonians are repre- 
sented by a leopard with four 
wings: but the same monarch 
with his people were prefigured 
to Daniel himself, under the type 
of ' a he-goat, who came from 
the west, on the face of the whole 
earth, and touched not the 
ground : and the goat had a no- 
table horn between his eyes.' 
The interpretation of this part 
of the vision by the Angel Ga- 
briel is, 'the rough goat is the 
king of Greece, and the great 
horn that is between his eyes, is 
the first king.' He means the 
first king who should reign with 
an extended dominion ; or ra- 
ther, who should extend his con- 
quests into Asia, Dan. vii. 6. 
viii. 5. The kingdom of Mace- 
donia continued about 646 years, 
when it fell into the hands of the 
Romans. At the division of the 
Roman empire, Macedonia fell 
into the eastern division ; and 
after continuing under the domi- 
nion of the Romans for nearly 
1600 years, it was conquered by 
the Ottoman Turks, and now 
forms a part of the empire of the 
Grand Seignior; but if the inde- 
pendence of Greece should be 
established, sooner or later Ma- 
cedonia will again be reckoned 
as a part of that country. The 
gospel was preached here by 
Paul, and several flourishing 
churches established ; to two of 
which epistles were addressed by 
this apostle, which now make a 
part of the canon. Some re- 
mains of Christianity are still 
found in this country, but in a 
very degraded state, Acts xvi. 
9—40. xvii. 1—14. 2 Cor. viii. 
1—5. xi. 8, 9. 

MACHIR, the son of Manas- 
seh, grandson of Joseph, and 
chief of the family of the Mach- 
irites. 

MACHPELAH. where Abra- 
ham and sundry of his family 
were buried in a cave, was near 



MAL 
Hebron, Gen. xxiii. xxv. 9. 
xlix. 31. 1. 13. 

MADAI, the third son of Ja- 
pheth, Gen. x. 2. 

MADMANNAH, a city of 
Judah, near their west border, 
and not far from Ziklag, and 
inhabited by the posterity of 
Shaaph, Josh. xv. 31. 1 Chroa- 
ii. 49. Isa. x. 3-1. 

MAGDALA. See Dalmanu- 
tha. 

MAGISTRATES, civil Ru- 
lers, particularly such as rule 
over particular cities, Judg.xviii. 
7. Ezra vii. 25. 

MAGOG. See Gog. 

MAHANAIM, a city on the 
east of Jordan, given by the 
of Gad to the Le vires of Merari's 
familv, Josh. xxi. 33. 

MAHANE DAN, i. e. the 
camp of Dan, a place near 
jath-jearim, where the 609 D j- 
nites encamped in their way to 
Laish, Judg. xviii. 12. 

MAKKEDAH, a city of the 
tribe of Judah, about two miles 
east from Libnah, and ten or 
fourteen west of Jerusalem. 

MAKTESH, a street in Jeru- 
salem; but whether that of the 
valley of Shiloah, which almost 
surrounded the temple, and was 
shaped somewhat like a mortar 
or that of the cheesemongers be- 
tween the hills of Acra and Zion, 
or any other street of the city, 
where they used mortars for 
bruisiug the spice which t'.^y 
sold, I cannot determine. 

MALACH1, the 12th of the 
lesser prophets. In vain it his 
been pretended, that he was Ze- 
rubbabel, Ezra, Mordecai, cr 
Nehemiah: none of these are 
ever called prophets; nor had 
they any cause to change their 
name : nor is it a whit more cer- 
tain, that he was of the tribe of 
Zebulun, and a native of the 
city of Sephoris, and died young. 
It is plain, that he prophesied 
after the building of the se- 
cond temple; and, we suppose, 
about A. M. 3607, about six 
351 



MAM 

teen years after the death of 
Nehemiah. 

MALLOWS, a kind of plant, 
whose flower consists of one leaf, 
and is very open at the top, and 
divided into several segments. 
From the bottom of the flower 
there arises a tube, shaped like 
a pyramid; and from the cup 
arises a pistil, which is fixed like 
a nail to the lower part of the 
flower ; this ripens into a flat 
roundish fruit, which contains 
the seed, which is usually form- 
ed as a kidney. It is difficult to 
tell what plant is referred to in 
Job xxx. 4. Many saline plants 
are found in the deserts of Ara- 
bia, of all which, some are of 
opinion, this is a general name. 
Many interpret itof the Jialimus, 
a kind of bramble, the leaves of 
which are boiled and eaten by 
the poor; which grows in dry 
and desert places. Serapion says, 
that at Bagdad quantities of this 
vegetable are hawked about, 
while those who carry it, cry, 
Molachia, Molachia, which dif- 
fers little from the Hebrew word. 
Biddulph says, ' We saw many 
poor people collecting mallow 
and three-leaved grass, which, 
they said, they boiled and eat for 
food ; then we took pity on them 
and gave them some bread.' 
This passage in Biddulph's Tra 



MAN 
laomer, Gen. xiv. Mamre com- 
municated his name to a plain 
near Hebron, where he lived. 
Some think, that instead of the 
plain of Mamre, we should read 
the oak of Mamre. 

MAN. Man was, in his ori- 
ginal state, a very noble and ex- 
alted creature ; being placed as 
the head and lord of this world, 
having all the creatures in subjec- 
tion to him. The powers and 
operations of his mind were ex- 
tensive, capacious, and perfect ; 
capable of meditating upon 
tbe works of God with pleasure 
and delight, and of performing 
his will without the least devia- 
tion. But by sinning against his 
Creator his mind is vitiated, cor- 
rupted, and debased; and he is 
in a ruined, lost, miserable, and 
wretched state : Hence it is ask- 
ed, ifrhatisman? Ps. viii.4. The 
Hebrew word for man is Enosh; 
that is, sorry, wretched, and in- 
curably sick, to denote his con- 
dition in his apostacy from God. 
Man is put for (L) The body, 
2 Cor. iv. 16. (2.) The sins and 
corruptions of human nature, 
Eph. iv. 22. (3.) Strong, valiant, 
1 Cor. xvi. 13. (4.) A magistrate, 
Gen. ix. 6. (5.) Frail, weak, Ps, 
ix. 20. (6.) The church, Eph. ii. 
15. (7.) A strong believer, Eph. 
'- 13. (8.) An angel, Acts i. 10. 



vels probably led our translators] (9.) The Lord Jesus, Gen. xxxii. 
to render the word ' Mallows: { 24. Mark xv. 39. (10.) God the 



Mr. Good thinks the real plant 
is a species of salt-wort, to 
which opinion the Greek version 
of the word gives some counte- 
nance. 

MAMMON, a Syriac word, 
signifying multitude, or worldly 
riches. No man can serve God 
and mammon; none can, at the 
same time, love and serve God 
with his heart, while his great 
aim and desire is to heap up, 
enjoy, and retain worldly wealth, 
Matth. vi. 24. 

MAMRE, the brother of Aner 
and Eshcol : these Amorites as- 
sisted Abraham against Chedor- 



Father, Exod.xv.3. Luke xv. 11. 

The inward man, Rom. vii. 22. 
The new man, the regenerate 
part within me, or the principle 
of grace in the heart. 

The natural man, 1 Cor. ii. 14. 
The unrenewed person, one that 
has no principle of grace in the 
heart, though he be endued with 
the most exquisite natural accom- 
plishments, and has improved his 
reason to the highest degree. 

MANASSEH, the eldest son 
of Joseph ; but, according as Ja- 
cob his grandfather had predict- 
ed, his tribe was less numerous 
and honoured than that of Eph- 
352 



MAN MAN 

raim, his younger brother, Gen. | Isaiah asunder with a wooden 
xli. 50,5J. xlviii. Manasseh J saw. About the 22d year of his 
seems to have had but two sons, reign, Esarhaddon, king of Aa- 
Ashriel and Machir. When the syria and Babylon, invaded his 
Manassites came out of Egypt, j kingdom, routed his troops, 
their fighting men amounted to! caught himself hid among thorns, 
but 32,200, under the command j and carried him prisoner to Ba- 
of Gamaliel the son of Pedah-! bylon. In his affliction, God gave 
zur; but in the wilderness they] him grace to repent of his wick- 
increased to 52,700, 1 Chron. vii. I edness. He was restored to hig 
14. Num. i. 30, 31. 35. xxvi. 28— \ throne, perhaps by Saosduchin, 
34. They pitched in the camp ' the successor of Esarhaddon. 
of Ephraim, and marched next! After his repentance and resto- 
after that tribe, Numbers ii. x. ration to his kingdom, he re- 
Theirspy to search the promised moved the idols which he had 
land, was Gaddi the son of Susi ; set up to Baal in Jerusalem : but 
and their prince to divide it, was the high places were not taken 
Hannielthe son of Ephod, Num. away. He fortified the city, and 
xiii. 11. xxxiv. 23. The one half I enlarged it considerably on the 
of this tribe received their inhe- j west side. Manasseh died after 
ritance on the east and north- 1 a reign of 55 years, and was bu- 
east of the sea of Tiberias ; the ried in his own garden, 
other half received their inherit- j MANDRAKES. What plant 
ance on the west of Jordan, on j or fruit is intended by this word, 
the north of the tribe of Ephi aim, : commentators are as far from 
Num. xxxii. 33 — 42. Josh. xvii. , being agreed, as respecting any 
5 — 11. xvi. xvii. j word in the Bible. The word 

2. Manasseh, the son of He- occurs only twice ; in Gen. xxx. 



zekiah, by his wife Hephzibah 
At the age of 12 years he suc- 
ceeded his father in the kingdom 
of Judah, and reigned 55 years. 
He was impious to an uncom- 
mon degree. He rebuilt the high 
places which his father had de 



14, 15, 16. and Cant. vii. 13. By 
some, it has been translated 
'violets,' by others, 'lilies,' 'jes- 
samine,' 'truffles,' &c. Some 
think that ' flowers' is the pro- 
per interpretation. Bochart, Cal- 
met, and Sir Thomas Browne, 



stroyed: he re-established the] are in favour of the 'citron;' 
worship of Baal, and planted I Celsius, of the ' lote-tree ;' Hit- 
groves in honour of his idols : j ler of ' cherries,' and Ludolf is 
he worshipped the sun, moon, . of opinion that an India fruit 
and stars, and reared to them called 'mauz, 1 is the species here 



altars in the court of the temple; 
one of his idols he set up in the 
temple itself: he burnt one of 
his sons in a sacrifice to Moloch. 
He had familiar intercourse with 
devils, and practised sorcery and 
witchcraft. By causing his sub 



intended ; but the greatest num- 
ber of commentators have de- 
clared in favour of the ' melon ;' 
and this has the support of the 
Septuagint version and both 
Targums on Genesis xxx. 14. 
Whatever it might be, it was in 



jects to follow these impious j perfection about wheat harvest, 



courses, he rendered them more 
wicked than ever the Canaan- 
ites had been. By murdering 
such as refused compliance, or 
warned him of his danger, he 
made the streets of Jerusalem 
run with innocent blood : and it 
is said he saw r ed the prophet 



p2 



30* 



which is about May. It is evi- 
dent from Canticles that they 
have an agreeable scent. Has- 
selquist, who travelled in the 
Holy Land, thinks, that the plant 
commonly called 'mandrake,' is 
meant; and says, that he found 
a great number growing iu a 



353' 



MAN MAR 

vale near Nazareth. It was in \ enough for the seventh. It 
the time of wheat harvest, and j fell round about their tents. It 
he found the fruit hanging ripe j remained fresh all die seventh 



on the stem. The plant is thus 
described by the Abhe Mariti, 
' It grows like lettuce, to which 
it has a great resemblance, ex- 
cept that its leaves have a dark 
green colour. The flowers are 
purple, and the root is for the 
most part forked. The fruit 
when ripe, in the beginning of 
May, is of the size and colour 
of a small apple, exceedingly 
ruddy, and of a most agreeable 
odour.' This plant is found at 
a village in the mountains, about 
six miles from Jeiusalem, and 
it grows also in many parts of 
Tuscany. See Tharitti's Tra- 
vels, vol. -2. p. 195. 

MANEH, tbe 50th part of a 
talent. To constitute a Maneh, 
it took a piece of 15 shekels, an- 
other of 20, and a third of 25, 
which are in all 60 ; but though 
it required 60 shekels to consti 
tute a maneh in weight, it is 
said that it required but 50 to 
constitute one in reckoning of 
money, Ezek. xlv. 12. The 
maneh of 60 shekels weighed lib. 
loz. Idwts. Sgrs.; but Park- 
hurst thinks that the maneh was 
100 shekels in weight, and 60 
shekels in money. Compare 1 
Kings x. 17. and 2 Chron. ix. 

MANNA, the food which Je- 
hovah gave the children of Is- 
rael, during their continuance in 
the deserts of Arabia. Moses 
describes it as white like hoar 
frost, round, and of the bigness 
of a coriander seed. It fell on six 
days of every week, not on the 
seventh. It fell in such prodigi- 
ous quantities around the He- 
brew camp, as to sustain almost 
three millions of men, women, 
and children. According to 
Scheuchzer, they consumed 
94,466 bushels in a dav, and 
1,379,203,600 in 40 years. It 
fell in double quantities on the 
sixth day, that there might be 



day, but at any other time bred 
worms and stunk if kept over 
_ht. It constantly continued 
for 40 years, and ceased as soon 
as the Hebrews had access to 
eat of the old corn of Canaan. 
Since these circumstances must 
be allowed to be miraculous, 
how foolish must it be to dispute 
the supernatural origin of the 
whole 1 To commemorate their 
living on Manna, the Israelites 
were directed to lay up a pot full 
of it in or by the ark ; where it 
was preserved free from putre- 
faction for many generations. 
Our version is evidently faulty, 
where the children of Israel are 
represented as saying one to an- 
other, { It is manna, for they 
knew not what it was,' which is 
almost a contradiction. Now, 
in the Septuagint, and many 
other versions, it is rendered, 
1 What is it 7 for they knew not 
what it was? and the probabili- 
ty is, that it took its name from 
this simple question. In Psalm 
lxxviii. 24, 25, it is called ' an- 
gels' food;' but some learned 
men have observed, that the ori- 
ginal word here rendered ' an- 
gels,' is no where else in the whole 
Bible so rendered, and that it 
more properly signifies ' oxen ;' 
and that the sense is, he gave 
them oxen for food: others con- 
jecture, that the word has been 
changed by accident. Some 
again would render it ' winged 
food,' in reference to the quails 
with which they were abundant- 
ly supplied. The manna sold at 
drug shops is brought from Ara- 
bia, but is a very different sub- 
stance from that spoken of in 
scripture, though probably it has 
derived its name from some re- 
semblance to the ancient manna, 
Exod. xvi. Num. xi. 6, 7. 9. 
Deut. viii. 3. Josh. v. 12. Neh. 
ix. 20. Ps.lxxviii. 24. John vi. 
31.49.58. Heb.ix.4. Rev. ii. 17 
354 



MAR 

MARAH, or bitterness , 
place on the east side of the 
western gulf of the Red Sea, 
where the Hebrews, after three 
days' thirst, found the water so 
bitter, that they could not drink 
it ; but by casting a tree into it, 
which was divinely pointed out, 
Moses rendered it sweet. 

MARANATHA; i. e. our 
Lord cometh. See Accursed. 

MARBLE, a hard stone which 
takes a fine polish. It is dug 
out of quarries in large masses, 
and is much used in fine build- 
ings, ornamental pillars, &c. 1 
Chr. xxix. 2. 

MARESHAH, a city of Ju- 
dah, about 18 miles west from 
Jerusalem. Near to this place 
Asa roufed the Ethiopians,2 Chr. 
xiv. 9. The location is doubtful. 

John MARK, or Marcus, the 
eon of one Mary, in whose house 
Peter found the Christians pray- 
ing together for his deliverance 
from prison, Acts xii. 12; and 
the cousin of Barnabas. Mark 
attended Paul and Barnabas as 
far as Perga in Lesser Asia ; j 
but rinding they intended to car- I 
ry the gospel into Pamphylia , 
and places adjacent, he deserted 
them, and returned to Jerusalem. 

When Paul and Barnabas had 
agreed to go over the countries 
again which they had before 
traversed in company, and to 
visit the churches which in their 
former mission they had planted, 
Barnabas was desirous oftaking 
again his relative Mark, to be 
their minister. But to this Paul 
objected, because, in their for- 
mer tour, he had forsaken them, 
and had returned home. The 
controversy between these de- 
voted men became so sharp, 
that they separated from each 
other ; Barnabas taking with 
him his kinsman Mark, and 
Paul taking Silas, one of the 
brethren who had been sent on 
a special message from the 
church at Jerusalem, to that of 
Antioch. How Ions Mark con- 



MAR 

tinued with Barnabas, we know 
not ; but all accounts agree in 
giving him, after some time, as 
a constant companion to Peter, 
under whose supervision, the 
ancients inform us, he wrote the 
gospel which goes by his name. 
It appears, moreover, that Paul 
became reconciled to Mark, for 
in his epistle to Philemon, he 
reckons Marcus among his fel- 
low labourers, and in his second 
epistle to Timothy, ch. iv. 11. 
he says, ( Take Mark and bring- 
him with thee, for he is profita- 
ble to me for the ministrv.' 

MARRIAGE, a solemn con- 
tract, whereby a man and wo- 
man engage to live together in a 
kind and affectionate manner. 

Polygamy, or a state of mar- 
riage of different women at th? 
same time, is evidently contrary 
to the law of God. 

Anciently the Hebrews wore 
crowns on their marriage-day : 
and it seems, the bridegroom's 
was put on by his muther, Song 
tii.ll. The ceremonies of mar- 
riage continued three days for a 
widow, and seven for a virgin, 
Gen. xxix. 27. Judg. xiv. 17, 18. 
During this time, the young 
men and young women attend- 
ed the bridegroom and bride in 
different apartments, and the 
former puzzled one another with 
riddles, Song v. 1. Psal. xiv. 9. 
14, 15. Judg. xiv. A friend of 
the bridegroom's governed tlve 
feast, that no drunkenness or 
disorder mi^ht be committed, 
John ii. 9. iii. 29. At the end of 
the feast, the parties were, with 
lighted lamps, conducted to the 
bridegroom's house. The bride- 
groom leaving his apartment, 
called forth the bride and her 
attendants, who, it seems, were 
generally about ten, Matth. xxv. 
1—10. "See Biblical Antiqui- 
ties, vol. 1. p. 145. 

MARS-HILL. See Areopa- 
gus. 

MART, a place of great trade 
to the nations around, Isa.xxiii.3. 
355 



MAR 

MARTYR. See Witness. 

MARY, the mother of our 
Lord. She was the daughter of 
Eli, or Joachim, of the royal, 
but then obscure family of Da- 
vid. She lived at Nazareth, 
and was betrothed to one Jo- 
seph of the same place and 
family. 

2. Mary, the wife of Cleophas, 
and mother of James, Jude, Jo- 
ses, Simeon, and Salome their 
sister, is supposed to have been 
the sister of the virgin ; and so 
her children are represented as 
the brothers of our Lord, John 
xix. 25. Matth. xxvii. 56. Mark 
xv. 40. Luke xxiv. 10. Mark vi. 
3. Matth. xiii. 55. She early 
believed on our Saviour, attend- 
ed his preaching, and ministered 
to him for his support. At a 
distance she with grief witness- 
ed his crucifixion, Mark xv. 40, 
41. She was present at his bu- 
rial, and prepared spices for em- 
balming his dead body, Luke 
xxiii. 56. 

MARY MAGDALENE. She 
seems to have been an inhabit- 
ant of Magdala. Before her 
acquaintance with our Lord she 
had been grievously afflicted 
with a demoniacal possession, 
for out of her were cast seven 
devils, or demons. On account 
of this great deliverance, and 
the still greater salvation from 
tire guilt and power of her sins, 
her love to Christ was exceed- 
ingly strong ; and she seems to 
have followed him all the way 
from Galilee to Jerusalem, when 
he paid his last visit to that 
place. The common opinion is, 
that before her conversion, she 
lived a very licentious life, and 
was no better than a common 
prostitute ; but, to say the least, 
there is no scriptural evidence 
that this was her character. It 
>s founded on the supposition 
that she was the woman who 
came to Christ in the Pharisee's 
house, and anointed his feet 
with precious ointment, and 



MAR 

wiped them with the hairs of 
her head. This woman, who 
loved much because she had 
much forgiven, is called ' a sin- 
ner ;' but her name is not given, 
and there is not a circumstance 
which can identify her with 
Mary Magdalene. Some sup- 
pose that this penitent woman 
was Mary, the sister of Martha, 
and that this anointing related 
by Luke, ch. vii. is the same as 
that which occurred in Bethany 
i shortly before Christ's crucifix- 
j ion ; and to fix the stigma of 
! an impure life on Mary Magda- 
j lene, they pretend that she and 
| the sister of Lazarus were the 
| same, a thing altogether incredi- 
j ble ; for the former wasofGali- 
j lee, and the latter had her resi- 
j dence in Bethany. It is com- 
; monly thought, that her being 
1 possessed with seven devils is a 
I sure evidence of her great wick- 
i edncss ; but this is a mistake. 
Children were vexed with de- 
mons, and this affliction stands 
on the same ground as insanity, 
or bodily sickness. 

Mary Magdalene was present 
at the crucifixion, and followed 
the dead body of her Lord to the 
sepulchre, and took particular 
notice of the manner in which 
it Mas deposited, and went and 
bought sweet spices to embalm 
it ; but the Sabbath day coming 
on, she deferred her friendly ot- 
tices until the first day of the 
week. On that day, she was 
the first who visited the sepul- 
chre, and the first to whom 
Christ appeared after his resur- 
rection. On this occasion, she 
was standing weeping at the 
sepulchre after the other women 
were gone, and Jesus coming 
up, said, ' Why weepest thou V 
She, supposing it had been the 
gardener, asked, 'Where have 
you laid him V Jesus then said, 
' Mary,' we may be sure, in his 
accustomed tone, and she in- 
stantly recognized him, and 
would have embraced him, bitf; 
356 



MAT 
he would not suffer her to delay, 
but commanded her to go quick- 
ly, and tell his disciples, espe- 
cially Peter, of his resurrection. 
Mary Magdalene came and told 
the disciples that she had seen 
the Lord, and the things which 
he said unto her ; and this is the 
last account which we have of 
this devoted woman. 

MARY. See Lazarus ; Pe- 
ter. 

MASH, or Meshech, the fourth 
eon of Aram, and grandson of 
Shem. 

MASOXS. From the history 
of the temple, and the ruins of 
Baalbeck, Tadmor, Persepolis, 
and other places, it appears that 
their art was in as great perfec- 
tion long ago as at present. 
Those of Tyre were among the 
first noted ; and David hired 
them to build his palace, 2 Sam. 
v. 11. 

MATTHEW, or Levi one of 
the evangelists, and the first 
that published a gospel. Christ 
found him at his office at the 
receipt of custom ; where. 
publican, he received the taxes 
due to the Roman government, 
and simply said, 'Follow me, ' 
when immediately he arose, left 
all, and followed him, and was 
afterwards selected to be one of 
the twelve apostles. Where he 
laboured in his apostolic office, 
after he left Judea, is not cer- 
tainly known. 

Whether the gospel of Mat- 
thew was originally written in 
Hebrew or Greek, is a question 
which has divided the learned 
nearly equally. The ancient fa- 
thers, with one consent, assert, 
that Matthew wrote his gospel 
in Hebrew; that is, in the verna- 
cular tongue of Judea, which, in 
the New Testament, is called 
Hebrew. Against this over- 
whelming weight of testimony 
from men on whom we depend 
for all our information respect- 
ing the sacred canon, it is object- 
zed, that no one of the fathers 



MAT 

professes to have been acquaint- 
ed with a pure copy of Mat- 
thew's gospel in Hebrew ; no one 
gives the least information re- 
specting the early origin of the 
Greek copy, which can be trac- 
ed up to the apostolic age; and 
there are in it no internal marks 
of its being a version, but the 
contrary. To all which, it is 
added, as deserving great weight, 
that if Matthew wrote his gos- 
pel in Hebrew, then one at least 
of the inspired books of the New 
Testament is lost, and that which 
we possess is an uninspired 
translation. To avoid the diffi- 
culties of each theory, and to 
reconcile them together, it has 
been conjectured, that this evan- 
gelist probably prepared two 
originals, the one in Hebrew for 
the inhabitants of Judea, and 
another in Greek for those who 
did not understand the Hebrew 
language ; and that the Jewish 
converts, having many of them 
become heretical in doctrine, af- 
ter a while corrupted the He- 
brew copy, until it fell into gen- 
eral discredit, which seems to 
have been the fact in the time 
of Origen. 

The precise period which 
elapsed between the ascension 
of our Lord, and the writing of 
Matthew's gospel, cannot be as»- 
certained. Among the ancients, 
none make it less than eight 
years, while others extend it to 
15 and more ; but among the 
moderns, some learned men 
have declared in favour of a pe- 
riod much shorter than any be- 
fore mentioned, and are of opin- 
ion that this evangelist publish- 
ed his gospel within three or 
four years after the ascension, 
while others would bring it 
down as low as A. D. 64 ; to 
which last opinion a vague ex- 
pression in Irenaeus probably 
led, who refers it to the time 
when Peter and Paul were 
preaching at Rome. 
MATTHIAS, a disciple of 
357 



MEA 

Jesus Christ, perhaps one of the 
seventy. After our Saviour's 
ascension, Peter proposed, that 
one who had been a constant 
witness of his marvellous suffer- 
ings and conduct, should be 
chosen to fill the room of Judas, 
who, after betraying his Lord, 
had hanged himself. The dis- 
ciples chose Barsabas and 
Matthias for the candidates. As 
the office was extraordinary, and 
perhaps the votes equal, the 
final determination, which of the 
wo should be the apostle, was 



MEA 

left to the decision of God by the 
lot. After prayer, the lots were 
cast, and it fell upon Matthias : 
he was therefore numbered with 
the eleven apostles, Acts ii. 15 — 
26. It is probable, he preached 
the gospel somewhere in the 
east ; but whether he died a 
violent or natural death, we 
know not. 

MEASURE ; That where- 
by the quantity, length, or 
breadth of any thing is adjusted. 
Tables of measure follow. 



Scripture-measures of Length reduced to English measure. 



Digit - - 

TfPalra 



Eng. feet, in dec. 



VI | 3 [Span 



241 



»■( 3 (Cub it 



W\ 2-1 [ 6| 2| Fathom 



144 j .sc| 12 1 (jj 1||Ezekiel's reed 



1 92| 4f| 1(5| e| 2 | l|| \ra bian pole - - 
192014801 1G0| Jf|-2U ji3i| 10|Scha3nus',ormea.line 145 






0.912 





3.648 





10.944 


1 


9.889 


7 


3.552 


10 


11.328 


14 


7.104 


45 


11.04 



The longer Scripture-measures. 

English miles, paces, ft. dec. 

Cubit ------ 1.824 

400| Sta dium, or furlong 145 4.6 

2000 1 5 1 Sa bbath day's journey - - - 729 3.0 

4200| 10 1 21 E astern mile 1 403 1.0 

120001 30[ 6| 3| P arasang 4 153 3.0 

1 ! 600U12-JU|48|2-J1S| A day's journey, - 33 172 4.0 



Scripture-measures of Capacity for Liquids, reduced to 
lish Wine-measure. 



Caph - 
1 | Log 



Gal. pints, sol. 
- - 



5J_4| Cab - 

10] 12| 3 1 Kin 



:i2| 24 1 6| 21 Seah - - - 



^\ '21 1P| 6j 3) Bath, or Epha 



960|720|180|60|20jl0| Coron, Choraer - 



4 

4 

5 

358 



Eng- 

inch 

0.177 

0.211 

0.844 

2.533 

5.067 

1.5.2 

7.625 



MEA 



MED 



Scripture-measures of Capacity for things Dry ) reduced to 
English Corn-measure. 



Gachal 

~ 20] Cab 


- 


Pecks, gal. pts. sol. 

- - 

- 2 

- 5 

- - 1 1 

- - 3 3 


in. dec. 
0.031 
0.073 


3(?| 1 | Gomor, or omer 


1.211 


120) 6| 3|| Seah - - - 


4.036 


300| 18| 101 3|Epha - - 


12.107 



18(10] 90] 50(151 5| Letech - - - - 16 26.500 
3600 11601100130 1101 -2\ Chomer Coron - 32 1 18.969 



JV\ B. A Scotch pint contains three English of Corn-measure, 
and almost four of Wine-measure. 



A measure, in 2 Kings vii. l.| 
signifies a seah, or satum ; but 
in Rev. vi. 6. it signifies but a 
chenix, which contained, almost 
50 solid inches, which is not 
quite the half of our pint ; and 
this being sold for a penny, or 
7f pence sterling, imports, that 
the famine would be so severe, 
that a man would scarce be able 
to work for enough to keep him 
in life. (2.) The length, breadth, 
or quantity to be measured, 
Ezek. xl. 10. (3.) Measure sig- 
nifies the determined length, 
boundary, or degree of any 
thing, as of life, Psal. xxxix. 4: 
of sin, Jer. li. 13; or of grace. 
Eph. iv. 11. The measure of 
the apostles, was the extent of 
their power and office, 2 Cor. x. 
13—15. The Jews filed up the 
measure of their fathers, by 
adding to their sin, and so hast- 
ening on the judgments of God, 
Matth. xxiii. 32. In measure, 
is moderately, sparingly, Isa. 
xxvii. 8. Jer. xxx. 11. Ezek. 
iv. 11. 15. Without measure, 
is very largely, Isa. v. 14. John 
iii. 34. 

To measure, or mete; (1.) To 
take the dimensions or quantity 
of things, Num. xxxv. 5. Ruth 
iii. 15. (2.) To take possession 
of, especially in order to build, 
Zech. ii. 2. "(3.) To repay, re- 
ward, Isa. Ixv. 7. God's mea- 
suring the dust or waters in the 



hollow of his hand, imports his 
full knowledge of, his absolute 
power over, and easy manage- 
ment thereof, Job xxviii. 25. Isa. 
xl. 12. 

MEAT. The food of the He- 
brews was regulated by the ap- 
pointment of God. What ani- 
mals they might eat, and what 
they ought not, was particularly 
marked, Lev. xi. Deut. xiv. 
The import of this English word 
seems to have undergone a con- 
siderable change, since our ver- 
sion of the Bible was made ; for, 
in this, it means food in general ; 
or, when confined to one species, 
always signifies meal, flour, or 
grain, but never flesh, which is 
now the usual acceptation of the 
word. A meat-offering in the 
Scriptures is always a vegetable 
and never an animal offering; 
and it should now be rendered 
a bread-offering, or a meal-of 
fering, instead of a meat-offer- 
ing. 

MEDEBA, a city, a conside 
rable way eastward of Jordan, 
and not far from Heshbon. 

MEDIA, a kingdom to the 
east of Assyria, having Elam or 
Persia on the south, and the Cas- 
pian Sea on the north. It seems 
to have been, originally, a pro- 
vince of the Assyrian empire ; 
until, in the reign of Sennache^ 
rib, the Medes seem to have 
thrown off the yoke of subjec 
359 



MEIi 

tion, and declared themselves 
independent. From this time 
they carried on wars with the 
Assyrians with various success, 
until the reign of Cyaxares, the 
grandfather of Mandana the mo- 
ther of Cyrus, by whom the As- 
syrians were defeated and driven 
within the walls of Nineveh. 
This prince then uniting his 
forces with those of Nabopolas- 
sar the king of Babylon, they 
besieged and took the city. The 
son of this Cyaxares was Asty- 
ages, the father of Mandana, 
who also had a son named Cy- 
axares, who was associated with 
Cyrus in all his- military expedi- 
tions until the taking of Baby- 
lon. This is the person, who, in 
Daniel, is called, Darius the 
Mede. As the war was carried 
on in the name of the Medes, to 
whom the Persians were merely 
auxiliary, and as Cyaxares was 
the older man, he first ascended 
the throne of Babylon ; but his 
reign was of short dutation, and 
after his death, he was succeed- 
ed by Cvrus the Persian. 

MEDIATOR, one that inter- 
venes between two parties. Je- 
sus Christ is the one, only medi- 
ator between God and man. 1 
Tim. ii. 5. Praying in the name 
or through the name of any one 
else, has no countenance in the 
scriptures. Christ is a suita- 
ble, willing, and ever provi- 
dent mediator. Hebrews viii. 
6. ix. 15. xii. 24. Galatians iii. 
19, 20. 

MEDITERRANEAN, See 
Great Sea. 

MEGIDDO, or Megiddon, a 
city of the western Manassites, 
said to have been 44 miles north 
of Jerusalem ; but I suppose it 
was more. The Canaanites re- 
tained it; and near to it Jabin's 
army was routed bv Deborah 
and Barak, Judg. i. 27. v. 19. 

MELCHIZEDEK, king of 
Salem, and priest of the Most 
High God. Who he was hath af- 
forded much dispute ; some will 



MEL 

have him to be Christ, or the 
Holy Ghost; but Paul distin- 
guishes between him and our 
Saviour, and says, he was but 
made like unto the Son of God. 
Both Moses and Paul represent 
him as a mere man, who reigned 
at Salem in Canaan. But what 
man he was, is as little agreed. 
The Jews and Samaritans will 
have him to be Shem, their an- 
cestor. The Arabians will have 
him the grandson of Shem by the 
father's side, and the great- 
grandson of Japheth by his mou- 
ther's; and pretend to give ua 
the names of his ancestors. Jii- 
rien will have him to be Ham. 
Dr. Owen would have him to be 
a descendant of Japheth, and a 
pledge of the offspring of Ja- 
pheth's becoming the principal 
church of God. But how a de- 
scendant of Japheth came to be 
king of the Canaanites, we know 
not. Why may we not rather, 
with Suidas, suppose him a de- 
scendant of Ham, sprung of a 
cursed family, and ruling over 
subjects cursed in their progeni- 
tor 1 Would he be thereby one 
whit more dissimilar to Jesus 
Christ ? But why all this inquiry 
after a genealogy which God 
hath concealed ; and to render 
him a distinguished type of our 
Saviour, haUi brought him be- 
fore us, as if dropt from heaven, 
and after his work returning 
thereto 1 His blessing of Abua- 
ham, the great heir of promise, 
and receiving tithes from him, 
marks him superior to Levi and 
Aaron, who were then unborn. 
When Abraham returned from 
the rout of Chedorlaomer, and 
his allies, Melchizedek met him 
in the valley of Shaveh, after- 
wards called the King's Dale, 
and tendered him a present of 
bread and wine, for the refresh- 
ment of himself and his .wearied 
troops. He also blessed Abra- 
ham, and thanked God for giv- 
ing him the victory. Abraham 
acknowledged him priest of the 
360 



MEL 

Most High God, and gave him a 
tenth part of the spoil, Gen. xiv. 
17_20. Heb. vii. 1—11. Jesus 
is a priest after the order of Mel- 
chizedek ; as God, he was with- 
out beginning: as man, his ori- 
gin was miraculous: he was in- 
stalled in his office only by God, 
and is therein superior to all the 
Aaronic and ransomed priests. 
He communicates all blessings 
to them, and ought to receive 
from them proper glory and ho- 
nour. He, with his flesh that is 
meat indeed, and his blood that 
is drink indeed, refreshes his peo- 
ple, when like to faint in their 
spiritual warfare ; he has no suc- 
cessor, but is possessed of an un- 
changeable priesthood, Psal. ex. 
4. Heb. vii. 1—11. vi. 20. v. 10. 
MELITA, or Malta, is a small 
island of the Mediterranean Sea, 
about 54 miles south of Sicily, 
and 130 north of Africa. It "is 
about 18 miles long, and 12 
broad, and 60 in circumference. 
About A. D. 63, Paul and his 
companions were shipwrecked 
on this island, and kindly enter- 
tained by the natives. They 
imagined Paul a god, because 
he shook a viper off his hand, 
without receiving any hurt from 
it. Publius the governor's father 
was cured of his bloody flux; 
and others, informed hereof, 
brought their sick to Paul, and 
they were healed. When Paul 
and his companions departed for 
Italy, the Maltese cheerfully fur- 
nished them with necessary pro- 
visions, Acts xxviii. 1 — 11. It is 
said, that no venomous beast 
can since live in that country; 
and that earth is carried from it 
to expel venomous animals, and 
to cure the bites of serpents. It 
is more certain, that ever since 
there has been some remains of 
Christianity in this place ; though 
for many ages past little more 
than the name. About A. D. 
828, the Mahomedan Saracens 
seized on it. About 1090, Roger 
of Sicily took it from them. 
Q 31 



MEL 

About 1530, Charles V. emperor 
of Germany and king of Spain, 
gave it to the military knights, 
whom the Turks had about se- 
ven years before, with terrible 
bloodshed, driven from Rhodes. 
When they came there, the in- 
habitants were about 12,000, 
wretched enough, and soil ex- 
ceeding barren. It is now quite 
the reverse : the soil bears excel- 
lent fruit, melons, cotton, &c. 
The inhabitants are between 40 
and 50,000, and the natives still 
retain a great deal of the ancient 
Phenician or Carthaginian lan- 
guage. When the knights were 
masters of it, they were in a kind 
of perpetual war with the Turks, 
using their ships in much the 
same manner the Algerines dc 
those of Italy and Spain ; anc 
have on various occasions per 
formed wonders of bravery, de 
fending the island against huge 
armies of infidels. The French 
during their revolution seized on 
it, and it was taken from them 
by the British. Some have doubt- 
ed whether Malta was, indeed, 
the island on which the apostle 
Paul was shipwrecked, because 
Luke represents the vessel as 
having been tossed by this storm 
in the Adriatic Sea, which is on 
the east of Italy, and have fixed 
upon a very small island in that 
sea, the name of which is the 
same, or resemb..8S that men- 
tioned in the Acts. But for this 
opinion there is no good founda- 
tion. We know not how far the 
name Adria was extended ; per- 
haps to the whole of that part 
of the Mediterranean : and if it 
had been confined to as narrow 
limits as at present, in a storm 
of so many days, a vessel might 
soon be driven as far as Malta. 
But that which determines the 
point is the uninterrupted tradi- 
tion among the inhabitants of 
Malta and others, that that waa 
indeed the place of Paul's ship- 
wreck, whereas, until lately, no- 
thing was ever thought of tba 
361 



MEM 
small island in the Adriatic, re- 
ferred to above. 

Malta at present is the seat of 
important missionary operations 
both of the Church " Missionary 
Society of England, and of the 
American Board of Foreign Mis- 
sions. Printing presses are esta- 
blished at this central position, 
by both the important societies 
just named. From these presses 
multitudes of religious tracts are 
issued by the missionaries for the 
Levant, in the Romaic, or mo- 
dern Greek, in Armeno-Turkish, 
and in Arabic, which are exten- 
sively circulated. It is also an 
important depot for Bibles in 
various languages; and more- 
over serves, at this time, as an 
asylum for the missionaries of 
the American Board, who have, 
by persecution, been forced to 
flee from Syria. 

MELON. This is a luscious, 
cooling fruit, too well known in 
the United States to need de- 
scription. There are many va- 
rieties, but the kind referred to 
in Num. xi. 5. the only place in 
the Bible where it is mentioned, 
is doubtless the water-melon 
which greatly abounds in Egypt 
on the banks of the Nile, where 
it is eaten by all sorts of people, 
but, according to Hasselquist, 
serves for meat, drink,and physic 
to the poorer classes. Nothing 
can be more refreshing in those 
sultry climates than the delicious 
juice of the melon ; which will 
account fur the regret expressed 
by the Israelites for the loss of 
this fruit. This fruit is also cul- 
tivated abundantly and brought 
to great perfection in the vicinity 
of mount Carmel in Palestine. 

MEMPHIS, or Noph, a fam- 
ous city of Egypt, supposed to 
have been built by Mizraim or 
Menes. In early times it. seems 
to have been the capital of the 
country. The Pharaohs resided 
sometimes here, and sometimes 
at Zoan or Tanis. Memphis, 
according to the best authori- 



MEP 

ties, was situated about 15 miles 
above the site of old Cairo ; Dr. 
Shaw, however, thinks, that its 
situation was exactly opposite, 
on the other side of the river. In 
the time of Strabo, there were 
many splendid remains of this 
ancient city ; among which, he 
describes a temple of Vulcan, of 
great magnificence ; another of 
Venus ; and a third of Osiris, 
where the Apis or sacred ox was 
worshipped. He also mentions 
a large circus ; but he remarks, 
that many of the palaces were in 
ruins ; and describes an immense 
colossus which lay prostrate in 
the front of the city ; and among 
a number of sphinxes, some were 
buried in sand up to the middle 
of the body ; while of others, on- 
ly the heads were visible above 
the sand. Some remains of this 
city were visible 000 years after 
the time of Strabo's visit, when 
the Saracens had possession of 
this country : but at present there 
is scarcely a vestige of its former 
grandeur to be found. This has 
Jed some to conjecture that its 
site was overflowed by the Nile ; 
but it is much more probable that 
it has been covered by the 
continual encroachment of the 
sands, which, we see, were ad- 
vancing in the time of Strabo. 
And it cannot be doubted, but 
that a large part of ancient 
Egypt has already been com- 
pletely inundated by the sands 
from the wilderness. 

MENAHEM, the son of Gadi, 
seems to have been general to 
Zachariah, the son of Jeroboam 
the 2d. No sooner he heard tha/ 
his master was murdered by 
Shallum the son of Jabesh, in 
Samaria, than he marched from 
Tirzah, and cut ofT Shallum, 
and seized the crown for him- 
self. 

MEPHIBOSHETH; (1.) A 
son of king Saul by Rizpah, 2 
Sam. xxi.8, 9. (2.) Mephibosh- 
eth. the son of Jonathan, and 
grandchild of S;ml. 



MER 

MERART, the third eon or 
Levi and father of Mahli and 
Mushi. When the Hebrews 
came out of Egypt, the Merarite 
males, from a month old and up- 
ward, were 6200 ; and those fit 
for service, between 30 and 50 
years of age, were 3200. To 
them it pertained, to bear in their 
waggons, and to fix the pillars, 
bars, and boards of the taberna- 
cle. They went first of all the 
Levites in their march through 
the wilderness, that the pillars 
might be set up, and boards fast- 
ened before the hangings came 
forward to be laid on ; as these 
last were spread ere the sacred 
furniture came up, Num. iii. 33 
— 37. iv. 29 — 45. Some of his 
posterity were sacred porters, 1 
Chron. "xxvi. 19. Their cities 
were Jokneam, Kartah, Dirn- 
nah, Nahaial, Bezer, Kedemoth, 
Jahazah, Mephaath, Ramotb- 
gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, 
Jazar, Josh. xxi. 34-— 40. 1 Chr. 
vi.63. 77— 31. 

MERATHAIM, a province 
of Ohaldea, on both sides of the 
Tigris. 

MERCHANTS. Those of 
Midian, and other parts of Ara- 
bia, were the most ancient, Gen. 
xxxvii. 23. Those of Nineveh 
and Tyre were numerous and 
wealthy, Nah. iii. 16. Ezek. 
xvii. 4. 

MERCY; (1.) Affectionate 
pity to such as are in misery and 
distress, and readiness to do them 
good, Tit. iii. 5. Phil. ii. 1. Col. 
iii. 12. (2.) Kind acts proceeding 
from inward compassion, and 
desire to relieve such as are in 
misery and want, 1 Tim. i. 13. 16. 
Psal. cxlv. 9. All God's paths 
are mercy and truth to such as 
keep his covenant: all his deal- 
ings with them, are the effects 
of mercy and kindness to them, 
and are the accomplishment of 
his promises to them, Psal. xxv. 
10. 

MERCY-SEAT. See Jirk. 

MERODACH, or Berodach- 



MES 

baladan, or Mardokempad, was 
the son of Baladan king of Ba- 
bylon. 

MEROM. The waters of Me- 
rom are generally supposed to be 
the Samachon, or upper lake of 
Jordan. This lake at present is 
called Houle, and is situated in 
a hollow or valley about twelve 
miles wide ; and from it the river 
Jordan flows. 

MEROZ, a city in the neigh- 
bourhood of the river Kishon, 
the inhabitants of which refused 
to assist Barak against the army 
of Jabin. 

MESHA, a place where the 
posterity of Joktan had their 
west border, Gen. x. 30. 

Mesh a, the king of Moab, 
After the death of Ahab, he re- 
volted from the yoke of the ten 
tribes, and denied his yearly 
tribute of 100,000 lambs, and as 
manv rams, with the wool. 

MESHECH, the sixth son of 
Japheth. We suppose him the 
father of the Moscheni, who in- 
habited the Moschic mountains 
on the north-east ofCappadocia; 
and that the Muscovites are 
partly his descendants. 

MESOPOTAMIA, a famous 
province, between the rivers 
Tigris and Euphrates. The He- 
brews called it Padan-aram. cr 
the field of dram; and the north- 
west of it, if not the whole of it, 
was called Aramnaharaim, or 
Syria of the two rivers. Taking 
this country at large, it was the 
first residence o( mankind, both 
before and after the floo!J. Here 
were Eden, Shinar, Babylon. 
Here Abraham, Nahor, Sarah, 
Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, and all 
the children of Jacob, save Ben- 
jamin, were born. Acts vii. 2. 
Gen.xi.31. xxix. xxx. Neh.ix.7. 

This name, in its widest ac 
ceptation, applies to all the coun 
try situated between the Euphra 
tes and Tigris ; extending from 
31° to 40° of north latitude: yet 
in the Bible, the word designates 
only the southern part of thi» 
363 



MIC 

region. For Stephen says, (Acts 
vii. 2 — 1.) 'The God of glory ap- 
peared to our father Abraham 
when he dwelt in Mesopotamia, 
before he dwelt in Charran,' &c. 
But in the largest sense of this 
word, Charran was included in 
Mesopotamia, for it was between 
the two sreat rivers. 

MESSIAH. SeeChrist. Jeics. 

METHEG-AMMAH, was ei- 
ther Gath, or some other city 
near it, by which, as a bridle of 
bondage, the Philistines were 
enabled to keep the Hebrews of 
the country adjacent, in slavery. 
David took it from the Philis- 
tines, 2 Sam. viii. 1. 

MICAH, an Ephraimite of 
Mount Ephraim, near Shiloh, 
the son of a rich, but supersti- 
tious widow. 

2. Micah, the Morasthite, or 
inhabitant of Moresheth near 
Gath, one of the lesser prophets, 
was contemporary with Isaiah, 
has a somewhat similar style, 
and even sundry of his expres 
sions, Isa. i. 1. ii. 1 — i. xli. 15. 
Mic. i. 1. iv. 1 — 1. 13. He con- 
tinued prophesying about fifty 
years, in the reigns of Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and seems 
to have had a plentiful share of 
contempt and affliction, Mic. i. 
1. vii. 1—10. 

MICAIAH, the son of Imlah, 
an Ephraimite, a faithful pro- 
phet, who used to reprove Ahab 
very freely for his wickedness. 
Whether it was he who foretold 
to Ahab his repeated victories 
over the Syrians, we know not: 
but we suppose it was he who in 
disguise met Ahab as he returned 
from Aphek to Samaria. He had 
just before, in the name of the 
Lord, desired his neighbour to 
smite him: his neighbour de- 
clined it; and, as the prophet 
declared, a lion soon after met 
him and killed him. 

MICHAEL, the archangel, 
supposed by many theologians 
to be no other than the Son of 
God, the Prince of the Angels: 



MIC 

it to this opinion, plausible as 
it is, there are many weighty 
objections. One thing, however, 
is certain, that we never read in 
Scripture, of more than one 
archangel, Rev. xii. 7. 

MIC HAL, the daughter of 
Saul. Her father, after his de- 
ceitful disposal of Merab, her 
eldest sister, to Adriel the Me* 
holathite, when she ought to 
have been given to David, being 
informed, that Michal had a 
strong affection to David, pro- 
mised her to him in marriage: 
and she was accordingly given 
to him in marriage. And when 
her father's jealousy of David 
rose so high as to induce him to 
seek to slay him, Michal pre- 
served his life by letting him 
down from a window in the 
night, and placed in his bed an 
image with a bolster, and pre- 
tended it was David lying sick; 
but when search was made, the 
trick was discovered, and Michal 
to appease her father's displea- 
sure asserted, that David had 
threatened to kill her if she did 
not aid him to make his escape, 
1 Sam. xix. 11—17. When Da- 
vid was in exile, Saul very un- 
justly gave Michal to Phalti the 
son of Laish, 1 Sam. xxv. 44. 
Eight or nine years afterwards, 
when David negociated with 
Abner about the kingdom of 
Saul, he required as one of the 
conditions, that his wife Michal 
should be restored; she was ac- 
cordingly restored, and her se- 
cond but unlawful husband, fol- 
lowed her weeping. She seemg 
not to have possessed any thing 
of the spirit of piety, for when 
David rejoiced before the ark, 
she despised hirn in her heart 
and reproached him as having 
degraded himself, 2 Sam. hi. 12 
—16. vi. 16—23. xxi. 8, 9. 

MICHMASH, a city of the 
Benjamites, about nine miles 
north-east of Jerusalem, and per- 
haps four south-east o.f BetheL 
Here the huge host of the Philia- 
364 



MIL 
tines encamped, 1 Sam. xiii. Hr 
23. xiv. 1—16. Isa. x. 28. Neh. 
xi. 31. 

MIDIAN, the fourth son of 
Abraham by Keturah, and father 
of the Midianites, who inhabited 
the land of Midian, Gen. xxv.2. 
In Scripture, two different places 
are represented as the land of 
Midian, the one about the north- 
east point of the Red Sea, where 
Abulfeda places the city of 
Midian or Madian, and where 
Jethro dwelt. These western or 
southern Midianites were also 
called Cushites, because they 
dwelt in the country originally 
pertaining to Cush. They re- 
tained the true religion, when it 
seems to have been lost by the 
eastern or northern Midianites, 
Exod. ii. Nurnb. xii. 1. The 
northern Midianites dwelt on the 
east of the Dead Sea, and were 
neighbours to the Moabites. 
The Midianites consisted of five 
principal tribes, descended from 
Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, 
and Eldaah, each of which seem 
to have had their own kings. 

The Midianites united with 
the Moabites in sending for Ba- 
laam to curse Israel; but God 
turned the intended curse upon 
their own heads, and Balaam 
contrary to his inclination and 
worldly interest, was constrained 
to pronounce blessings on the 
chosen people of God. In the 
conflict which ensued, the Mo- 
abites and Midianites were en- 
tirely defeated, Num. xxii — xxv. 
Two hundred years after this, a 
numerous army of Midianites 
was defeated by Gideon, ac- 
companied by only 300 men, 
Judg. vi — viii. 

MIGDOL, or Magdolum, a 
place near the north-west point 
of the Red Sea, and not far from 
Sin. 

MILCOLM. See Molech. 

MILETUS, or Miletum, a 

sea-port city of Caria, in Lesser 

Asia, and the capital city of 

both Caria and Ionia. It i= 

31* 



I MIL 

said to have been built by Mile 
tus, the son of the idol god 
Apollo. Here were four har- 
bours sufficient to hold all the 
Persian fleet. Here was a mag- 
nificent temple of Apollo. Here 
Thales and Anaximenes, the 
famed philosophers, were born, 
and Timotheus the famous mu- 
sician. The Milesians had an- 
ciently kings of their own. The 
Persians ruined their city, and 
transplanted the inhabitants. 
They returned and rebuilt it; 
but were quickly made slaves by 
the Persians. When they fell 
under the power of the Greeks 
and the Romans, they were 
kindly used. They anciently 
sent out colonies to Spain, and 
other places, some think, even 
to Ireland. It lay about 36 
miles south-west of Ephesus ; 
and here Paul sent for, and gave 
solemn charges to the elders of 
that church, Acts xx. 15 — 38. 
For about 300 years after Christ, 
we find no marks of a church at 
Miletus ; but in the 5th, 6th, 7th, 
and 8th centuries of the Chris- 
tian ffira, there were bishops in 
this place. Since the Saracens 
ravaged these parts, it has gone 
to ruin, so that nothing is to be 
seen but rubbish, and a few cot- 
tages for shepherds. 

There was another place of 
this name in the island of Crete, 
where Paul leftTrophimus sick, 
2 Tim. iv. 20. 

MILLET, a coarse kind of 
grain, which was given to beasts, 
and little used by men, except in 
times of great scarcity ; but 
whether what was appointed 
of God for Ezekiel, as part of 
his provision, was millet, we 
dare not determine. 

This word, in the original do- 
chan, occurs in Ezek. iv. 9. The 
English word is derived from the 
multitude of seeds which the 
plant bears, as also the Latin 
'millium,' as if one stalk pro- 
duced a thousand seeds. Nie- 
buhr informs us, that there is a 
365 



MIN 

kind of millet used in the easl 
called ' durra,' which, made in- 
to bread with camels' milk, but- 
ter, or grease, is almost the only 
food eaten by the common peo- 
ple in Arabia Felix; but he says 
he found it so unpalatable, that 
he would have preferred plain 
barley bread, which furnishes 
the reason of its being appointed 
as a part of the hard tare of 
Ezekiel. Durra is also produc- 
ed in Palestine and Lydia, and 
yields much more than any 
other kind of grain. 

MILLO, a noted person, or a 
place near Shechem, whose 
family, or inhabitants, assisted 
the Shechemites in making 
Abimelech king ; and were ru- 
ined by him at last, Judg. ix. 6. 
20. (2,) A place in Jerusalem, 
adjacent to the city of David ; 
but whether it was a citadel be- 
tween the city of David and old 
Jebus, or if it was the filling up 
of the valley between the two, 
we know not. David began to 
build about Millo, and gave the 
command of the place to Joab, 
2 Sam. v. 9. 1 Chron. xi. 8. At 
great expense, Solomon carried 
on the buildings of Millo ; and 
perhaps here was erected the 
palace for Pharaoh's daughter. 
This building occasioned some 
disgust to Jeroboam the son of 
Nebat, 1 Kings ix. 15.24. xi.27. 
King Joash was murdered in 
the house of Millo, in the going 
down to the Silla, or causey, ! 
that led to the palace, 2 Kings 
xii. 20. 

MINISTRY; (1.) The office 
of a minister in the church, Acts 
i. 17. (2.) The discharge of 
such an office, Hos. xii. 10. 

MINISTRATION; (1.) Ser- 
vice in the work of anv minister, 
Luke i. 23. (2.) Distribution 
of alms, Actsvi. 1. 2 Cor. ix. 13. 
The law of Moses was the min- 
istration of death and condem- 
nation. It convinces men of 
their being guilty of death spiri- 
tual, and condemns them to 



MIR 

th eternal ; and for many of 
the breaches of it did God re- 
quire men to be cut off by a 
temporal and violent death. 
The gospel is the ministration 
of the Spirit that giveth life; 
it proceeds from the Holy Ghost; 
is confirmed and applied by 
him ; and by means of it, he 
conveys life, and all spiritual 
graces and benefits, to the souls 
of men, 2 Cor. hi. 7, 8. 

MINNI, an ancient kingdom, 
whose king and troops assisted • 
the Medes and Persians to des- 
troy Babylon. Probably it was 
the same with Minias. Jer. li. 27. 

MINNITH, a city about four 
miles from Heshbon, on the road 
to Rabbah. 

MINSTREL, a musician or 
piper. Perhaps the minstrel 
which Elisha called for, to allay 
his ruffled spirit with a tune, 
might be one of the singers of 
the temple, who played to him 
one of David's Psalms, 2 Kinga 
iii. 15. It seems, from the ex- 
ample of Jairus, to have been 
customary in the time of our 
Saviour, to employ minstrels at 
funerals ; for when Christ came 
into the house to raise his 
daughter, 'he saw the minstrels 
and the people making a noise/ 
Matth. ix. 23. 

MIRACLE, a wonderful ef- 
fect, superior, or contrary to the 
laws of nature. To pretend that 
there can be no miracles, as the 
laws of nature are fixed by the 
divine will, and so very good, 
is stupidly and blasphemously to 
chain down the Almighty to the 
order of second causes. To 
pretend that no miracles ought 
to be credited, because they are 
contrary to the common obser- 
vation of mankind, is stupid in a 
superlative degree. If miracles 
were not contrary to the com- 
mon observation of mankind, 
they could be no miracles at all, 
nor have any effect as such. 
The negative testimony of mil- 
lions unnumbered, as to an event 
3G6 



MIR 



MIR 

believe them. Nothing of the 



which they are allowed ti 

absent from the place of at the ' delusive kind ever exceeded the 
time of its happening, is of no ' exploits of the Egyptian magi- 
force at all. Miracles are never , cians, but the miracles of Moses 
a whit more real discoveries of controlled them ; his rod, when 
the power of God, than the turned into a serpent, swallowed 
common preservation and gov- up their rods, which were trans- 
ernment of things; but are an formed in like manner. He pro- 
exertion of his power in an duced many miraculous plagues, 
uncommon manner, to alarm the which they could not. Our Sa- 
world, and answer some impor- viour's miracles were so tran- 
tant end. As we are not able scendant in their nature, so be- 
to understand how far the power nevolent in their tendency, so 
of second causes may go, or the divine in the manner, by a touch 
power of evil angels may ex- or a word, so full in their evi- 
tend, God has not allowed us to dence, before thousands of 
rest the proof of a revelation friends and foes, and so corres- 
upon miracles alone, but to ex- ; pondent to the ancient prophe- 
amine also the doctrine confirm- 1 cies concerning the Messiah, and 
ed thereby, whether it be worthy so directed to confirm the most 
of God. * Nor are the miracles, : exalted and benevolent system 
whereby he has confirmed the ; of doctrines and laws, and the 
mission of the principal publish- history thereof so plain andsim- 
ers of his revelation, a few, or pie, and exposed to the trial of 
any way doubtful, but multi- his worst enemies, that nothing 
tudes, all of the uncontrolled but want of capacity to examine 
kind, neither wrought to con- and perceive them, or hearty 
firm any thing trifling or base, hatred of him and his way, can 
nor contradicted by a superior hinder us to believe them, and the 
power; and most of them in the gospel confirmed thereby. When 
openest manner, before friends the form of true religion is once 
and foes. Many of them were established in the world, there is 
often repeated: they concurred no need of the continuance of mi- 
to establish a system of religion, racles for its confirmation ; a3 
honourable to God, and un- men have been already sufficient- 
speakably useful to men, calcu- 1 ly alarmed to consider it, and the 
lated to render them happy in mission of its publishers sufR- 
this, and in a future estate. Nor ciently attested ; and the preva- 
did the workers thereof make ' lence of the true religion in op- 
any proud boasting of these position to the inclinations and 
wondrous exploits. The mira- j endeavours of men, with fulfi> 
cles pretended to have been i ment of prophecies, succeed in 
wrought by Apollonius and Ves- ! their room. The miracles of 
pasian, were neither evidently Moses were similar to his fiery 
superior to the power of second law, mostly ruinous and des- 
causes, nor have we any proper i tructive ; the miracles of Jesus, 



evidence of the facts, but the 
mere report of zealous partizans, 
or flatterers. The miracles pre- 
tended by the Papists, either re- 
late to trifles, unworthv of the 



like his gospel, were almost 
wholly of the benevolent kind. 

MIRIAM, the sister of Moses, 
who, at the desire of Pharaoh's 
daughter, called his own mother 



divine interposal, or they have ! to nurse him. It is said, she 



been wrought before persons 
drowned in gross ignorance, and 
incapable to try them ; or before 
persons resolved at any rate to 



was married to Hur. 

After the passage of the Red 
Sea, she led forth the daughters 
of Israel with timbrels and dan- 
367 



MIZ 

ces, in celebration of the wor? 
derful deliverance which God 
had vouchsafed to his people. 
On one occasion, she united 
with Aaron her brother, in op- 
posing Moses, and was smitten 
with leprosy as a punishment of 
her rashness, but was restored 
in answer to the prayer of Mo- 
ses. Miriam died and was bu- 
ried at Kadesh, Exod. ii. xv. 21, 
22. Num. xx. 1. xii. 

MISREPHOTH-MAIM, or 
the burnings of waters, was 
either hot baths, or a glass-work, 
near Zidon, or rather hot baths 
in the north of Gilead. 

MITRE. See Bonnet. 

MITYLENE, the capital city 
of the island of Lesbos, in the 
east end of the Mediterranean 
Sea, and about seven or eight 
miles from the continent of Les- 
ser Asia. 

Here Paul touched in his jour- 
ney from Corinth to Judea, Acts 
xx. 14. This place is also re- 
markable as the birth-place of 
Alcaeus the poet, Sappho the 
poetess, Pittacus one of the 
wise men of Greece, Theophras- 
tus the historian, and Diophan- 
tes the rhetorician. It is now 
an insignificant place, called 
Metelin, in the possession of the 
Turks. 

MIZPAH, or Mizpeh; (1.) 
A city of Judah, about 18 miles 
west of Jerusalem, in the large 
plain, Josh. xv. 38: but it seems 
to have been given to the Ben- 
jamites, Josh, xviii. 26; or per- 
haps that of Benjamin was a 
different place. Here the He 
brews held their meeting about 
the affair of the Levite's concu- 
bine, who was basely murdered 
oy the men of Gibeah, Judg. xx. 
1. Here Samuel dwelt, and the 
Hebrews under his direction ob- 
served a solemn fast, to obtain 
deliverance from the Philistines, 
1 Sam. vii. 5, 6. Here Saul 
was anointed to be king, 1 Sam. 
x. 17. The name of Mizpah 
was given to many places on ac- 



MOA 
t of the erection of a pillar, 
as a memorial of some extraor- 
dinary deliverance or manifesta- 
tion of favour, for the word sig- 
nifies ' a pillar.' 

MIZRAIM, or Meier, the 
son of Ham, and father of Lu- 
dim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naph- 
tuhim, Pathrusim, and Caslu- 
mim, from which last sprung 
the Philistines and Caphtorim. 

MOAB, the son of Lot, by 
his eldest daughter, was born 
about the same time as Isaac 
in Ji. M. 2108. He and his pos- 
teiity dwelt in the land called by 
his name, eastward of the Dead 
Sea, and about the river Arnon, 
with the Ammonites on the 
north-east, and the Midianites 
on the south-west of them. 

MOABITES, the descendants 
of M©ab, the eldest son of Lot. 
When the children of Israel 
journeyed through the wilder- 
ness, they were commanded not 
to disturb the Moabites, nor in- 
vade their territory. But they 
were no way grateful for this 
forbearance, but joined with the 
Midianites in distressing and ob- 
structing the progress of the 
children of Israel. For these 
acts of hostility, a curse was de- 
nounced upon them from Jeho- 
vah, even unto the tenth gene- 
ration, Deut. xxiii. 3 — G. 

After the children of Israel 
were settled in Canaan, they 
were sold for their sins into the 
hands of the Moabite3, for 18 
years, when they were delivered 
by Ehud, the son of Gera, who 
slew Eglon the king of Moab, 
in his own chamber, and then 
fleeing, summoned the oppressed 
Israelites to rise against their 
enemies ; then, seizing the fords 
of Jordan, slew of the Moabites 
about 10,000 men, Judges hi. 
12-30. 

After the accession of David 
to the throne, the Moabites were 
entirely subdued, two thirds of 
them being destroyed, and the 
rest made tributary 2 Sam. viii. 
3G8 



I 



Ioa- jd-v 
n to Jos 



MOD 

2. After the separation of 
ten tnbes from Judah, the Moi 
bites continued in subjection 
the kings of Israel, for 150 years, 
until the death of Ahab ; but in 
the reign of his son, Mesha, the 
king of Moab rebelled, and re- 
fused anv longer to pav the tri- 
bute of" 100,000 lambs and 
100 ; 000 rams, which had been 
customary. Jehoram, the king 
of Israel, therefore planned an 
expedition against Moab, and 
taking with him Jehoshaphat 
the king of Judah, and the 
Edomites his tributaries, he 
marched round the southern 
border of the Dead Sea to in- 
vade the country ; but in the 
wilderness through which they 
had to pass, they must have all 
perished for want of water, had 
not a seasonable supply been 
granted in answer to the prayer 
of Elisha, who was present. 
The Moabites were now de- 
feated, and their cities destroyed, 
2 Kings iii. When the Reuhen- 
ites were carried into captivity, 
the Moabites seized their lands, 
and we hear very little more of 
them except in prophecy, where 
heavy judgments are repeat- 
edly denounced against them, 
Is. xv. xvi. Jer. xlviiL Ez. xxv. 
Amosii. Zeph.ii. Their coun- 
try seems to have been exceed- 
ingly fertile in ancient times ; 
but now it is a barren desert, 
traversed only by wandering 
Arabs, according to that predic- 
tion of the prophet, ' Moab shall 
be a perpetual desolation.' 

MODIN, is the town where 
resided Mattathias and his sons, 
so famous in the first book of 
Maccabees. This place was 
also celebrated for the splendid 
monument erected in it by Si- 
mon, one of the sons of Matta- 
thias. This contained sepul- 
chres for his father, mother, and 
brother, and also a repository 
for his own ashes, when 
should be needed. Also he 
erected seven pvramids, 



MOL 

ich were sculptured various 
Levices, I Mace. xiii. 27 — 30. 
Josephus informs us, that the 
workmanship was of white and 
polished stone, and that the pil- 
lars were constructed each of a 
single block, Antiq. lib. lxiii. c. 6 

From Mr. Joliff, who has re- 
cently visited this place, we 
learn, that very little of the 
original structure now remains ; 
but the extent and figure of the 
edifice may be easily traced. 
It appears that it was an octa- 
gon, that the walls were exceed- 
ingly massive, and that some of 
the marble blocks which stood 
at the gate-ways, are of such 
size and solidity as to defy mu- 
tilation. The commanding emi- 
nence on which this monument 
tood, made it visible to a great 
distance ; so that it served as a 
kind of light-house to ships at 
No monument comparable 
to it, as far as we learn, was 
ever erected in Palestine. 

MOLE, a small four-footed 
animal, which ferrets in the 
earth, hath its feet formed for 
digging; its eyes very small, 
and hence believed by the vul- 
gar to be blind. 

Bochart is of opinion, that the 
word in Lev. xi. 30. which our 
translators render ' mole,' is pro- 
perly the ' chameleon ;' but he 
thinks, that the word translated 
' vveazel,' in the preceding verse, 
is the 'mole;' and in the east, 
at this day, the ' mole' is called 
khuld, which is evidently the 
same as the Hebrew word choled, 
here used. This learned author 
is, moreover, of opinion, that 
the words rendered 'moles and 
bats,' Isa. ii. 20. should be read 
as one word, and that no animal 
is meant, but a deep sink, or 
subterranean vault ; and Mi- 
chaelis concurs in the opinion, 
but thinks that sepulchres are 
intended. 

MOLECH, Moloch, Milcom, 

Malcham ; the principal idol of 

the Ammonites ; he had the face 

369 






were ' tin n £ 



MOL MON 

of an ox; his hands waH|Rn Serapis, Actsvii. 43. Solo- 
stretched out, as if ready to re-fmon built a temple to Molech 
ceive presents. He was hollow ! on the Mount of Olives, 1 Kings 
within, and there the fire was ; xi. 7. Ahaz, Manasseh, and 
placed to heat the image, that, other Jews, burnt their children 
it might burn the offerings, in honour to this idol, particu- 
There were seven different a- ! larly in Tophet, 2 Kings xvi. 3. 
partments for receiving the dif- i xxi. 6. Jer. xix. 5, 6. 
ferent oblations of meal, turtles, j MONEY. The most ancient 
ewes, rams, calves, oxen, and , method of trade was by barter, 
children. It is said the unhappy ; exchanging one thing for an- 
parent who offered his child to : other : in after times, the more 
Molech, put him into the burn- 1 precious metals were used as the 
ing arms of the idol, where he price in merchandise. The gold 
expired amidst terrible pain, and ; and silver, however, were long 
while drums were beat to drown . weighed, not coined. Abraham 
his cries. Whatever some talk ; weighed the 400 shekels which 
of causing children to pass be- • he gave for his burying-place, 
tween two fires, in honour of j Gen. xxiii. 15, ]6. Joseph was 
this idol, it is pretty plain that ! sold for 20 shekels weight of sil- 
the actual burning of them in | ver ; and his brethren carried 
sacrifice is intended, Psal. cvi. j back to Egypt the same weight 
37. Ezek. xvi. 20. xxiii. 37. 39. | of money that had been returned 
The sacrificed child was burnt; in their sacks, Gen. xxxvii. 28. 
in order to obtain a blessing on ; xliii. 21. Jeremiah weighed the 
the rest of the family. That 1 17 shekels of silver which he 
Molech was derived from the , gave for his cousin's field, Jer. 
Egyptians, and is the same as i xxxii. 10. Shekels and talents 
Rephan, Remphan, Chiun, or whereby money was estimated, 
Serapis, and worshipped under; were weights, not coins, 2 Sam. 
the form of a bull, and with the xii 30. xiv. 26. We are not 
Anammelech and Adramme- i certain of any coined money 
lech, to which the inhabitants in the world till about A. M 
of Sepharvaim burnt their chil- 3460, when Croesus king of Ly- 
dren, we believe; but whether dia coined his Crcesi, and Da- 
he was the same with Saturn, rius the Mede, bis Darics or 
to whom human sacrifices were Darkmons. Nor do we know 
offered, or with Mercury, or of the Jews coining any till 
Mars, or Venus, or Mithra, or about 400 years after, when An 
the Sun, we shall not now de- tiochus Sidetusgave Simon the 
termine. It is certain, Molech Maccabee a privilege for that 
was very easily worshipped purpose. The Romans began 
among the Ammonites: and to coin silver about JJ. M. 3735, 
perhaps it was the crown of and gold in A. M. 3797. The 
Moiech, not. of the Ammonitish ancient Britains used rings or 
king, that David took at Rab- plates of iron for money. The 
bah, and which weighed a talent, Lacedemonians used bars of 
2 Sam. xii. 20. God very early iron. Anciently, and in strait- 
prohibited the worship of Mo- ening circumstances, leather, 
lech to his people, Lev. xviii. 21. \ wood, pasteboard, &c. have 
xx. 2, 3, 4. They, however, been coined for money. To this 
were often guilty of it; they day the Chinese do not coin, but 
carried the tabernacle of their cut and weigh their gold and 
Molech, in the worship of the silver for trade : and in some 
firolden calf, which was a kind nations they trade with shells 
of representation of the Egyp- | and fruits instead of money 

370 



MOO MOR 

In the East, money is sometimeS|Rk ; and is paid by bags seal 
given in presents to persons of Jed up, Job xiv. 17. 



Jewish Money reduced to the English Standard. 



Gerali ■ 



Silver Money. 



]0|Bekah 

20j 2)Shekel 



1200 j 120 1 50|Maneh, Mina Hebraica 



6000016000] 300Cj 601 Talent 



s. d. q 
1 



I. 


11 
2 3f 
5 14 Of 
342 3 9 



Gold Money. 



Solidus Aureus or Sextula, worth 
A Shekel pf gold, worth - - - 
A Talent of gold, worth - - - 



I. s. d. 

12 0} 

1 16 6 
5475 



MONEY-CHANGERS, were 
such, as, at a certain rate of 
profit, gave smaller pieces of 
money tor larger, or larger for 
smaller, to accommodate such as 
came to the solemn feasts, or 
other worship at Jerusalem. 
These Jesus twice drove from 
the stations which they had 
taken in the courts of the tem- 
ple, John ii, 14, 15. Mat. xxi. 12. 

MOON, a secondary planet, 
always attendant on our earth. 
Many astronomers draw her 
face, as if diversified with hills, 
valleys, continents, and seas; 
but we doubt of all this, and if 
she has so much as an atmos- 
phere to produce clouds, rain, 
snow, or other like meteors. 
The diameter of the moon is 
reckoned 2175 miles ; her surface 
14,000,000 of square miles, and 
her distance from the earth 
1240,000 miles. She performs her 
revolution, from a fixed star to 
the 6ame again, in 27 days, 7 
hours, 40 minutes; but as the 
sun is still advancing in the 
ecliptic eircle, the time from one 
conjunction with the sun to ano- 
ther, is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 
minutes, and 3 seconds. She 
moves about her own axis in 
the same time that she moves 
about the earth, and hence shows 



always the same face to us. 
The moon is of herself a dark 
body, but reflects the light of the 
sun to us ; and our earth serves as 
a moon to the moon, but appears 
about 13 times as large as she 
does to us. When, at her change, 
she comes directly between us 
and the sun, the sun is eclipsed 
to us; when, at her full, the 
earth is directly between her and 
the sun, she is eclipsed to us. 
The moon was formed to give 
light in, and rule the night, and 
to distinguish times and seasons, 
Gen. i. 14. She has a mighty in- 
fluence on the ebbing and flow- 
ing of the sea ; and was the great 
marker of the time of the Jewish 
feasts. The Heathens have ge- 
nerally worshipped the moon, 
under the names of Queen of 
heaven,Venus- Urania, Succoth- 
benoth, Ashtaroth, Diana, Hec- 
ate, or perhaps Meni, &c. Job 
xxxi. 26, 27. Deut. iv. 19. xvii. 3. 
The orientals regulate their 
journies by the moon, and set 
off soon after her change. 

MORDECAI, the son of Jair, 
grandson of Kish, and descend- 
ant of the family of Saul, was 
carried to Babylon along with 
Jehoiachin, king of Judah, when 
he was very young. He was the 
cousin of Esther, a beautiful 
371 



MOR 

Jewess, who was chosen by ki 
Ahasuerus in preference to all 
the virgins presented to him, as 
his queen, after the divorce of 
Vashti. A great hatred was en- 
tertained against this man by 
Haman the king's favourite and 
prime minister, because he had 
neglected to bow down to him 
as he passed through the gate : 
and with the advice of his wife 
and friends, who partook of his 
feelings of enmity, he laid a plot, 
not only for the destruction of 
this unprotected Jew, but also 
of his whole nation. Having 
obtained liberty to make use of 
the king's signet, he sent erf let- 
ters to all parts of the empire, 
directing that the Jews should, 
on a certain day, be put to death: 
but God defeated this cruel 
policy, and turned the destruc- 
tion meditated on the heads of 
their enemies, and especially on 
Haman, the malicious contriver 
of the whole plot. The king 
being unable to sleep, called for 
the royal archives to be read in 
his presence to afford him 
amusement, and here it was re- 
corded, that on a certain occa- 
sion, Mordecai had saved his 
life, by detecting a conspiracy 
of two of his servants. And upon 
inquiry, he found that no reward 
had ever been given to him 
whereupon the next day, when 
Haman came to obtain his per- 
mission to hang Mordecai, on a 
gallows fifty cubits high, which 
he had prepared, as soon as he 
entered, the king accosted him, 
and asked him, what should b< 
done to the man whom the kinj^ 
delighted to honour; Haman not 
doubting that the king meant 
himself, immediately prescribed 
4 Let the royal apparel be brought 
which the king useth to wear, 
and the horse that the king rideth 
upon, and the crown-royal which 
is set upon his head ; and let the 
apparel and the horse be de- 
livered to the hand of one of the 
king's noble princes, that they 



MOR 

ay array the man whom I 
king delighteth to honour, and 
bring him on horseback through 
the street of the city, and pro- 
claim before him, Thus shail it 
be done to the man whom the 
king delighteth to honour.' Then 
the king ordered Haman to do 
according to this prescription to 
Mordecai the Jew, with wdiich, 
to his sore mortification, he wa3 
obliged to comply. Moreover, 
by the intercession of queen 
Esther, the Jews in all the pro- 
vinces were permitted to defend 
themselves against their ene- 
mies; and Haman and his ten 
sons were hung on £he gallows 
prepared for Mordecai. Book 
of Esther. 

MORIAH. This hill was 
situated at the north-east of Je- 
rusalem, and was originally sepa- 
rated from Acra by a valley; 
which, according to Josephus, 
was filled up by the Asmoneans ; 
and thus the two hills became 
one. In the time of David, 
mount Moriah was not included 
within the limits of the city, but 
formed a part of the cultivated 
ground of Araunah the Jebusite, 
from whom David bought it, 2 
Sam.xxiv.15 — 25. On the same 
spot Solomon built the temple, 
2 Chr. Hi. 1. On this mountain 
also, it is thought, that Abraham 
was directed to offer up his son 
Isaac, for a burnt-offering, Gen. 
xxii. 1, 2. 

MORNING; (1) That part 
of the day before or about the 
rising of the sun, Mark xvi. 2. 
(2.) The light, which by its 
spread forms the morning, Joel 
ii. 2. The morning is represented 
as having eye-lids, to represent 
the first appearance of the rising 
light in the reddish sky, Job x!i. 
18; as having wings, to denote 
the quick spread of light, Psal. 
exxxix. 9. Every morning, is 
daily ; often, Psal. lxxiii. 14. In 
the morning, is early, seasona- 
bly, earnestly, suddenly, Psal. v 
3." xxx. 5. To execute judgment 
372 



MOS 
in the morning, is to do 



MOS 
ace of God, he, when grown 



readily, and as seasonably and up, refused to be called the son 
speedily as possible, Jer. xxi. 12. of Pharaoh's daughter, .and chose 
Psal. ci. 8. To eat in the morn- rather to suffer affliction with the 
ing, denotes unseasonable and people of God, than enjoy the 
intemperate eating and drinking; short-lived pleasures of sin. 
luxury, Eccl. x. 16. Jer. v. 8. Trusting the invisible God, and 
MOSES, the brother of. iaron encouraged by the hopes of an 
and Miriam, and younger than everlasting reward, he feared not 
either, was born .1. M. 2-±33. the wrath of the Egyptian king, 
Before his birth, Pharaoh king nor whatever ridicule, threaten- 
of Egypt had issued forth orders! ing, or persecution, he had to 
to murder every male infant of endure. It is certain, that being 
the Hebrews. His parents how- 40 years of age, he was divinely 
ever perceiving some things instructed that he was to be the 
about him which they reckoned; deliverer of Israel, 
presages of his future greatness, j In consequence of having slain 
they hid him three months, one of the Egyptians, in defence 
When they could hide him no of an Israelite, whom he had 
longer, his mother Jochebed unjustly assaulted, his life was 
made an ark of bulrushes, and in jeopardy from the displeasure 
having pitched it, that it might of the king; and he fled into the 
draw no water, she put Moses land of Midian, where he resided 
therein, and laid it near the with Jethro, a priest and prince 
banks of the Nile, where the of Midian, who gave him in 
princes, and other noble Egyp- j marriage Zipporah, one of his 
tians, used to walk. He had not daughters, by whom he had two 
;ain long in this condition, when sons, Gershom and Eliezer, 
Pharaoh's daughter, Thermutis, Exod. ii. In thiss country he re- 
coming to bathe, observed the mained, taking care of the flocks 
ark, and caused one of her maids of his father-in law forty years, 
to fetch it, and opening it, found when Jehovah appeared unto 
the child. Moved with the beauty him on mount Sinai in a burning 
and weeping of the babe, she, bush, and commissioned him to 
knowing it to be one of the He- go back to Egypt and demand 
brew children, resolved to bring of the king then reigning, to send 
it up for herself, as a child of (the people away, that they might 
her own. Miriam his sister, a ; come and serve him in that 
girl of perhaps 10 or 12 years of mountain. At first Moses wa3 
age, who waited hard by, asked i very reluctant to undertake this 
leave to call a nurse : being al- j arduous work ; but at length, 
lowed, she called Jochebed his armed with the power of work- 
mother. Pharaoh's daughter ing miracles, and assisted by his 
called him Mosheh, because she j brother Aaron, who excelled in 
drew him out of the water. She eloquence, in which gift he was 
took care to have him instructed deficient, he came before Pha- 
in all the sciences then known Iraoh and delivered his message 



in Egypt. In his earliest years, 
Jochebed and Amram, no doubt, 
took care to instruct him in the 
Hebrew language, and in the 
principles of the true religion, 
and in the knowledge of the pro- 
mises that God had made con- 
cerning Israel. Affected with 



from the Great I AM, which, as 
he had been prepared to expect, 
was treated by the proud mo- 
narch with scorn; until by ten 
successive plagues, the country 
was desolated ; and by the last, 
the first-born of every family of 
the Egyptians was slain in one 



these, and endowed with the night. The king and his people 
32 373 



Mas 

were then so alarmed that th< ^ 
thrust them out, and loaded 
them with presents of such 
things as they needed. These 
they did not borrow as our ver- 
sion has it, but ask or demavd; 
and the Lord disposed the 
Egyptians to give freeiy vessels 
of silver and gold, and raiment. 
The passover was instituted as 
a memorial to future genera- 
tions, of the deliverance of the 
first-born of the Israelites from 
the destroying sword of the an- 
gel ; and as a type of a more 
glorious redemption. The whole 
nation of Israel left Egypt, in 
that very nigbt, under the con- 
duct of Moses and Aaron; and 
when they were pursued by the 
king with his army, Moses, with 
his wonder-working rod divided 
the sea, and conducted the peo- 
ple safely over, while Pharaoh 
and his chariots and horsemen, 
were overwhelmed in the mighty 
waters. For forty years, Mo;-cs 
guided and governed this people, 
who proved themselves to be 
stiff-necked and perverse in a 
remarkable degree ; but he never 
lost his solicitude for their wel- 
fare, nor eou«ht to relinquish his 
arduous charge; and on no oc- 
casion, but one, was he provok- 
ed to speak unadvisedly, or act | 
improperly; and for that offence ; 
he was debarred from entering 
the land of promise, although he < 
was permitted to see it with his 
eyes. On mount Sinai he spent 
twice forty days and nights in 
the immediate presence of God ; '. 
where he received ali those laws 
and institutions which are re- 
corded in the book of the law. 
The tabernacle with all its 
sacred furniture was erected 
agreeably to a pattern showed 
to him in the mount; Aaron and 
his sons were consecrated to be 
priests ; and sacrifices and offer- 
ings began to be presented, at 
stated times, on the altar, ac- 
cording to the ordinance of the 
Lord. After wandering 40 years 



MOT 

in the wilderness, until all the 
first generation of men were 
wasted away, Moses brought 
the people to the banks of Jor- 
dan, where he repeated a princi- 
pal part of the laws which had 
been given, with some additions; 
and then having ordained Jo 
shua to be his successor, he 
went up to mount Nebo, and 
there died, and the Lord buried 
him, but no man knows the 
place of his sepulchre unto this 
day. Before the death of Moses, 
however, Og king of Bashan, 
and Sihon king of the Amorites 
were subdued, their people extir- 
pated, and their land given to 
the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and 
the one half of Manasseh ; for as 
they had many cattle and saw 
that the land was favourable for 
their occupation, they preferred 
a request to Moses," that they 
might have it for their inherit- 
ance; which request was granted, 
on condition that their armed 
forces should not withdraw from 
the contest until the land of Ca- 
naan was subdued; to which 
they readily consented. 

What is said respecting the 
burial of Moses ; what Jude says 
of the Archangel disputing with 
the devil about his body ; and 
his appearing with Elijah on the 
mount of transfiguration, have 
led some to conjecture, that he 
was immediately raised from the 
dead, and translated to heaven ; 
but where the Scriptures are 
silent, it is our wisdom to be so 
also, and not attempt to be wise 
above what is written. Moses 
was, in many respects, the most 
distinguished mere man that 
ever lived, — ' a servant faithful 
in all God's house,' — and per- 
formed a service more arduous 
than any which ever has been 
known to fall to the lot of any 
mortal. But by grace he was 
what he was, and performed 
what he did. 

MOTH is properly a winged 
insect, flying bv night, with the 
374 



MOT 



MOU 



appearance of a butterfly ; but is' Rdered so noxious an insect ; and 



istinguished by its antenna 
which are acute and not tufted. 
The eggs of the moth are depo- 
sited by the butterfly in woollen 
clothes, &-c. which soon become 
worms, and feed on the nap of 
the cloth, until they are changed 
into a chrysalis state, and thence 
are transformed into moths. It 
is said, that it remains in one 
piace on a garment, until it has 
devoured every thing near its 
habitation, when it removes its 
house, or more properly tent, to 
a new place, where it is again 
fastened by a slender cord. — 
There is frequent reference to 
this weak, but destructive insect, 
in the sacred Scriptures. In Job 
iv. 19. man is said to be 'crush- 
ed before the moth,' where this 
animal is the emblem of man's 
weakness and defenceless con- 
dition. In Job xiii. 28. the wast- 
ing, decaying life of man, is com- 
pared to a moth-eaten garment ; 
and in Isaiah li. 6. the earth is 
said to wax old as a garment, 
that is a moth-eaten garment, as 
the original imports. In Job 
xxvii. 18. the man who rises by 
injustice, is compared to the 
moth, which by eating into the 
garment where it dwells, after a 
while, destroys its own habita- 
tion. In Psal. vi. 7. the word 
rendered, in our version, 'con- 
sumed,' properly means ' moth- 
eaten.' The devastations of this 
insect are particularly referred 
to in Isaiah, i. 9. 'AH of them 
shall wax old as a garment, the 
moth shall consume them.' It 
has been remarked by natural- 
ists, that in the caterpillar state 
and the papilio state, the moth 
is as different from itself as it 
well can be ; in the former state, 
it is a crawling worm, confined 
to a narrow space ; in the latter, 
full of agility, and flying every 
where. As much of the treasure 
of the ancients consisted in cost- 
ly garments, we may readily un- 
derstand why the moth was con- 



tiiis will teach us the true im- 
port of our Saviour's words, 
' Lay not up for yourselves trea- 
sures on earth, where moth and 
rust do corrupt,' Matt. vi. 19,20. 
Luke xii. 33. It was common 
in Asia, to lay up stores of pre- 
cious garments, which descend- 
ed as an inheritance to children ; 
for their modes of dress never 
changed : but the moth was a 
formidable enemy to such trea- 
sures, so as to render it useless 
to take much pains to lay them 
up; but the celestial garments are 
never moth-eaten, and never 
grow old. 

MOURNIXG, lamentation, 
weeping, wailing, denotes, (1.) 
Grief, and the expression there- 
of, whether godly, Matth. v. 4. 
Isa. lxvi. 10; professedly religi- 
ous and solemn, Ezra x. 6 ; or 
natural, Gen. xxiii. 2. 1. 3 ; or 
desperate, as in hell, Matt. xxii. 
13. xxiv. 30. (2.) Judgments and 
afflictions that cause grief and 
sorrow, Ezek. ii. 10. Lamenta- 
tion also signifies an oration, 
wherein is bewailed some misery 
or loss, 2 Chr. xxxv. 25. At the 
death of their friends, the He- 
brews gave all possible demon- 
stration of grief; they sometimes 
mourned several weeks; as 30 
days for Aaron, and as much for 
Moses : but the ordinary term of 
mourning was seven days; so 
long the inhabitants of Jabesh- 
gilead mourned for Saul, Num. 
xx. 29. Deut. xxxiv. 8. 1 Sam. 
xxxi. 13. During this time of 
mourning, they rent their clothes, 
smote their breasts, fasted, and 
lay on the ground, and went 
barefoot; they did eat on the 
ground, and whatever food they 
took was reckoned unclean, and 
polluted every partaker, Hos.ix. 
4. They neither dressed them- 
selves, nor shaved themselves, 
nor pared their nails, nor saluted 
any body ; their faces and heads 
were covered : they had mourn- 
ers for the purpose, both men and 
375 



MOU 

women, that made a trade of it, 
and could raise the most doleful 
outcries and howling ; and were 
used to curse the days whereon 
some eminent disaster had hap- 
pened, Amos v. 16. Jer. ix. 17. 
Job iii. 8. They mourned exces- 
sively for an only son, and for a 
first-born, as his death cut off 
the remembrance, or at least the 
honour of their family, Zech. xii. 
10. The priests mourned only 
for near relations, and the high- 
priest for none, Lev. xxi. 1 — 12. 
After the death of such as had 
no friends lefV to bewail them, 
some persons of character of the 
place acted the part of mourning 
friends, and were in like manner 
comforted. It was reckoned 
very pious work to comfort 
mourners ; and when they came 
to the mourners, they stood 
around them, ten in a row, and 
approaching towards them, one 
by one, wished them comfort 
from heaven. If they sat, it was 
on the ground, and the mourner 
had the chief seat. The friends 
came not to comfort them, till 
after the interment, and not ma- 
ny, till the third or fourth day 
after the decease, John xi. 19. 
39. They sometimes went to the 
graves to lament their dead, and 
so the Turkish women do to this 
day. The Jews had a kind of 
prayer, or rather benediction of 
God, as the raiser of the dead, 
which they repeated, as they 
mourned, or even passed the 
graves of their dead. The Jews 
in Chaldea did not mourn and 
weep, but mourned one towards 
another; durst not openly bewail 
their misery, but did it secretly, 
Ezek. xxiv. 23. 

MOUSE, a well known ani- 
mal, small but mischievous. He- 
rodotus attributes the destruction 
of Sennacherib's army to mice, 
which gnawed the leather of 
their bucklers, and the strings of 
their bows, so that they could 
make no resistance. When the 
ark of God was carried captive 



MUR 

by the Philistines, their country 
seems to have been overrun with 
mice, 1 Sam. vi.4,5. In the 12th 
century, a famine was brought 
on in Palestine, by locusts and 
mice, Lev. xi. 29. 

MUFFLERS, women's veils 
or masks, which covered the 
whole face, except the eyes; 
such pieces of apparel were 
common among the Arabs and 
Jews, Isa. iii. 19. 

MULBERRY-TREES, baca. 
This word occurs 2 Sam. v. 23, 
24. 1 Chron. xiv. 14, 15. Psalm 
lxxxiv. 7. Some tree is evidently 
intended, but what, is not clearly 
ascertained ; probably, the large 
shrub which is still called ' Ba- 
ca,' by the Arabs, and which 
gave name to a certain valley. 
Some expositors think, that in 
2 Sam. v. 24, the words render- 
ed 'tops of the mulberry-trees,' 
should be taken for a proper 
name. 

MULE, a mongrel animal, 
produced by a horse and an ass, 
or bv a mare and he-ass, 2 Sam. 
xiii.29. 

MURDER ; (1.) the unlawful 
taking away of a person's life, 
Mark xv. 7. (2.) Hatred of, and 
cruelty to, our neighbour, in 
thought, word, or deed, Matth. 
xix. 18. 1 John iii. 15. The vo- 
luntary killing of any person, ex- 
cept in lawful war, execution of 
public justice, or necessary self- 
defence, hath been peculiarly 
marked out by the vengeance of 
God. Cain the first murderer, 
was preserved as a monument 
of the divine indignation, Gen. 
iv. 15; but in ordinary cases, 
God requires that murderers be 
put to death by the magistrate. 
No sacrifice was accepted for 
this sin : no money was to ran- 
som the life of the guilty. Sup- 
pose he fled to God's "altar for 
protection, he was to be dragged 
thence and executed, Gen.ix. 6. 
lKgs.ii.23, UNum. xxxv. 27—31. 

MURRAIN, a kind of pesti- 
lence that killed a great many of 
376 



MUS 

the Egyptian cattle, Exod. ix. 
3. Psalm lxxviii. 50. 

MUSIC is of a very ancient 
origin. Tubal, a descendant of 
Cain, long before the flood, 
taught men to play on the harp 
and organ. Laban complained, 
that Jacob deprived him of an 
opportunity of sending off his 
daughters with music, Gen. iv. 
21. xxxi. 27. The ancient He- 
brews had a very great taste for 
mnsic : when they had passed 
the Red Saa, both men and wo- 
men sung their respective hymns 
to the praise of God, their mira- 
culous deliverer, Exod. xv. Sil- 
ver trumpets were divinely or- 
dered to be made for sounding 
over their sacrifices, especially 
at solemn feasts, Num. x. With 
music Jephthah's daughter wel- 
comed him home from his victo- 
ry, Judg. xi. 34; and with music 
the Hebrew women welcomed 
David back from the slaughter 
of Goliath, 1 Sam. xviii. 6. Da- 
vid himself was an excellent mu- 
sician, and it seems had plenty 
of singing men and singing wo- 
men in his court, 1 Sam. xvi. 2 
Sam. vi. xix. 21. Solomon had 
them perhaps in far greater num- 
ber, Eccl. ii. 8. In the time of 
Jeroboam the son of Joash, the 
Israelites valued themselves up- 
on inventing new musical instru 
ments, Amos vi. 5. At his ido 
latrous festival, Nebuchadnez 
zar had a large concert of music 
and music was the ordinary re- 
creation of the Midian king 
Dan. iii. vi. 15. The temple-mu 
sic makes the chief figure in 
scripture. David in his own time 
composed a variety of psalms, 
and caused his skilful players to 
set them to music, as appears by 
their inscriptions to Jeduthun, 
Asaph, or the sons of Korah, 1 
Chron. xv. xvi. As now the Le- 
vites were eased of a great part 
of the burdensome work of their 
charge, by the tabernacle and 
ark being fixed in a place, David, 
before his death, distributed t\v 



*2 



MYR 

4000 sacred singers into 24 class- 
es, who should serve at the tem- 
ple in their turns. The three 
chief musicians were Asaph, 
Heman, and Jeduthun. The 
four sons of Asaph, six of Jedu- 
thun, and 14 of Heman, were 
constituted the chiefs of the 24 
classes. It is probable, that they 
all, or most of them, attended at 
the solemn festivals. They were 
thus arranged ; the Gershonites 
on the south of the brazen altar, 
the Merarites on the north, and 
the Kohathites between them, 
possibly on the east and west of 
1 Chron. xxv. The Jews, or 
their singers, were mocked with 
their sacred songs at Babylon, 
Psal. cxxxvii. 2. Two hundred 
singing men and singing women 
returned from the Chaldean cap- 
tivity along with Zerubabbel, 
Ezra ii. 65. 

MUSTARD, a well known 
garden herb, which grows to a 
large size in the east, though the 
seed is very small. To thisChrist 
compares his kingdom, Matth. 
xhi. 31. xvii. 20. Mark i v. 31. 
Luke xiii. 19. xvii. 6. 

MYR A , a city of Ly cia, where 
Paul embarked in an Alexan- 
drian ship, bound for Rome, 
Acts xxvii. 5. 

MYRRH, a kind of gum issu- 
ing from the trunk and larger 
branches of the myrrh-tree,which 
is common in Arabia, Egypt, and 
Abyssinia. Sometimes it issues 
spontaneously ; but chiefly flows 
out by means of incision. The 
incisions are made twice a year, 
and the gum or rosin is received 
on rush mats spread below. It 
comes to Europe in loose grains, 
from the size of a pepper-corn to 
that of a walnut ; but mostly 
about the size of pease or horse 
beans, and but seldom roundish, 
Exod. xxx. 23. Esth. ii. 12. Psal. 
xlv. 8. Prov. vii. 17. Cant. i. 
13. iii. 6. iv. 6. v. 1. 5. 13. 
Matth. ii. 11. John xix. 39. 
Mark xv. 23. 
MYRTLE, a comely and fra- 



32* 



377 



MYS 

grant tree, ever green, and which 
grows best in low and well wa- 
tered valiies, Neh. viii. 15. Isa. 
xli. 19. lv. 13. Zech. i. 8, 9. 

MYSIA. There was a Mysia 
in Europe, on the east of Dal- 
matia and north of Macedonia ; 



MYS 
but the Mysia mentioned in 
scripture is that in Lesser Asia, 
which had the Hellespont Sea 
on the north-west, Bithynia on 
the north-east, and Phrygia on 
the south. 



NAM 

NAAMAN, the general of 
Benhadad the Syrian's ar- 
my. He was highly esteemed by 
his master, because he had saved 
Syria from ruin, probably in the 
battle where Ahab gave Benha- 
dad his last defeat, or at the 
siege of Ramoth-gilead, when 
Ahab was slain. 

NABAL, a rich, but very 
churlish man, of the tribe of Ju- 
dah, and race of Caleb; he had 
numerous flocks, which had their 
pasture about south Carmel. 
near Maon. 

NABOTH, an Israelite of the 
citv of Jezreel. 

NADAB. See Aaron; Jero- 
boam. 

NAHASH. See Ammonites ; 
Jabesh. 

NAHOPv, the son of Terah, 
grandson of another Nahor, and 
brother of Abraham. He fixed 
his residence at Haran in Meso- 
potamia, which was sometimes 
sailed by his name. He married 
Milcah, the daughter of his bro- 
ther Haran, who was already 
dead. 

NAHUM, a prophet of the 
city of Elkosh, or Eikoshai, in 
Galilee. 

NAIN, or Nairn, a city where 
■our Saviour restored the son of 
a widow to life, as they were 
carrying him out to his burial. 

NAIOTH. Spe Ramah. 

NAME, when ascribed to God 
or Christ, comprehends what- 
ever he makes himself known 
by. The name of God signifies, 
(i.) Himself, Psalm xxix. 2. 
xxxiv. 3. lxi. 5. (2.) His title?, 
Exod. iii. 13, 14. vi. 3. (?,.)] 
His attributes or properties, Ex.i 



NAO 
xxxiii. 19. xxxiv. 6, 7. (4.) His 
word, Psal. v. 11. Acts ix. 15. 
(5.) His worship and service, 1 
Kings v. 5. Mai. i. C>. (6.) His 
will and purpose concerning our 
salvation, and his grace and 
mercy therein displayed, Psalm 
xxii. 22. John xvii. 6. 2fi. (7.) 
His power, help, and favourable 
assistance,- 1 Samuel xvii. 45. 
Psal. xx. 1. 7. xxix. 2. 

NAOMI, and her husband 
Elimelech, retired to the coun- 
try of Moab on account of a 
famine that happened in Canaan, 
There their two sons Mahlon 
and Chilion married two Moab- 
ii ; sh girls, Orpah and Ruth. 
They had been about ten years 
in the country of Moab, when 
Elimelech and his sons died, 
without leaving any children. 
Naomi resolving to return to her 
country, her daughters-in-law 
were intent on attending her. 
She remonstrated to them, what 
difficulties they might expect in 
so doing ; and begged they 
would return home ; and added, 
that she was grieved on account 
of their affliction. At last Or- 
pah was prevailed with to re- 
turn ; but Ruth continued reso- 
lute to go with her, and to 
embrace the Jewish religion. 
When they arrived at Bethle- 
hem, the place of Naomi's for- 
mer abode, the people crowded 
about them, and some in pity, 
and others perhaps in contempt, 
asked if this was Naomi 1 She 
begged they would not call her 
Naomi, my pleasant one; but 
Ma rah, because the Lord had 
dealt bitterly with her, inso 
much, that having gone off with 
378 



NAZ 

a. husband, children, and some 
wealth, she had returned a poor 
destitute widow, Book of Ruth. 

NAPHTALI, the sixth son 
of Jacob, and by Bilhah the 
handmaid of Rachel. His sons 
were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and 
Shillem, all of them parents of a 
numerous progeny. 

NAPHTUHIM, the fourth 
son of Mizraim. Calmet thinks 
he peopled that part of African 
Ethiopia between Syene and 
Meroe, and of which Nepata 
was the capital : but we rather 
think, with Bochart, that his 
posterity peopled Marmarica, 
west of Egypt, and on the south 
shore of the Mediterranean sea, 
Gen. x. 13. 

NATHAN, a famed prophet, 
and a confidant of King David. 
Not long after David's advance- 
ment to the throne of Israel, he 
intended to build a temple for 
the Lord. Nathan, without 
waiting the divine direction, en- 
couraged him to do it; but soon | 
after, was directed of God to \ 
forbid him, and tell him, that ! 
that work was divinely allotted 
to his son and successor, 2 Sam. 
vii. xii. 1 Kings i. 

NATHANIEL. See Bar- 
tholomew. 

NATURE ; (1.) The ordina- 
ry course of things which God 
hath settled in the w T orld, Rom. 
i. 26, 27. (2.) The light of rea- 
son naturally implanted in our 
mind, Rom. ii. 14. (3.) Com- 
mon sense, or the general con- 
sent of nations, 1 Cor. xi. 14. 
(4.) The substance or essential 
parts and properties, Heb. ii. 16. 
(5.) Birth, or natural descent, 
Gal. ii. 15. 

Natiiral, is, (1.) What pro- 
ceeds from birth and natural cau- 
ses, 1 Cor. xv. 44. (2.) What is 
agreeable to natural design, 
lorm.or inclination, Rom.i.26, 57. 

NAZARETH, a small city 
of the Zebulunites in Galilee, 
about 70 or 75 miles north of 
Jerusalem, to the west of Mount 



NAZ 

Tabor and east of Ptolemais. It 
was built on a hill, and noted 
for the wickedness of its inhabi- 
tants, Mark i. 9. Luke iv. 29. 
John i. 46. Here our Saviour 
laboured the most part of the 
thirty years of his private life ; 
but their contempt of his minis- 
try, and early attempt to mur- 
der him, by casting him from 
the brow of the hill whereon 
their city was built, occasioned 
his residing little afterwards, 
and working few miracles a- 
mong them, Luke iv. 16 — 29. 
Matth. xiii. 57. It was a place 
of some note for about 1200 
years after Christ ; but is at 
present of small consequence. 

Dr. Clarke describes Nazareth 
as situated on the side of a hill 
which is barren and rocky, fac- 
ing the east, and commanding a 
long valley. The town was in 
the most wretched state of indi- 
gence, and every thing adapted 
to justify the ancient reproach, 
' Can any good thing come out 
of Nazareth? Without the 
town is shown the precipice 
over which the enraged inhabit- 
ants would have cast our bles- 
sed Saviour, had he not miracu- 
lously escaped out of their 
hands. A careful examination 
convinced Dr. Clarke, that the 
town occupies precisely the 
same site as formerly. In the 
valley, there is a fountain, where 
caravans and travellers stop to 
obtain a supply erf water. This 
fountain was "formerly denomi- 
nated the fountain of Mary^ 
and no doubt the blessed virgin 
often visited this spot ; for foun- 
tains are not liable to change 
their place ; and to this day the 
women of Nazareth resort to 
this fountain to draw water. 
Dr. Richardson gives a very pic- 
turesque description of Naza- 
reth. ' The vale,' says he, 4 re- 
sembles a circular basin, encom- 
passed by mountains. Fifteen 
mountains appear to meet to 
form an enclosure for *?iis beau- 
37' 



NAZ 

tiful spot, around which they 
rise like the edge of a shell, to 
guard it against intrusion. It is 
a rich and beautiful fieJd in the 
midst of barren mountains. Naz- 
areth abounds in fig-trees and 
prickly pears, and its dense rich 
grass affords abundance of pas- 
ture. The village stands on an 
elevated situation, on the west 
side of the valley, and contains 
6 or 700 inhabitants.' The dif- 
ference between the impressions 
of these two intelligent travel- 
lers, can only be accounted for, 
by supposing that they saw the 
place at different seasons of the 
year, which was the fact ; some- 
thing, however, may be attribu- 
ted to the imagination and the 
power of association. 

Mr. Buckingham also visited 
Nazareth, and speaks of the 
streets as narrow and steep, the 
houses, which are flat-roofed, 
about 250 in number, and the 
inhabitants he estimates at2,000. 
The public buildings are a 
mosque and a Greek church, 
also, a Maronite church. 

Mr. Joliff computes the in- 
habitants of Nazareth to be 
from 12 to 15,000, and describes 
the place as very dreary ; but 
thinks that under a good gov- 
ernment, it might still flourish. 

Mr. Connor makes the in- 
habitants of Nazareth to be 
about 3,000, of whom 500 are 
Turks, the remainder Christians. 

NAZAR1TES, were persons 
devoted to the peculiar service 
of God for a week, a month, a 
year, or for life. Some of them 
devoted themselves ; and some, 
as Samson and John Baptist, 
were expressly claimed by God. 
During their vow, they were 
never to cut their hair, or drink 
any wine or strong drink ; and 
it was extremely wicked to offer 
them any, Amos ii. 12. Nor 
were they to attend a funeral, 
or enter a house defiled by the 
dead. If they accidentally con- 
tracted any defilement, or any- 



NAZ 

wise broke their vow, they had 
the time and duty of Nazarite- 
ship to begin again. They 
shaved ofY all their hair on the 
seventh day, and offered unto 
the Lord two turtle-doves, or 
pigeons, the one for a sin-offer- 
ing, and the other for a burnt- 
offering, and a lamb for a tres- 
pass-offering. When their vow 
was finished, Nazarites present- 
ed themselves at the door of the 
tabernacle or temple, with an 
he-lamb for a burnt-offering, a 
she-lamb for a sin-offering, and 
a ram for a peace-offering, with 
their respective meat-offerings 
and drink-offerings, and a bas- 
ket full of cakes of unleavened 
bread, and wafers anointed with 
oil. After these were offered, 
the Nazarite shaved his hair at 
the door of the sanctuary, and 
burnt it under the pot in "which 
the flesh of his peace-offering 
was boiled. The priests then 
put into his hand the roasted 
shoulder of the ram of peace- 
offering, with a cake and wafer 
of unleavened bread. These he 
returned to the priest, who wav- 
ed them to and fro, dedicating 
them to the all-present God of 
every end of the earth ; and so 
the vow was finished. As the 
oblations at the breach of the 
vow atoned for the same, the 
offerings at the finishing of it 
were designed to expiate the 
unknown breaches of it, and to 
render God thanks for enabling 
to fulfil it so much, Numb. vi. 
Such as, like Samuel, Samson, 
and John Baptist, were dedica- 
ted for life, had no occasion for 
these offerings. Such as lived 
out of Canaan, cut their hair 
in the places where the days of 
their vow were finished ; but 
deferred the offerings till they 
got to the sanctuary : so Paul 
Bhaved off his hair atCenchrea, 
but deferred his oblation till he 
came to Jerusalem, Acts xviii. 
18. xxi. 23, 24. Some who had 
not oppo'rtunitv to perform the 
'JS0 



NEB 

duties of the Nazarite them- 
selves, contributed to bear the 
expenses of such as had taken 
tiie vow. 

NEAPOLIS, now called 
Christopolis ; a city on the east 
of Macedonia. Since ever Paul 
was here, it seems, there has 
been less or more of Christianity 
in it ; and in the 6th and 7th cen- 
turies of the Christian a?ra, we 
rind bishops here, Acts xvi. 11. 

NEBAIOTH, the eldest son 
of Ishmael, the father of the Na- 
batheans, who appear to have 
been one of the most civilized 
tribes of the Arabians, and the 
most friendly to the Jews, and 
part of whom were converted to 
Christ, Gen. xxv. 13. Isa. lx. 7. 

NEBO, or jUnambo, an idol 
of the Chaldeans ; perhaps they 
borrowed him from the Moab- 
ites, who had a hill called Nebo, 
and a city near it of the same 
name, about eight miles south 
of Heshbon, and which was ta- 
ken both by the Assyrians and 
Chaldeans, Isa. xlvi. 1. Deut. 
xxxiv. 4. Num. xxxii. 38. Isa. 
xv. 2. .Ter. xlviii. 22. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, JVe- 
buchadrezzar or Nabopclassar, 
the most famed kingof Babylon. 
When Pharaoh-necho had taken 
Carchemish, a city on the Eu- 
phrates, the Phenicians, and part 
of the Syrians, revolted from the 
Chaldeans, who it seems had 
just before reduced them. Na- 
bopolassar, being then stricken 
in years, sent Nebuchadnezzar 
his son with an army to recover 
them. He gained a complete 
victory over the Egyptians at 
Carchemish, retook the place, 
and put the garrison to the sword. 
He then, with an army of 180,000 
foot, 120,000 horse, and 10,000 
chariots, according to Eupole- 
mus, ravaged Phenicia and Ca- 
naan, took Jerusalem, and bound 
Jehoiakim, the tributary of the 
Egyptians, in chains, to carry 
him to Babylon ; but afterwards 
allowed him to retain his kin- 



NEB 

dom, as a vassal of the Chal- 
deans. He carried to Babylon, 
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and 
Azariah,and others of the princes 
of Judah. To the above four 
young men he gave new names, 
importing connection with his 
idol-gods, called them Belte- 
shazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and 
Abednego. These, and other 
young captives, he caused to be 
trained up in all the learning of 
the Chaldeans, that they might 
serve in the court, 2 Kings xxiv. 
Dan. i. 

About A. M. 3399, his father 
died and he was sole king of 
Babylon. In the second year of 
his reign, he had a surprising 
dream, but entirely forgot it. 
He assembled his diviners, and 
charged them to tell him his 
dream, and the interpretation 
thereof: They told him, that 
though they could interpret 
dreams, yet none but the gods 
could tell a man what he had 
dreamed ; and that never a king 
had demanded any such thing 
from his diviners. Being out- 
rageously provoked, he ordered 
Arioch the captain of his guard 
to put every wise man of Baby- 
lon to death. Daniel, however 
obtained leave to teli the king 
his dream, and the interpreta- 
tion thereof. He was so satisfied 
with the account and interpreta- 
tion, that he fell on his face be- 
fore Daniel, as if an inferior dei- 
ty, and ordered an oblation of 
spices to be presented to him, 
and acknowledged his God, the 
God of gods, and Lord of kines. 
He made Daniel chief of the wise 
men, and governor of the prov- 
ince of Babylon ; and made 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, subordinate governors in 
the same place, Dan. ii. 

Nebuchadnezzar again invad- 
ed .i.udea, on what provocation 
we know not, and Jehoiakim the 
young king was induced to sur- 
render himself into his hands, 
1 who carried him and his family 
381 



NEB 

to Babylon. At the same time, 
a multitude of captives were ear- 
ned away, and a part of the sa- 
sred vessels from the temple. In 
the reign of Zedekiah, Nebu- 
chadnezzar, for the third time, 
invaded Judea; and having ta- 
ken the king of Judah while at- 
tempting to make his escape, he 
slew his children in his presence, 
and then put out his eyes atRib- 
lah, after which he was carried 
to Babylon. This monarch not 
only conquered Judea, but all 
the countries round about, as the 
Egyptians, Assyrians, Tyrians, 
Moabites, Ammonites, &lc. In 
the plains of Dura, he set up 
an image 60 cubits high, and 
commanded all persons on the 
severest penalty, to fall down 
and worship it ; which Shad- 
rach, Meshech, and Abednego 
refusing to do, were cast into 
a fiery furnace ; but were mi- 
raculously preserved, which led 
the king to entertain a high idea 
of the power of their God. But 
his pride was not yet humbled; 
for, walking in his palace one 
day, and looking over the city, 
he exclaimed, ' Is not this great 
Babylon which I have built by 
the might of my power, and for 
the honour of my majesty.' Up- 
on which a voice fell from hea- 
ven, denouncing to him, that he 
should be driven from among 
men to take up his abode with 
the beasts of the field ; which 
was immediately executed, for 
his reason left him, and the ha- 
bits of a beast took its place. In 
this deplorable condition, he con- 
tinued as Daniel had predicted, 
in the interpretation of his dream, 
for seven years; after which he 
recovered his reason, and was 
again restored to his kingdom ; 
and seems to have become a true 
penitent, and worshipped the 
one only living and true God, 2 
Kings xxiv. xxv. 2 Chr. xxxvi. 
Ezra v. 12, 14. Jer. xxv. xxvii. 
xliii. xlvi. xlix. Isa. xxiii. Ezek. 
xxvi—xxix. 



NEH 

NECHO. See Pharaoh. 

NEHEMIAH, the son of Ha 
chaliah, was perhaps of the royal 
family of David. Perhaps his 
being the royal cup-bearer in 
the Persian court, and his suc- 
ceeding Zerubabbel in the go- 
vernment of the Jews, tends to 
confirm this opinion. About 
A. M. 3558 or 35b'0, ninety years 
after their return from Chaldea, 
he was informed by Hanani, that 
Jerusalem still remained in rub- 
bish, and was a reproach or ob- 
ject of derision to all the nations 
around. Deeply affected with 
this narrative, Nehemiah fasted 
and prayed, that the Lord would 
prosper his intention to ask the 
king's permission to go and re- 
build it. He indeed attended 
to the bearing of the royal cup, 
but his countenance marked him 
sad and dejected. King Ar- 
taxerxes observing it, asked him 
the cause, probably suspecting 
he had some bad design in hand. 
Nehemiah wa# afraid, but lift- 
ing up his heart to God, he re- 
presented his grief to the king, 
as the queen, some say Esther, 
sat by him. Upon his request, 
Artaxerxes, in the 20th year of 
his reign, empowered him to go 
and rebuild the walls of Jerusa- 
lem. He gave him letters of safe 
conveyance to the governors on 
the west of the Euphrates, and 
one to Asaph the keeper of the 
forest of Lebanon, ordering him 
to furnish Nehemiah with tim- 
ber, and every other thing neces- 
sary for the repairs of Jerusa- 
lem, and for Nehemiah's own 
house. After encountering ma- 
ny hindrances from the hostility 
of the surrounding nations, espe- 
cially the Samaritans, he com- 
pleted the work of rebuilding the 
walls, and having brought the 
city of Jerusalem to a state of 
peace, order, and prosperity, he 
returned again to Babylon, after 
an absence of 12 years. But it was 
not long before he paid a second 
visit to^Judea, where he probii 
382 



NIC 

bly remained until his death ; but 
of his end we have no particular 
account. 

NEIGHBOUR ; (1.) One that 
dwells near us, Exod. hi. 2*2. (2.) 
A fellow labourer, Acts vii. 27. 
(3.) One that stands in need of 
our help, and to whom we have 
an opportunity of doing good, 
Prov. iii. 23. Matth. xxii. 39. (4.) 
One that pities and relieves us 
in distress, Luke x. 36. Job xvi. 
SI. 

NERO, an infamous emperor 
of Rome, who ruled from A. D, 
54, to 67 or 63. In the first part 
of his reign he behaved with 
some decency and justice, pre- 
tending to copy after Augustus. 
In the end of it he turned one of 
the most tyrannical wretches 
that ever breathed. He mur- 
dered his mother, and almost all 
his friends, and principal sub- 
jects. 

NETOPHAH, or Mtopha- 
thi, a city of Judah between 
Bethlehem and Anathoth, and 
peopled by the posterity of Sal- 
ma, the father of Bethleem. 

NIBHAZ, the seeing barker, 
the idol-god of the Avites, who, 
it is said, was worshipped in the 
likeness of a dog. 

NICODEMUS, a follower of 
Jesus Christ. He was a Jew- 
ish Pharisee, and a ruler among 
his people. At first, though he 
conceived some esteem for our 
Saviour, yet he was ashamed to 
profess it, and so came to him 
by night for instruction. When 
he had complimented our Sa- 
viour with some honorary titles, 
as an excellent teacher, and 
hinted his desire to learn some- 
what, Jesus told him, he eould 
not become a true member of 
his church, except he was born 
again, and his nature wholly re- 
newed. Grossly ignorant of re 
generation, of the Old Testa- 
ment oracles relative thereto, 
Nicodemus asked, How one 
could be born again ? Jesus 
asked, if he was a teacher in 



NIC 
Israel, and knew not these 
things ? and told him that the 
new birth he spoke of was ef- 
fected by spiritual influence ; 
and that, if he could not believe 
what was so often experienced 
on earth, how would he believe 
information concerning heaven- 
ly and eternal things, known on- 
ly to the Son of Man, presently 
in heaven as to his divine na- 
ture, while his human was upon 
earth 1 He informed him, that 
as the brazen serpent was lifted 
up in the wilderness, for the ge- 
neral means of cure to the ser- 
pent-bitten Hebrews, so himself 
should be quickly lifted up on 
the cross, and in the gospel, for 
the salvation of all the ends of 
the earth : — that God, in infinite 
kindness, had given him to be 
the Saviour of the world : — that 
whosoever believed on him, 
should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life: and whoever believ- 
ed not, should be damned : — and 
added, that the reason why so 
many believed not his instruc- 
tions, was because their deeda 
were evil, and ready to be dis- 
covered by means thereof, John 
iii. 1 — 21. After this conference, 
we hope Nicodemus was a real 
disciple of Jesus Christ, and at- 
tended his ministrations as he 
had opportunity. 

NICOLAS, one of the first 
seven deacons ; he was a native 
of Antioch, a proselyte to the 
Jewish religion, and lastly, a 
convert to the Christian faith. 
He was much distinguished for 
holiness and zeal, Acts. vi. Re- 
velations ii. 

NICOPOLIS, a city where 
Paul informs Titus he deter 
mined to winter ; but whether 
it was Nicopolis in Epirus, on 
the Ambracian gulf, or if it was 
Nicopolis in Thracia, on the 
east of Macedonia, and near the 
river Ne?sus, we cannot posi- 
tively determine, though we 
chiefiv incline to the latter, Tit 
- 12: 

$3 



NIL 

NIGHT ; (1.) The time when 
the sun is below our horizon, 
Exodus xii. 30. (2.) The time 
of heathenish ignorance and pro- 
faneness, in which, what spiri- 
tual darkness, danger, sloth, and 
Stumbling into sin abound ! Rom. 
xiii. 12. (3.) Adversity, which, 
as night, is perplexing, comfort- 
less, and disagreeable; or the 
season of it, Isa. xxi. 12. Song 
v. 2. (4.) Death, wherein we 
are laid asleep, and are quite 
unactive, John ix. 4. (5.) Tbe 
season in which any thing comes 
suddenly and unexpectedly up- 
on us, 1 Thess. v. 2. Isa. xv. 1. 
Luke xii. 20. (6.) The whole 
time of our life on eaith, during 
which, dark ignorance, danger, 
and sinful stumbling, much pre- 
vail, Song i. 13. Rom. xiii. 12. 

NILE, the noted river of 
Egypt. It has its source in Up- 
per Ethiopia. Father Pars says, 
it springs from two wells abo-ut 
20 paces distant, the one about 
25, and the other about 16 palms 
or handbreadths deep; butTbe- 
venot says it springs from one. 
About three days' journey from 
its source, this river is pretty 
wide, and sufficient to bear 
boats. After receiving a river 
called Jama, it pursues its course 
westward about 90 miles: it 
then winds to the east, and falls 
into the large lake of Zaire or 
Dambea ; from hence it winds 
about to the south-east, and then 
to the north-west, till it comes 
within about twenty miles of its 
source. It then runs northward; 
not without several winding:;, 
till at last it falls into Egypt. 
Perhaps, about Sennar, a long 
way south of Egypt, it is parted 
into two branches, the one of 
which runs westward through 
Africa, and is called the Niger, 
Nigir, or Senega river, and the 
other runs northward through 
Egypt, and is called the Nile, 
i. e. Nahal, or Neel river, and 
called the Sihor, or Shihor for 
its blackness, by reason of the 



NIL 

black mud which it carries along 
with it ; and the river of Egypt, 
as there is none else in that 
country that deserves the name. 
It hath seven remarkable falls, 
or cataracts. At one of them 
the water falls as a white sheet 
from a rock 200 feet high, and 
with such violence, that it makes 
an arch, leaving a broad way 
for travellers to pass below at 
the bottom of the rock, without 
being wet, and with a noise 
louder than thunder, which is 
heard at the distance of nine or 
ten miles. Though it runs about 
1500 miles, and receives a great 
many rivers, especially before it 
enters Egypt, its stream on or- 
dinary occasions, is not so great 
as might be expected. Villamont, 
indeed, says, its width at Cairo 
is about three miles : but others, 
of no less credit, make it much 
less. About 60 or 80 miles before 
it falls into the Mediterranean 
Sea, it divides into two streams, 
which leave the Delta between 
them ; and these two currents 
divide into others. It appears 
from the scripture and ancient 
writers, that it then had seven 
streams, Isa. xi. 15. How many 
there are at present,is not agreed; 
some have reckoned nine, others 
eleven, others fourteen; but it 
seems there are but four, or ra- 
ther three, of any account, viz. 
the Pelusiac, on the east, the 
Canopic on the west, and the 
Pathmetic in the middle. In the 
end of June, July, and August, 
the excessive rains in Abyssinia 
cause an annual swell of this 
river till it overflows the coun- 
try. In August, twenty miles on 
either side are covered with wa- 
ter, and nothing seen except the 
houses and tre?s ; but travellers 
do not agree in the height of its 
rise. It is certain, that, as the 
soil is now much higher, by the 
yearly increase of the mud, per- 
haps at the rate of a foot in 100 
years, according to Shaw, it re- 
quires a much higher rise to fer- 
384 



NIL 

tilize the country than it did of 
old. Some travellers will have 
the rise of 29 feet perpendicular 
to be best ; but others will have 
one about 36 or 40 feet to be 
best, which last, I suppose, comes 
nearest the truth. If the rise of 
the water be too small, the coun- 
try is not duly fattened with the 
mud. If its rise be too great, it 
deluges the country, and it goes 
ofT too late for the sowing of the 
seed. The overflow is less re- 
markable in Lower Egypt, than 
in the southern part of that king- 
dom, perhaps on account of the 
multitude of ditches and canals, 
and partly because there is less 
need of it, on account of the fre- 
quent rains. In Upper Egypt, 
where they have almost no rain, 
they retain the water in large 
cisterns or canals, that they may 
therewith laboriously water their 
fields at pleasure. To prevent 
excessive inundations of the 
country, they digged the im- 
mense lake of Moeris ; and from 
it they water the country on 
proper occasions ; and other 
lakes are formed of the waters 



Km 

begins to overflow, the water 
turns reddish or green, and is 
very unwholesome, and violent- 
ly purgative ; and therefore the 
Egyptians, for about 20, 30, or 
40 days, drink of that which they 
had preserved in cisterns under 
their houses and mosques. Mr. 
Bruce explored one branch of 
this river, and found its source 
in the mountains of Abyssinia; 
yet there is another and larger 
branch, the source of which is 
still buried in obscurity. This 
is the Jlbiad, which comes from 
the west. The opinion has pre- 
vailed both in ancient and mo 
dern times, that the Nile and 
Niger are connected, to which 
opinion the information gathered 
by travellers from the natives, is 
favourable. But there are some 
strong objections to this theory, 
as that there is too little fall from 
the Niger to the Nile ; but espe- 
cially, that the rise of the Nile 
does not correspond with the 
idea of its waters coming from a 
distance of not less than 4000 
miles; for, allowing the water- 
to flow 50 miles a day, the wa- 



of the Nile, for the defence of the ters could not reach Egypt be- 
country from the Arabs, and fore November. But this long 
other ravagers or enemies. They \ perplexed and agitated question 
too employ about 200,000 oxen will, we presume, be shortly de- 
in drawing water out of deep ■ cided by observation, 
pits and wells, to water their j NIMRAH, or Beth-nimrah, a 
fields and gardens. After the i city of the Gadites, somewhere 
waters of the Nile are with- j about the head of the river Ar- 
drawn, the Egyptians, in Oeto- i non, Num xxxii. 3. 36. 
ber and November, sow their j NDIROD, the son of Cush. 
seed among the mud, which be- 1 He was a mighty hunter before 
ing trampled down by the swine, the Lord ; and either rendering 
which they allow to range among himself useful by the killing of 
it, or covered by other like care- j wild beasts, or by violent op- 
less methods, brings forth a plen- I pressing of his neighbours, he 
tiful crop. The water of the ' procured himself a kingdom. He 
wells digged in Egypt is very first set up for king at Babylon, 
unpleasant and unwholesome ; and then extended his dominion 
but that of the Nile, though thick to Erech, xAccad, and Calneh, 
and muddy, is, when purified by in the land of Shinar. 
filtration, the most delicious in NINEVEH, the capital of As- 
the world, and is so salutary, as syria, and built by Ashurtheson 
never to hurt the drinker, though of Shem, Gen. x. 11. Without 
taken in great quantities. In the doubt Nineveh was built on the 
month of June, when the river bank of the river Tigris ; but 
R 33 385 



NOA 

hether on the western or east- 
ern is not agreed. We suppose 
t stood on the eastern, almost 
opposite to the present Mosul. 
t was one of the largest cities 
In the world. In Jonah's time 
it was a city of three days' jour- 
ney about, or would require him 
three days to go through it, pro- 
claiming its overthrow. It is 
commonly believed by judicious 
critics, that Nineveh was built 
by Nimrod, agreeably to the 
marginal reading of Gen. x. 11. 
in our Bibles. This city was in 
size and populousness, second 
to Babylon only. It took Jonah 
three days to traverse its princi- 
pal streets ; and Diodorus gives 
it a circumference of 60 miles. 
During 1450 years, Nineveh was 
the mistress of the east, to 
which at first Babylon itself was 
tributary. But when Cyaxares 
and Nebuchadnezzar besieged 
and took Nineveh, it declined 
rapidly, and Babylon became 
the seat of empire. According 
to the predictions of the pro 
phets, Nineveh went fast to ut- 
ter destruction ; and at this time, 
it is not certainly known where 
it stood, Zeph. ii. Nah. i. Ben 
jamin of Tudela, Thevenot, and 
Tavernier, are of opinion, that 
the ruins of Nineveh are over 
against Mosul, on the east bank 
of the Tigris : but Mr. Kinneir, 
who carefully examined those 
ruins A. D. 1810, is of opinion 
that they must have belonged to 
a much smaller town. Mr. 
Rich, who visited this place re- 
cently, supposes, that he has 
discovered the walls and ruins 
of this once great and populous 
city: but it remains extremely 
uncertain which of these travel- 
lers is riffht in his conjectures. 

NISItOCH, an idol of the As- 
syrians. 

NO, a populous city of Egypt : 
*ut where, is not agreed. It 
could not he Alexandria, as that 
was not built when No was ru- 
ined. Calmet will have it to be 



NOA 

Diospolis, in the Delta, which 
had Busiris on the south, and 
Mendesium on the north. But 
we can see no reason why this 
should be called populous in an 
eminent degree. Vitringa in- 
clines to think it Noph or Mem- 
phis ; but we rather think it was 
Thebes or Diospolis, which is 
much the same as No-ammon, 
the habitation of Jupiter-am 
mon, as that idol had a famous 
temple here. It was the capital 
of Upper Egypt, and was built 
chiefly on the east of the Nile. 

NOAH, JSToe, the son of that 
Lamech that was descended of 
Setb. He was the ninth in de- 
scent from Adam. Noah was a 
preacher of righteousness before 
the deluge, and for more than a 
hundred years, while the ark 
was building, warned that wick- 
ed generation of God's approach- 
ing judgments; but without ef- 
fect. He himself, however, mov- 
ed with fear, prepared an ark, 
asrreeably to God's command, to 
preserve his own family alive, 
and also a pair of the various 
species of animals to propagate 
their kind. The ark was a ves- 
sel of great dimensions, and was 
divided into stores and compart- 
ments: in this Noah remained 
for a whole year, while the wa- 
ters were upon the earth. The 
ark, after floating on the face of 
the deep for a long time, at 
length rested on mount Ararat, 
in Armenia. When he left the 
ark he offered a sacrifice of all 
clean animals, and found favour 
with God ; who entered into a 
solemn covenant or oath, that 
the world should never again ba 
desolated by a deluge of waters ; 
and as a token, placed his bow 
in the clouds ; which still re- 
mains a pleasing memorial of 
the faithfulness of Jehovah in 
the fulfilment of his gracious 
promises. After the deluge, No 
ah pursued agriculture; am- 
having, on a certain occasion 
drank too freelv of the juice cf£ 
38G 



NOA 

the grape, he lay exposed in his 
tent, which Ham observing, 
made it a subject of profane n 
dicule and observation without ; 
but Shem and Japhet reverently 
covered the shame of their fa- 
ther; whereupon Noah, when 
he awoke from sleep, pronounc- 
ed a curse on the posterity of 
Ham, especially Canaan, who 
probably had some share in the 
crime, and pronounced rich and 
lasting blessings on his other 
sons, which are now descending 
upon them ; while the curse of 
slavery and degradation still 
rests on the descendants of Ham. 
Noah lived 350 years after the 
flood, but w r here he resided we 
are not informed, and conjecture 
would be vain. It is highly pro- 



NOR 

bable that he had no concern in 
the building of Babel ; but that 
he either remained in the north, 
where the ark rested, or migrated 
towards the east. 

NOB, a small city not far from 
Jerusalem. Here the tabernacle 
for some time continued. 

NOPH. See Memphis. 

NORTH and South in the 
Scriptures are used relatively to 
the situation of countries in re- 
gard to Judea. Thus Syria is 
north ; Egypt south ; Babylon 
and Assyria lay to the north- 
east; but the Assyrian army al- 
ways invaded Palestine from the 
north. Media was still farther 
to the north, Dan. xi.l — 43. Jer. 
iii. 12. vi. 1. 3. 



OAT 

AN OATH, is a solemn act, 
wherein we swear by God, 
or call him to witness the truth 
of what we assert or promise ; 
and to avenge us in time and 
eternity, if we swear what is 
false or unknown to us, or if we 
do not perform what we engage. 
An oath must never be taken 
but in matters of importance, 
nor sworn by the name of any 
but the true God, as it is an act 
of solemn woiship, Josh.xxiii. 7. 
James v. 12. Deut. vi. 13. Matt. 
v. 34, 35. Jer. v. 7; nor irreve- 
rently, without godly fear and ] 
awe of the Most High ; and he is 
represented as a wicked man 
who is not deeply impressed 
with an oath, Eccl. ix. 2; nor 
rashly, without caution, Lev. v. ! 
4. Matt. xiv. 7. Gen. xxiv. 5. 8jM 
nor falsely, nor deceitfully, af- 
firming what is false, or without 
a sincere intention to perform, 
Lev. vi. 3. xix. 12. Jer. xlii. 5. 
But every oath ought to be 
eworn, in truth, and with judg- 
ment, having respect to the na- 
ture of an oath, and of the thing 
*worn ; and with fear of God, by 
■whom we swear; and only in 



OAT 

things that are good, and for a 
good end, Jer. iv. 2. 1 Cor. x. 31. 
Heb. vi. 18. The phrases ex- 
pressive of an oath are, as the 
Lord liveth, Judg. viii. 19. God 
is my witness or record, Rom. 
i. 9. 2 Cor. I. 23. Phil. i. 8. 
God knoweth, 2 Cor. xi. 11. 31 
Before God I lie not, Rom. ix. 
1. I say the truth in Christ and 
lie not, 1 Tim. ii. 7. Jis the truth 
of Christ is in me, 2 Cor. xi. 10. 
Various solemn acts as well as 
words accompanied an oath ; the 
most solemn and most common 
of which was, lifting up the 
hand to heaven, Gen. xiv. 22. 
Dan. xii. 7. Rev. x. 5, 6. The 
danger of swearing falsely, light- 
ly, rashly, or profanely, is, that 
Godwill not hold him guiltless, 
that taketh his name in vain, 
Exod. xx. 7. Swearing lightly in 
common conversation, is a trans- 
gression which insults the So- 
vereign of the universe, but 
affords no gratification to the 
| sinner, and is a very disgraceful 
practice; and is exceedingly in- 
jurious to the community, as it 
takes away all reverence for an 
oath, and thus opens a wide 
337 



OAT 

door for perjury. But oaths may 
be sinful, even when prescribed 
by the law of the land: they 
may contain things in them- 
selves unlawful, which no hu- 
man laws can render consistent 
with right ; or they may be en- 
joined without necessity, and 
nultiplied beyond reason ; or 
idministered in a manner so 
nanifestly irreverent, that they 
ire rather an insult to Jehovah, 
ihan a solemn act of worship. 
God himself is often introduced, 
as swearing, in the sacred Scrip- 
tures; sometimes, by his holi- 
ness, his life, his soul, by his 
great name, by his excellency, 
by his right hand, by himself, 
&c. Heb. vi. 13. Jer. li. 14. Isa. 
xlv. 23. Jer. xliv. 25. Amosviii. 
7. Psal. lxxxix. 35. Isa. lxii. 8. 

It cannot be doubted, that an 
oath was lawful and command- 
ed, under the Old Testament, 
and therefore it cannot be in 
itself evil ; for the morality of 
acts is always the same. And 
when we contemplate the na- 
ture of an oath, we can discover 
nothing in it but what is pious 
and good, if it be properly taken. 
And if solemn swearing on just 
and necessary occasions were 
sinful, would God be so fre- 
quently represented as swearing? 
But many scruple an oath, be- 
cause Christ has said, ' swear 
not at all; 1 but Christ did not 
intend to destroy the law and the 
prophets, but to explain their 
true sense, and rescue them 
from the false glosses of the 
Scribes and Pharisees. His 
! meaning, therefore, is, ' swear 
not at all by heaven or earth, or 
your head, or the temple, or the 
altar, or by any other creature : r 
or, c swear not at all,' in your I 
common communications, where 
nothing more is necessary than, 
yea, yea, nay, nay ;' for, to re- j 
8ort to an oath, on every trifling 
occasion, or to confirm every j 
assertion we make, is sinful. I 
And, that this is the true inter- 1 



OBL 

pretation of our Lord's words, 
is apparent from the fact, that 
he himself answered the high- 
priest, on oath, when standing 
on his trial before the Sanhed- 
rim. For the high-priest said, 
/ adjure thee, which is the same 
as to say, ' I put you on youi 
solemn oath.' And if all oaths 
had been forbidden, Paul would 
not so frequently have bound 
his soul by this solemn bond, 
nor would he have spoken of the 
practice" with approbation, as 
he does, Heb. vi. 16. 'And an 
oath for confirmation is to them 
an end to all strife.' 

No man can free himself from 
the obligation of an oath, nor 
can any human power relax 
their obligation. But unlawful 
oaths, though exceedingly sinful, 
are not binding: no man can 
create a moral obligation to 
break the law of God. An oath 
to do an impossible thing is 
void ; and in certain cases oaths 
obtained by threats or fraud are 
not binding. See Vows. 

OBADIAH; a godly man, 
who was one of the governors 
in the family of wicked Ahab. 
When Jezebel sought out the 
Lord's prophets to have them 
all murdered, Obadiah hid 100 
of them in two caves, and not- 
withstanding the then famishing 
dearth, fed them with bread and 
water, 1 Kings xviii. 

Obadiah, one of the minor 
prophets, whose predictions are 
directed principally against the 
Edomifes. 

OBED-EDOM, the son of 
Jedulhun, not the sacred musi- 
cian, and father of Shemaiah, 
Jozabad. Joah, Sacar, Natha- 
niel, Ammiel, Uzza, and Peul- 
thai. When Uzza the driver was 
struck dead for touching the ark 
of the Lord on the cart, David 
was so terrified that he was glad 
to defer bringing it to Jerusalem. 
As Obed-edom's house was hard 
by, they carried it thither. 

OBLATION. See Offering. 



OFF 



OFF 



ODED, a prophet, who re-'secration of priests, defilement 
monstrated to the Israelites, who of a Nazarite, or expiration of 
under Pekah had slain 120,000 his vow; and in purification 
of the Jews, and made 200,000 from leprosies, &c. Lev. i. ii. 13. 
orison ers. 

OFFERING, oblation, chiefly 
denotes what is given to God. 
Offerings were in general of two 
kinds, viz. gifts, where no life 
was destroyed; and sacrifices, 
wherein the life of the thing of- 
fered was taken away, Heb. v. 1. 

1. The burnt- offering consist- 
ed of a bullock, a he-lamb, or 
kid ; or, if the offerer was poor, 
a turtle or pigeon. The animal 
destined for sacrifice was led to 
the east end of the tabernacle or 
temple : the offerer laid his hands 
on its head, confessing his guilt, 
and transferring his desert of 
death on the animal. The priest 
then slew it on the north side of 
the brazen altar, and sprinkled 
its blood round about the altar. 
The skin was then taken off, and 
the priest had it for bis share. 
The inwards and legs were 
washed, and the whole flesh 
salted, and burnt on the altar 
with sacred fire. If the offering 
was a turtle or pigeon, the priest 
pinched off its head with his 
nails: the mood was wrung out 
at the side of the altar, and the 
body was freed from the garbage 
and feathers ; and being almost, 
but not wholly cleft, was burnt 
on the altar. The priest arrayed 
himself in common apparel, and 
carried the ashes and excrements 
of the bullock, sheep, or goat, 
and the ashes, feathers, and 
garbage of the fowl, into a clean 
place without the camp. Every 
burnt-offering, except that of the 
turtle and pigeon, was attended 
with a meat-offering and drink- 
offering. The burnt-offering was 
the chief of all the oblations. 
And besides what was voluntary, 
the law required burnt-offerings 
on nine stated occasions, viz. at 
all the daily, weekly, monthly, 
or annual feasts; and in the 
different occasional cases of con 



3b* 



vi. 8—13. vii! 8. xxii. 19—24. 
Numb. xv. 1 — 16. Exod. xxviii. 
xxix. Numb, xxviii. xxix. Lev. 
xii. xiv. 15. 

2. By the peace-offering, the 
offerer thanked God for mercies 
received, paid vows, or sought 
to obtain favours. At the con- 
secration of a priest, we reckon 
this a peace-offering ; the expi- 
ration of a Nazarite's vow, was 
to be a ram. At Pentecost too, 
perhaps the two lambs were to 
be males ; but in other cases 
the offered animals might be 
either male or female: only 
here, as in every other oblation, 
they behoved to be unblemished , 
and their number might be few 
or many, as the offerer pleased. 
Perhaps it was common for al- 
most every Hebrew who wai 
the head of a family, to offer 
peace-offerings at the three so- 
lemn feasts. After the offerer 
had laid his hand on this victim, 
it was killed at the north side 
of the altar, and its blood sprink- 
led round about the altar; the 
fat that covered the rump, and 
the inwards and kidneys, and 
the caul above the liver, was 
salted, and burnt on the brazen 
altar above the burnt-offering; 
the right breast and shoulder, 
with the cheeks and the maw, 
being heaved and waved, to- 
gether with a portion of the at- 
tendant meat-offering, were gi- 
ven to the priests, that they, and 
their sons and daughters, might 
feed thereon, in any clean place. 
The rest of the flesh, and the 
rest of the meat-offering, was 
returned to the offerer, that he 
and his friends might feast on it. 
If it was a thank-offering, the 
flesh was to be eaten that very 
day ; if it was a vow or volun- 
tary offering, it was to be eaten 
that day, and the next ; and if 
aught remained after th» *p 



389 



OFF 

pointed time, it was to be burnt 
with fire, Levit. iii. vii. 1] — 34. 
xix. 5—8. xxiii. 19, 20. Deut. 
xviii. 3. 

3. The sin-offering was di- 
versified in its matter, to point 
out the different degrees of the 
crime, or to answer the ability 
of the offerer. For the sin of a 
priest, or the occasional sin of 
the whole congregation, or for 
theLevites at their consecration, 
it was a bullock, Exod. xxix. 10 
—14. Levit. iv. 3—21. xvi. 6. 
Numb. viii, 12. A male kid 
was the stated sin-offering for 
the whole nation at their solemn 
feasts, and for the occasional 
eins of a ruler. Numb. xv. 24. 
xxviii. 22. vii. 'Lev. iv. 22—26. 
A female kid, or lamb, for the 
occasional sins of a private per- 
son ; or if a man was so poor 
that he could not afford a fe- 
male kid, he gave two turtle- 
doves or two young pigeons, 
the one for a sin-offering, and 
the other for a burnt-offering ; 
or if he could not afford these, 
he gave an omer of fine flour, 
without either oil or frankin- 
cense, Lev. iv. 28—35. v. 9, 10, 
11. An ewe-lamb was the sin- 
offering for a Nazarite at the 
expiration of his vow ; and for 
a woman's purification after 
child-birth ; or for a leper, and 
for the breach of a Nazaiite's 
vow: or in case of inability to 
offer a ewe-lamb, in the formei 
cases, it was a pair of turtle- 
doves, or two young pigeons, 
Numb. vi. Levit. xii. xiv. 22. 
xv. 14, 15. 29, 30. The animal 
sin-offering was brought to the 
brazen altar : the offender trans- 
ferred his guilt thereon, by lay- 
ing his hand on its head. Ex- 
cept the blood of the priest's 
bullock and of the people's goat, 
which was carried into the sanc- 
tuary, the blood of sin-offerings 
was poured out at the side or 
at the bottom of the brazen al- 
tar ; and the fat being salted, 
was burnt on the altar to the 



OFF 

Lord ; and the rest of the obla 
tions was the priest's : on the 
flesh thereof, he and his sons 
feasted in the holy place. The 
very pots in which the flesh was 
boiled were rendered unclean; 
and, if of earth, were broken to 
pieces ; but, if of metal, were 
to be rinsed in water. When 
the blood was carried into the 
sanctuary, the flesh and skin 
were carried into the place as- 
signed for the ashes of the burnt- 
offerings, and there burnt ; so 
the priests had no share at all 
of their own sin-offerings, and 
he who burnt the flesh and skin 
was rendered unclean. As the 
sin-offering of fowls had no fat, 
two were necessary, that the 
one might be used instead of 
the fat, in form of a burnt-offer- 
ing; and the other, after its 
blood was poured at +he altar, 
might, as the sin-offering, be 
given to the priest. No blood 
of a sin-offering was to be car- 
ried out of the sacred courts, so 
much as in a spot on the priest's 
garment, but was to be washed 
out before he went forth. If 
the sin-offering was of meal, a 
handful of it was burnt on the 
altar instead of the fat, and the 
residue belonged to the priest, 
Lev. iv. v. vi. 

4. That the trespass-offering 
was really different from the 
sin-offering, is evident in the 
case of the leper, where both 
were conjoined, Lev. xiv. 10 — 
20 ; but it is not easy to state 
the difference between them. 
Some think sin-offerings respect- 
ed sins of omission ; trespass- 
offerings, sins of commission ; 
others think the former atoned 
for sins committed through igno- 
rance of the law, and the latter 
for sins which one committed 
through inattention to his con- 
duct. Neither of these agree 
with Moses's laws. Perhaps 
Dr. Owen is right in thinking, 
that I he trespass-offerings relat- 
ed only to some particular cases 
390 






OFF OFF 

not comprised in the general it ; and to this the two leaven- 
rules for sin-offerings. If one, ed loaves offered at Pente- 
when called, did not declare the cost may be reduced : but no 
truth against a perjured person, leaven was laid on the altar, 
or profane swearer ; if he in- When a meat-offering was pre- 
advertently defiled himself by sented, the priest took part of 
touching unclean bodies ; if he the meal, or of the bread crum- 
swore rashly, a she-lamb or kid bled down ; and having poured 
was to be his trespass-offering ; oil, salt, wine, and frankincense 
or a pair of turtles or pigeons, if on it, burnt it on the altar, and 
he was poor ; or an omer of the priest had the residue for 
fine flour, if he was very poor; himself and his sons, to be eaten 
but it' the trespass was sacrilege, in the sacred court : but a meat- 
or other dishonesty, he was first offering for the priests was 
to make restitution to the value wholly burnt. The offering of 
of what he had unjustly taken, the sheaf, or omer of barley at 
and a fifth part more ; and then the passover, and of the loaves 
to offer a ram for his trespass- at Pentecost, and of the first- 
offering. The leper's trespass- fruits of oil, barley, or flour, was 
offering was a he-lamb. Ex- akin to the meat-offering ; but 
cept in the case of the leper, the the suspected wife's offering of 
trespass-offering was ordered an omer of barley, was akin to 
precisely in the manner of the the meal sin-offering. 
sin-offering, Lev. v. j 6. Drink-offerings were ne- 
5. The meat-offerings, and ver, that I know of, offered by 
such as follow, were not sacri- themselves, but were an atten- 
fices, but gifts. Meat-offerings dant of the meat-offering. The 
were always to attend burnt-of- proportion of wine was to be 
ferings and peace-offerings, and the same with that of oil. Part 
the sin-offering and trespass-of- of the wine was poured on the 
fering of the leper ; but whether meat-offering, and that was 
they attended other sin-offerings burnt, and the rest was the 
and trespass-offerings, we can priest's ; and if the whole meat- 
hardly determine. In cases offering was burnt, no doubt 
wherein the meat-offering was the wine went along with it. 
stated, three omers or tenth 7. The half shekel of money, 
deals of fine flour attended the which every Jew come to man- 
sacrifice of a bullock ; two that hood was to give, it seems, 
of a ram; and one, that of a yearly, for the ransom of his 
lamb or kid. Half a bin of oil soul, "to the service of the taber- 
attended the three omers, to fry nacle or temple. No Enan, 
it with ; and one-third of a hin however rich, was to give more, 
attended the two omers ; and a or however poor, was to give 
fourth part attended the one less. 

omer. Frankincense was also Tithes, first-born, firstlings, 
an ingredient in this offering, first-fruits, consecrated things, 
and salt was added to it. When and the sacred oil, and incuse, 
meat-offerings were presented also pertained to the offered 
by themselves, and voluntary, gifts. See under these articles, 
the quantity was not stated. Sometimes the offerings were 
Sometimes the materials were complex, as at the feasts, fast 
taken into unleavened cakes, of expiation, and purification cf 
and sometimes were offered lepers, consecration of priests^ 
unbaken. In thank-offerings, ' dedication of tabernacle or tern- 
some cakes of leavened bread pie. See also bull. The ktavc 
were to be offered along with land wave-offer in <rs were not 

391 = 



OFF 

different in their matter from 
•what have been already men- 
tioned, but were so calied, be- 
cause they were heaved or lifted 
up towards heaven, and waved 
towards the four parts of the 
world, as a token they belonged 
to him, whose throne is in hea- 
ven, and is Creator and Gover- 
nor of all tiie ends of the earth. 
The Leviies, at their consecra- 
tion, were such an offering, be- 
ing lifted up or chosen from 
among the congregation, and 
perhaps walking to and fro, to- 
wards every part. The fat, 
kidneys, caul, breast, and right 
shoulder of the priest's conse- 
cration-offering, together with a 
loaf and wafer of unleavened 
bread, and a cake of oiled bread, 
was heaved and waved, and all 
burnt on the altar, except the 
breast, Lev. viii. 11 — 19. Exod. 
xxix 22—26. The breast, right 
shoulder, and perhaps the fat 
of all peace-offerings, and leav- 
ened cake of the thank-offerings, 
Lev. vii. 13, 14. 30. x. 15 ; the 
leper's trespass-offering, with its 
log of oil, Lev. xiv. 12. 14; the 
jealousy-offering, Numb. v. 20 ; 
the sheaf or omer of ripe ears, 
Lev. xxiii. 11; the two lambs 
of Pentecost, with their atten- 
dant peace-offering, Lev. xxiii. 
19,20; the oblation of dough, 
Numb. xv. 19. 21 ; the tithes of 
the Levites and priests, Numb. 
xviii. 24. 23. 20; the Lord's 
tribute of the spoil of Midian, 
Numb. xxxi. 29. 41. were waved, 
and, I suppose, also heaved. 

God never required these ob- 
lations as good in themselves, 
nor as the effectual means of 
the real atonement or purgation 
of sin ; he never required them, 
as equally necessary with moral 
duties ; nor did he regard them 
at all, when offered in a wicked 
manner ; and after the death of 
our Saviour, he detested them, 
Psal. sd. 6. li. 16. Jer. vii. 22. 
1 Sam. xv. 15. 22. Hos. vi. 6. 
Psal. Jxix. 20, 31. 1. 9—14. Isa. 



OIL 
i. 11, 12, 13. Ixvi. 3. Sacrifices 
of righteousness ,are either such 
as are justly gotten, or spiritual 
sacrifices of one's self, prayers, 
and holy services, Psalm iv. 5. 
li. 19. The oblation sacrifice^ 
and pure offering of righteous- 
ness offered by the Egyptians 
and others, under the New-Tes- 
tament, is their dedication of 
themselves, and their broken 
hearts, prayers, praises, and 
holy services, and alms, pre- 
sented to God through Jesus as 
their altar, for the advancement 
of his honour and glory, Mai. i. 
11. Psalm li. 17. Rom. xii. 1 
xv. 16. Heb. xiii. 16. 

OG, the king of Bashan, was 
one of the giants. His bedstead 
was of iron, and was nine cubits 
long and four broad, which, ac- 
cording to our reckoning, is six- 
teen feet and near five inches 
long, and seven feet and more 
than three inches broad : but 
Calmet makes it only fifteen 
feet and four inches long, and 
six feet and ten inches broad. 

OIL ; ointment. The most 
ancient kind of oil, is that ex- 
tracted from olives. Oil was 
exceedingly plenteous in the 
country of Job ; hence w r e read 
of rivers of it, Job xxix. 6. It 
was no less plentiful in Canaan, 
particularly in the lot of Asher : 
they sucked oil out of the flinty 
rock, obtained it from olives 
planted on rocks ; and, as it 
were, dipt their feet in the plenty 
of it, Deut. xxxii. 13. xxxiii. 24. 
An infusion of some flowers 
makes it very fragrant for 
anointing, Matth. xxvi. 8. Gen. 
xxvii. 27. Psal. xcii. 10. The 
Hebrews used common oil in 
their meat-offerings, in their 
sacred lamps, and in then com- 
mon use; but there was an 
ointment very precious and sa- 
cred, compounded of olive-oil, 
sweet cinnamon, calamus, cas- 
sia, and pure myrrh. There 
was twice as much of the cas- 
sia and myrrh, as there was of 
392 



0L1 

the cinnamon and calamus. 
This was used in the anoinring 
of the priests, and the tabernacle 
and furniture. None of it was 
to be applied to any other use : 
nor was any for common use to 
be made like it. 

OIL TREE, Is. xli. 19, though 
supposed by many to be the 
Olive tree, 1 Kings vi. 23. 31. 
33, and Neh. viii. 15, is a differ- 
ent and probably a luxuriant and 
handsome tree. There is an oil 
obtained from the kernel of a 
kind of olive produced by the 
Jirgan tree, of which whole 
forests are found in Morocco. 
A pint of this oil is said to burn 
as long as a quart of olive oil. 

OLIVE TREE. Matt. xxi. 1, 
James iii. 12. The wild olive, 
Rom. xi. 17. 24. 

The cultivated olive has a 
smooth bark of an ash colour — 
the wood is hard and yellow — 
the leaves shaped like those of a 
willow, and of somewhat simi- 
lar colour. It blooms in June, 
and bears white flowers — the 
fruit, which is a common article 
of merchandise in this country, 
is first green, then pale, and 
when ripe, black. It encloses a 
hard stone, which contains the 
seeds. The wild olives differed 
from the cultivated only in their 
smaller size. 

Olives abounded in the land 
of Canaan, Deut. vi. 11. viii. 8. 
xxviii. 40, and olive yards were 
common, 1 Chron. xxvii. 28. 1 
Sam. viii. 14. Neh. v. 11. 

OLIVET, or mount of Olives, 
about 625 paces east of Jerusa- 
lem, and separated from it by 
the valley of Jehoshaphat and 
brook Kedron. It had three 
tops ; the most northern was 
the highest, and, as it were, 
hung over the city. The south- 
ern top, which was called the 
mount of Corruption, because 
of Solomon's idolatrous temple 
built thereon, was the lowest; 
and it is said our Saviour as- 
cended to heaven from the mid- J 



ON 

die top, Luke xix. 40 — 44. Matt, 
xxiv. 3. Acts i. 12. From the 
mount of Olives, the Hebrews 
were furnished with olive- 
branches at the feast of taber- 
nacles, Neh. viii. 15. 

This mountain is about a mile 
in length, stretching from north 
to south, and overlooks the city : 
almost every street and every 
house may be seen from its 
summit. Between the foot of 
this mountain and the brook 
Kedron, lies the garden of Geth- 
semane, an even piece of ground, 
about 57 yards square, accord- 
ing to Maundrell, and thickly 
planted with olive-trees. Dr. 
Clarke found here a grove of 
olive-trees of immense size. 
The monks pretend to designate 
the very spot where our blessed 
Lord sweat biood, where he was 
met and kissed bv Judas, &c. 

OMNIPOTENT. See Ah 
mighty. 

OMER, the tenth part of an 
ephah, or a little more than five 
pints. 

OMRI was general of the 
forces to Elah king of Israel. 

ON, or Jiven, one of the old- 
est cities in the world, was situ- 
ated in Egypt, in the land of 
Goshen, on the east of the Nile, 
about five miles above modern 
Cairo. It was called Heliopo- 
lis (the City of the Sun) by 
the Greeks; and Beth-shemesh 
(House of the Sun) by the He- 
brews, Jer. xliii. 13. Eighteen 
centuries ago, this city was in 
ruins, when visited by Strabo. 
At present, almost the only 
monument of its former gran- 
deur, is a column of granite, 70 
"eet high, and covered with hie- 
roglyphics ; of which pillar, Dr. 
Clarke has given a good de- 
scription. According to Jose- 
phus, this city was given to the 
family of Jacob, when they first 
came to sojourn in Egypt ; and, 
we know, that it was a daugh- 
ter of the priest of the temple 
situated here, who was given in 
393 



OPH 

marriage to Joseph. Here, also, 
in the time of Ptolemy Philadel 
phus, Onias, a Jew, obtained 
leave to erect a temple, similar 
to the one at Jerusalem, which 
was for a long time frequented 
by the Hellenist Jews. There 
is an apparent reference to it by 
several of the prophets, Jer. xliii. 
13. Ezek. xxx. 17. 

ON AN, a son of Judah. 

ONESIMUS. See Philemon. 

ONESIPHORUS, a native 
•of Asia, perhaps of Ephesus. 
There he was extremely kind to 
the apostle Paul. 

ONO, a city of Benjamin, 5 
miles from Lod or Lydda, 
1 Chron. viii. 12. Ezra ii. 33. 

ONYX. This word is used 
in two senses in Scripture— 1st 
An odoriferous substance, Exod. 
xxx. 34. supposed to be a shell, 
said to be found in the Red Sea. 
2d, A precious stone, Exod. 
xxviii. 20. where it is mentioned 
as the eleventh in the high 
priest's breast-plate, Exod. 
xxviii. 9. It is thought to be a 
kind of agate ; but Calmet sup- 
poses the emerald, a beautiful 
green mineral, is the one in- 
tended. 

OPHEL, a wall and tower of 
Jerusalem, which seems to have 
been near the temple, and is ren- 
dered strong-hold, Mic. iv. 8. 

OPHIR, the son of Joctan. 
Whether he gave name to the 
country famous for gold, or 
where that country was, we can 
hardly determine. It is certain 
that its gold was renowned in 
the time of Job, Job xxii. 24. 
xxviii. Ifi; and that from the 
time of David to the time of 
Jehoshaphat the Hebrews traded 
with it, and tint U/.ziah revived 
this trade when he made him- 
self master of Elath, a noted 
port on the Red Sea. In Solo- 
mon's time, the Hebrew fleet 
took up three years in their voy- 
age to Ophir, and brought home 
gold, apes, peacocks, spices, 
ivory, ebony, and almug-trees, 1 



ORP 

Kings ix. 23. x. 11. xxii. 48. 2 
Chron. iii. 9. viii. 18. ix. 10. 

The articles imported from 
this place, the port from which 
the ships sailed engaged in the 
trade, and the time required for 
the performance of the voyage, 
all go to prove that Ophir could 
not be any where in the west of 
Asia, or on the continent of 
Europe ; and some of these facts 
are also sufficient to render it 
entirely improbable, that this 
place, so famous for gold, was 
any where on the coast of Ara- 
bia ; or even any where on the 
east of Africa, where Mr. Bruce 
has laboured hard to prove that 
the Ophir of Scripture was 
situated ; and by several learned 
men the very name has been 
considered the same as Africa, 
with a slight variation. It seems 
far more probable, that this place 
was situated some where in the 
East Indies ; but the precise spot, 
or even district, cannot now 
be ascertained. Bochart has 
brought forward an amazing 
array of learned arguments in 
favour of the island of Ceylon ; 
others have selected other places 
in that region ; but none seem to 
render it even probable, that 
they have fixed on the very spot, 
formerly so abundant in the 
previous metals. 

OPHNI, a city of Benjamin, 
Josh, xviii.24. probably the same 
as Gophnl — Vespasian and Ti 
ins. bofii passed this place in 
subduing the country. 

OREB, (Ravev) a prince of 
Midian, Judg. vii. 25. A village 
of the same name, is supposed 
to he the rock Onh. 

ORP AH, aMoabitish woman, 
wife of Chilion. Her husband 
being dead, she lived with Na- 
omi, her mother-in-law, who 
being desirous to return to her 
own country, Orpah was pre- 
vailed upon to remain in Moab; 
hut Ruth followed Naomi to 
Rethlehem, Ruth i. 4. See 
Naomi. 

394 



OST 

ORACLE; (].) A divine decla- 
ration of God's will ; and so the 
whole of his inspired revelations 
are called, 2 Sam. xvi. 23. IPet. 
iv. 11. (-2.) The Holy of holies, 
from whence God uttered his 
ceremonial laws to the Hebrew 
nation in the time of Moses, and 
declared his mind on other oc- 
casions, Exod. xxv. 22. 1 Kings 
vi. 16. viii. 6. Ps. xxviii.2. God 
uttered his oracles in various 
manners, (1.) Sometimes by 
forming a voice, and conversing 
with the person informed: thus 
he spake to Moses and to Samuel 
as a man to his friend. (2.) By 
predictory dreams, as of Joseph, 
Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, &c. 
(3.) By visions, wherein his 
declaration of his mind was at- 
tended with some apparition, as 
to Abraham, Jacob, Solomon. 
(4.) By the Urim and Thummim, 
by means whereof the high- 
priest was qualified infallibly to 
declare the will of God. This 
was a common method from the 
death of Moses till after the 
building of Solomon's temple. 

ORDAEN, the same as ap- 
point. Ordinances of God are, 
(1.) His fixed purposes and ap- 
pointments concerning the state 
and motions of irrational crea- 
tures, whether the luminaries of 
heaven, &c. Psal. cxix. 91. Job 
xxxviii. 33. Jer. xxxi. 33. (2.) 
His commandments in general. 
Lev. xviii. 4. (3.) His rules and 
directions relative to his worship, 
Heb. ix. 10. 1 Cor. xi.2. 

ORIOX, a constellation just 
before the sign Taurus. It con- 
sists of about 80 stars; appears 
about the middle of November: 
and its rise is often accompanied 
with storms, and its bands are 
the cold and frost, which only 
God can remove, Job xxxviii. 
31. ix. 9. 

ORNAN. See Araunah. 

OSPREY and Ossifrage. 
See F.ngle. 

OSTRrCH, the tallest of all 
the fowl kind, being 7 or 8 feet 



OST 

high when it stands erect. The 
plumage is generally black and 
white, though it is said to be 
sometimes grey. The largest 
feathers, which are commonly 
at the extremity of the wings and 
tail, are usually white. Under 
the wings and on the sides of the 
thighs, the ostrich is bare. Al- 
most all the feathers of an ostrich 
are as soft as down, and are no 
how adapted to flight or to de- 
fence; consequently, this huge 
bird is incapable of rising from 
the ground, by means of its 
wings, which serve as sails and 
oars to aid and balance it in its 
running on the ground. The 
head and upper part of the neck 
are covered with a very fine, 
white, shining hair; and the 
wings are furnished with spurs 
of a horny substance, about an 
inch long; there are two of these 
on each wing. The bill is short, 
and shaped something like that 
of a duck. The eyes resemble 
those of the human species. 
The inside toe is the largest, 
being more than half a foot in 
length, and nearly the same in 
breadth. Ostriches are inhabit- 
ants of the deserts of Arabia, 
where they live mostly on vege- 
tables. Their eggs measure 
about five inches in diameter, 
and weigh from 12 to 15 pounds , 
of which they lay forty or fifty 
in one nest. It is exceedingly 
voracious, devouring almost 
every thing which it can swal- 
low. 

The ostrich is particularly de- 
scribed in the book of Job, xxxix. 
13 — 18. The feathers have al 
ways been prized to ornament 
the dress of the warrior, or the 
lady of fashion. Pliny says, 'that 
they were used in helmets,' in 
his time. A large part of the 
eggs in the ostrich's nest, are 
intended for the food of the 
female during incubation. The 
ostrich is among the stupidest 
of animals, but it is endowed 
with a swiftness of foot which 
395 



OVE 

readily leaves most enemies far 
behind. Often they forsake their 
nests and abandon their young, 
before they are able to provide 
for themselves, which makes 
them the proper emblem of the 
want of natural affection. The 
noise which they make is a 
lamentable screech, which in the 
desert is doleful and hideous 
beyond conception, Lam. iv. 3. 
Isa. xiii. 21. 

OTHNIEL,thesonofKenaz, 
of the tribe of Israel. 

OUCHES, beazils or socket: 
for fastening the precious stones 
in the shoulder-pieces of the high- 
priest's ephod. These ouches, 
with their stones, served for 
buttons to fasten the golden 
chains Avhereby the breast-plate 
was hung, Exodus xxviii. 11. 
25. 

OVEN. The orientals had 



OX 

them of different constructions; 
some of them moveable ones of 
metal or stone. They sometimes 
heated them with the withered 
stalks of flowers, Matt. vi. 30. 
In some of them whole sheep 
as well as lambs were roasted. 
Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace, 
into which he cast Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abednego, seems 
to have been of this form, Dan 
iii. 21—26. 

OWL, an unclean bird, Lev. 
xi. 17. It was considered a bird 
of ill-omen and distress.Is.xxxiv. 
11. Ps. cii. 6. 

OX, an animal well known 
among us, and highly esteemed 
among the Jews, Deut. xxv. 4. 
See JVev. Bib. Antiq. vol. 1. p. 
47. 1 Cor. ix. 9. 1 Tim. v. 18. 
Job i. 14. Gen.xxiv. 35. 1 Kings- 
xix. 19. As to the importance 
of Oxen, see Prov. xiv.4. 



PAL 

PACE, a measure of five feet 
in length ; but perhaps it 
signifies no more than a step, in 
2 Sam. vi. 13. 

PAD AN- ARAM. See Meso- 
potamia; but perhaps Padan- 
aram was but the north-west 
part of Mesopotamia. 

PAHATH-MOAB, I suppose, 
was a city built near to the place 
where Ehud routed the Moab- 
ites.— Jeshua and Joab were 
two of its ancient princes; 38*2 
belonging to Pahath-raoab re- 
turned from Babvlon with Z - 
rubbabel ; and 200 more with 
Ezra, Ezra ii. 6. viii. 4. Some 
would have Pahath-moab to be 
the name of a man ; and it is 
certain, one of that name sealed 
Nehemiah's covenant of refor- 
mation, Neh. x. 14. 

PALESTINE. SeePkilistia 

The PALM-TREE is found 
in a variety of the warm coun- 
tries in the north of Africa, and 
in the south of Asia, &c. Many 
palms jrrew on the banks of Jor- j 
dan: but the best were those j 



PAL 

about Jericho and Engedi; which 
last is, for that reason, called 
Hozazon-tamar, the cutting of 
the palm-tree. 

The palm-tree is also called 
the date-tree, a3 it produces the 
fruit denominated, ' dates.' It 
rises to a great height; the stem 
is very straight but knotty, and 
the centre is filled with pith. 
The leaves are six or eight feet 
long, and broad in proportion, 
when spread out. The dates 
grow beneath the leaves. On the 
top of the palm, there is a tuft 
which remains always green. 
The value of this tree in the 
east, and the variety of uses to 
which the several parts of it may 
be applied, are almost incredible 
to those who have not travelled 
in those regions. Mr. Gibbon 
mentions, that in the exaggera- 
tion to which they are accus- 
tomed in Persia, they have as- 
cribed 360 distinct uses to the 
palm-tree. Dr. Clarke says, that 
a considerable part of the in- 
habitants of Egypt, Arabia, and 
396 



PAM 

Persia, sunsist on its fruit; they 
boast also of its medical virtues ; 
their camels feed upon the stones 
of the fruit; and from the leaves 
are made couches, baskets, bags, 
mats, and brushes. From the 
branches, cages and fences ; and 
from their fibres, ropes, thread, 
and rigging for ships. From the 
Bap is prepared a spirituous 
liquor and honey ; while the 
body of the tree supplies fuel, 
and timber for other uses. In 
Solomon's temple, there were 
pilasters modelled after the palm. 
1 Kings vi. 29. The righteous 
in their flourishing condition are 
compared to this tree, Psal. xcii, 
12, 13, 14. 

Palm-trees come to perfection 
in 30 years after being planted. 
A branch of palm was a signal 
of victory, and was carried be- 
fore conquerors at triumphs, 
Rev. vii. 9. The palm-tree was 
formerly much cultivated and 
valued, in some parts of Judea. 
Jericho was called 'the city of 
palms,' Deut. xxxiv. 3. 2Chron. 
xxviii. 15. Upon a medal, struck 
by Vespasian, to commemorate 
the capture of Judea, on one 
side is an inscription, Judea 
Capta, and on the other, a cap- 
tive woman sitting under a 
palm-tree; but at present there 
are few in that country. 

PALSY embraces; (1.) Jipo- 
plexy, which afTects the whole 
body. (2.) Hemiplegy, which 
affects only one side, Matt. ix. 2. 
(3.) Paraplegy, which afTects all 
the system below the neck. (4.) 
Catalepsy ; which contracts the 
muscles of a limb, or of the 
whole body, 1 Kings xiii. 4 — 6. 
Zech. xi. 17. Matt. xii. 10. John 
v. 3 — 5. (5.) Cramp ; a fearful 
and fatal disease depriving the 
limbs of the power of motion, 
and causing great torture, Matt. 
viii. 6. (See Home's Int. vol. 
Hi. 472.) 

PAMPHYLIA, a province of 
Lesser Asia, having the Medi- 
terranean sea on the south, Ly- 



34 



PAR 

cia on the west, Pisidia on the 
north, and Cilicia on the east. 
.Attalia and Perga were the prin- 
cipal cities of it. A number of 
the Jewish inhabitants of thia 
place heard Peter's sermon at 
Pentecost; and, perhaps, first 
carried the Gospel thither. 

PANXAG. In wheat of Pan- 
nag, the Jews traded with the 
Tvrians, Ezek. xxvii. 17. 

PAPER-REEDS, papyrus, a 
kind of bulrushes that grow in 
Egypt, along the banks of the 
Nile, Isa. xix. 7. Of these the 
Egyptians made baskets, shoes, 
clothes, and small boats, for 
sailing on the Nile, Exod. ii. 3. 
Isa. xviii. 2. To make paper of 
this bulrush, they peeled off the 
different skins or films thereof, 
one after another; these they 
stretched on a table, to the in- 
tended length or breadth of the 
paper, and overlaid them with a 
kind of thin paste, or the muddy 
water of the Nile a little warmed ; 
above which they spread a cross 
layer of other films or leaves, 
and then dried it- in the sun. 
The films nearest the heart of 
the plant made the finest paper. 

PAPHOS. There were two 
cities of this name, about seven 
miles distant the one from the 
other, on the west end of the 
isle of Cyprus ; in both of which 
Venus, the goddess, had a tem- 
ple, Acts xiii. 6. 

PAR A B LE, a similitude taken 
from natural things to instruct 
us in spiritual, and sometimes to 
give a stronger impression of 
truth, 2 Sam.\xii. 2, 3. Judg. ix. 
7, 8. Matt. xiii. J 0,1 3. 

PARACLETE, an advocate, 
or comforter ; generally applied 
to the third person in the Trinitv, 
John xv. 26. (Buck's Theo'l. 
Diet.) 

PARADISE, or Garden of 
Eden, has been placed by one 
or another, in almost every re- 
gion of the world. Their opi- 
nion, who place it in Syria, near 
the head of the Jordan, or ra- 
397 



PAR 

ther further south; and their's 
that place it in Armenia, whence 
run the rivers of Euphrates and 
Hiddekei, which run south, and 
of Araxes, which runs east, hath 
no proof on its side. The first 
of these hath no marks of the 
Mosaic Paradise at all: no four 
rivers; no river parted into four 
heads. Nor indeed is that in 
Armenia much better founded; 
the springs of Euphrates, Tigris, 
and Araxes, are too distant to be 
said to proceed out of the same 
garden ; and the Phasis, which 
they call Pison, has its head 
much more distant in the moun- 
tain Caucasus. We suppose, 
that Paradise stood in Eden in 
Chaldea, at the conflux of the 
Tigris, or Hiddekei, and the 
Euphrates, or a little below it. 
Here we find two of Moses' 
rivers by name; and below, we 
find the stream was parted into 
two large divisions, the eastern 
one of which may have been the 
Gihon, and the western the Pi- 
son. It may be proper to ob- 
serve, that when some of these 
rivers are said to compass such 
lands, the word may be rendered 
run3 along, i. e. along the side ; 
and Hiddekei went not to the 
east of Assyria, but ran from 
Assyria easticard, or run before 
Assyria; that is, between Mo- 
ses and Assyria, Gen. ii. 11 — 14. 
It is probable the Heathens de- 
rived their fancy of fortunate 
islands and Ely si an fields, and 
drew their taste for gardens of 
perfumes, from the ancient Pa- 
radise. Heaven is called a Pa- 
radise, because of the complete 
happiness, manifold delights, and 
intimate fellowship with God, 
that are there enjoyed, Luke 
xxiii.44. 2 Cor. xii.4. Rev.ii.7. 
PAR AN, or El-par an, a tract 
in Arabia the Stony, between 
the south of Canaan and the 
eastern gulf of the Red Sea, or 
rather it extended, when taken 
at large, as far as Sinai, Dsut. 
xxxiii. 2. Hah. iii. 3. 



PAT 

PARCHMENT made of skin. 

PARTHIA, had Media on the 
west, Harcania on the north, 
Aria or Ariana on the east, and 
the desert of Caramania, now 
Kerman, on the south. 

PARTRIDGE. The Arabs 
sometimes hunt and take par- 
tridges by following them so con 
tinually as to weary them out, 
1 Sam. xxvi. 20. 

The partridge often broods 
over eggs, but fails to hatch. 
The position of her nest exposes 
the eggs to be spoiled by the wet, 
or crushed ; and she is often 
driven from it from the same 
cause, Jer. xvii. 11. 

PASHUR. See Jeremiah. 

PASSOVER. See Feast. 
For a full and interesting ac- 
count of this feast, the reader is 
referred to Neviii's Bib. Jlntiq. 
published by the American Sun- 
day School Union, vol. 2, p. 
186 — 197. Also, Home's Intro- 
duction to the Critical Study of 
the Scriptures, third American 
Ed. vol. 3. p. 299—310. 

The appointment of this festi- 
val, is minutely recorded in the 
twelfth chapter of Exodus, and 
the various traditional observan- 
ces, which were added in after 
times to the Mosaic precepts, 
and to which theio are manifest 
allusions in the New Testament,, 
will be found very satisfactorily 
described and explained in the 
work to which we last referred,, 
under these three divisions, I. 
the time when it was to be kept ; 

11. the ceremonies with which 
it was to be celebrated ; III. the 
mystical signification of these 
rites. It is only by the blood of 
sprinkling that the sinner is 
protected and saved from the 
wrath of God, whose holy law 
he has violated — and it is only 
by faith in the lamb of God that 
he is delivered from the bondage 
ofsin, 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb. xii. 24, ix. 

12. Rom. viii. 21. 
PASTOR. See Shepherd. 
PATARA, a sea-port of Ly- 

398 



PAU 

«ia. Here was a famous temple 
of Apollo, where oracies, ^q'Jal 
in repute to those of Delphos, 
were given for six months of the 
year. Puul touched here in his 
way from Macedonia to Jerusa- 
lem: but we hear nothing of 
Christianity settled till the 4th 
century, and it continued till the 
9th, when the Saracens wasted 
the country, Acts xxi. 1. 

PATHROS, a city or canton 
of Egypt. Some will have it to 
be the Phaturis of Ptolemy and 
Pliny. Wells makes it a city in 
Upper Egypt, on the west of the 
Nile. Some will have it the The- 
bais in Upper Egypt. It no 
doubt had its name from Pathru- 
sim, the fifth son of Mizraim, 
who built or peopled it, Gen. x. 
14. 

PATIENCE, or long-suffer- 
ing. God's patience^ is his bear- 
ing long with offenders without 
punishing them, Rom. ii. 4. Matt, 
xviii. 26. 29. 

PATMOS, an island of the 
Egean Sea, not far from Meli- 
tus, and about 40 miles west- 
ward of Ephesus. It is about 
25 or 30 miles in circumference, 
and is of a barren soil, and is 
now called Patmo, Patmol, or 
Palmosa. Hither John the apos- 
tle was banished, and here he 
had his revelations, Rev. i. 9. 

PATRIARCH, one of the 
principal fathers of mankind, 
particularly of the Jews : so 
Abraham, Jacob, and his sons, 
and David, are called, Heb. vii. 
4. Acts vii. 8, 9. ii. 29. 

PAVILION, a tent ; chiefly 
one for a king, general, or prince, 
1 Kings xx. 12. Jeremiah xliii. 
10. 

PAUL, w T as of the tribe of 
Benjamin, and both his parents 
were Hebrews. He was born at 
Tarsus in Ctlicia, and so was by 
birth a free citizen of Rome. 
He was at first called Saul, and 
never Paul till the conversion of 
Sergius Paulus. Perhaps Saul 
was his Hebrew name, and Paul 



PAU 

his Roman one, which he used 
among the Gentiles: or perhap9 
Sergius honoured him with his 
sirname. His parents stnt him 
early to Jerusalem, to study the 
Jewish law, under the direction 
of Gamaliel, the most famed 
doctor of that age ; where he 
made great proficiency in Jew- 
ish learning, and was of a blame- 
less life, conforming strictly to 
the rules of the Pharisees, to 
which sect he belonged. He was 
exceedingly zealous against the 
followers of Christ at the first; 
and when Stephen was con- 
demned and stoned, he gave his 
vote against him, and held the 
clothes of the men who put him 
to death. He also persecuted all 
that he could find of this way, 
whether men or women; en- 
deavouring to constrain them 
to blaspheme the name of Jesus, 
and when they refused commit- 
ted them to prison. As by this 
persecution many were scatter- 
ed abroad, and those in Judea 
kept close, Paul formed the pur- 
pose of pursuing the unoffending 
Christians, even to strange cities: 
whereupon, obtaining a commis- 
sion and authority from the high- 
priest, he set off to Damascus, 
accompanied with a sufficient 
number of men to execute hi» 
purpose, which was to bring 
bound to Jerusalem, all whom 
he could find, who professed 
themselves the disciples of the 
despised Nazarene. By this time 
his mind had become exceeding- 
ly inflamed ; so that he breathed 
out threatenings against the dis- 
ciples : but when he had nearly 
reached Damascus, he himself 
was arrested by a mandate from 
heaven. A light, above the light 
of the sun, shone around him, 
and a voice said, ' Saul, Saul, 
why persecutest thou me V Saul 
fell to the earth confounded., and 
entirely blinded, so that the men 
who were with him were obliged 
to lead him into the city. Here 
he was visited by a disciple, 
399 



PAU 

named Ananias, who explained 
to him the gospel of Jesus, and 
then baptized him. A great and 
marvellous change now appear- 
ed in the character of this furi- 
ous persecutor: he began to 
preach that very Christ whom 
he had forced the people to blas- 
pheme, and that gospel which he 
had laboured to destroy. Paul 
now spent three years in Arabia, 
how employed does not appear, 
but doubtless in preaching to the 
people of those regions. He was 
afterwards associated with Bar- 
nabas, in propagating the gos- 
pel in Asia Minor, and in Greece, 
Macedonia, and the Grecian Is- 
lands. Paul was indefatigable 
in his labours, and more suc- 
cessful than any other preacher 
of the gospel. He was also ex- 
posed to frequent and severe 
persecutions, especially from his 
own nation ; and on one occa- 
sion, when he came to Jerusa- 
lem, the bearer of alms to the 
poor of that place, he was as- 
saulted by a mob, while in the 
temple, and would have been 
torn to pieces, had he not been 
rescued by the captain of the 
temple : who, on being informed 
of a conspiracy to assassinate 
him, sent him off under a strong 
guard, to Cesarea, where he re- 
mained in confinement for two 
years, and was constrained to 
appeal to the tribunal of Cffisar 
at Rome, to avoid being sent 
back to Jerusalem, where his 
enemies were determined on his 
destruction. For two whole 
years, Paul lived a prisoner at 
.Rome ; but was permitted, in 
the custody of a soldier, to oc- 
cupy his own hired house, where 
he instructed all that came to 
him. On his trial he was ac- 
quitted and released ; but was 
again brought to Rome on some 
new ground of accusation : pro- 
bably, because he avowed him- 
self a Christian. According to 
the uncontradicted voice of an- 
cient tradition, he suffered mar- 



PEL 

tyrdom by decapitation under 
Nero. 

PEACOCKS are of various 
kinds. They have their head or- 
namented with a crest of fea- 
thers. The male peacock of 
the common kind, is perhaps the 
gaudiest fowl in nature. His 
tail, in its various colours, and 
the forms into which he spreads 
it, is sufficiently known and ad- 
mired. He is extremely proud ; 
but hath a disagreeable voice, 
ugly feet, and soft pace. Pea- 
cocks are numerous in the East 
Indies. There Alexander pro- 
hibited his army to kill them. 
Our translation of Job mentions 
peacocks; but probably it ought 
to be rendered ostriches, as the 
feathers of their wings are more 
valuable than those of the wings 
of peacocks. Nor do we know 
whether the Touchim, which 
Solomon's fleet brought from 
Ophir, be peacocks or parrots, 
Job xxxix. 13. J Kings x. 22. 2 
Chron. ix. 21. 

PEARL, a hard white shining 
body, found in some shell-fishes. 
The oriental pearls have a fine 
polished gloss, and are tinged 
with an elegant blush of red. 
This word is only found in Job 
xxviii. 18. in our version of the 
Old Testament, and it is ex- 
tremely doubtful, whether the 
original word, which properly 
signifies 'hail,' is properly ren- 
dered ' pearls,' in this place. Bo- 
chart has shown, however, that 
in several other passages, pearls 
are intended, although in our 
version the word is translated 
1 rubies,' as Prov. iii. 15. viii. 11. 
xx. 15. xxxi. 10. Lam. iv. 7. In 
the New Testament the king- 
dom of heaven is compared to 
' a pearl of great price,' Matth. 
xiii. 46. 

PECOD. See Merothaim. 

PEKAH, the son of Rema- 
liah, was general of Pekahiah 
king of Israel's army. 

PEL ATI AH. See Zedekiah. 

PELEG. or Phalec, the son 
400 



PER 

of Eber, and brother of Joktan. 
He had iliis name given him, 
because in his days the language 
of men was confounded, and 
they were divided. 

PELICAN, an aquatic bird 
of a large size, and of a colour 
approaching to white ; except on 
the middle of the hack, where 
the feathers are blackish, and on 
the neck where they are yellow- 
ish. The bill is long, and hook- 
ed at the end, and has beneath 
it a loose membrane, reaching 
to the throat, which is very ca- 
pacious. As the female feeds 
her young from this sack, it has 
the appearance of feeding them 
with her own blood ; a vulgar 
opinion, which has been long in 
existence. The voice of this bird 
is harsh and unpleasant ; there- 
fore David compares his com- 
plaining to the voice of the pe- 
lican, Psal. cii. 6. Lev. xi. 18. 
Deut. xiv. 17. Isaiah xxxiv. 11. 
Zeph. ii. 14. 

PEN, an instrument for writ- 
ing with. It is probable that the 
ancient Jews and others used a 
kind of pencil, of reed, wood, or 
the like, for writing on linen, 
Judg. v. 14. 

PENIEL, or Penuel, a place 
on the east of Jordan, near the 
brook Jabbok; so called, because 
here Jacob, in his wrestling, 
saw the face of God,or enjoyed 
familiar fellowship with him, 
Gen. xxxii. 24— 2& 

PENINAH. See Hannah. 

PENTECOST. See Feast. 

PENNY, a Roman coin,equal 
in value, to about twelve and a 
half cents of our money. 

PERFECTION, is, (1.) The 
full ripeness of fruit, Luke viii. 
14. (2.) The most excellent 
things on earth, as honour, 
wealth, pleasure, learning; and 
to see an end of this, is to see 
how insufficient it, or any thing 
but God himself, is, to satisfy 
an immortal soul, Psal. cxix. 96. 
(3.) The more mysterious prin- 
ciples of the Christian faith 



R2 



34* 



PER 
Heb. vi. 1. (4.) The full mea- 
sure and degree of excellence, 
holiness, or happiness, 2 Cor. 
xiii. 9. 

PERFUME, what gives an 
agreeable smell. In the East, 
perfumes were used to testify 
great respect, Dan. ii. 46; and 
at visits, perfuming of the guests 
is the token of bidding them 
adieu. The Hebrews had two 
sacred perfumes, one of incense, 
and the other an oil, Exod. xxx. 
23—38. They dealt much in 
perfuming dead bodies, clothes, 
beds, &c. Gen. xxvii. 27. Song 
iii. 6. Prov. vii. 17. Psal. xlv. 8. 
See Embalming. Spices. 

PERGA, an inland city of 
Pamphylia, on the river Cays- 
trus, near to which on an emi- 
nence, stood a temple of Diana. 
It was famed for the birth of 
Apollonius, the renowned geo- 
metrician. Here Paul and Bar- 
nabas preached, Acts xiii. 14. 
xiv. 25 ; and to the end of the 
eighth century we find a Chris- 
tian church here, sometimes not 
a little eminent. It is at pre- 
sent of little or no importance. 
There was another Perga in 
Epirus. 

PERGAMOS, a city of pro- 
consular Asia, on the river Cai- 
cus, about 40 miles north-west 
of Thyatira, and 64 northward 
of Smyrna, and in a country 
very fertile of corn. The place 
was famed for a temple to Es- 
culapius, the god of physic; and 
more so for the famed library of 
200,000 volumes, collected by 
Attalus, one of its kings. 

PERRIZITES, a tribe of the 
ancient Canaanites ; so called, 
perhaps, because they dwelt in 
unwalled villages. They seem 
to have been dispersed among 
the other tribes, as near Bethel, 
Genesis xiii. 7; and in mount 
Ephraim, Josh. xvii. 15. Judg. 
iii. 5. 

PERSIA, or Elam, an ancient 
kingdom in Middle Asia, on the 
south of Media, and south-east 



401 



PER 

of Assyria and Chaldea. The 
Persians were anciently called 
Eiamites, and sprung from Elam, 
the eldest sen of Shem, and their 
original residence was called 
Eiymais. Chedorlaomer, one of 
their first kings, was a noted 
conqueror, Gen. xiv. Even in 
the time of Cyrus, Persia seems 
to have been a country of no 
greatextent, and of little wealth; 
but possessed a temperate, har- 
dy, well-disciplined set of inha- 
bitants, who were brought up 
with a strict regard to the prin- 
ciples of justice, if we may ere 
dit the account which Zenophon 
has given us in his Cyropaedia. 
But after Gyrus and his sucee.s- 
rors, who were Persians, ascend 
cd the throne of Babylon, the 
whole empire, by degrees, re- 
ceived the name ' Persian ;' and 
reached from Egypt to the 
Ganges; and included, in the 
reign of Ahasuerus, 120 pro- 
vinces. Upon the invasion of 
Alexander the Great, the Per- 
sian empire was overthrown. 
For a long time, Persia was 
united to Parthia, and consti- 
tuted a principal part of that; 
formid;ib ; e empire. This con- 
nexion lasled from the year B. C. 
250, until A. D. 220. In the year, 
of o;ir Lord 622, Heraclius in-! 
faded Persia and drove Chos-j 
roes from his throne and his 
kingdom ; after which there was 
a period of unusual trouble and 
confusion in that region ; when 
Persia fell under the dominion 
of the Saracens, Ji. D. 641, un-| 
der Omar, and remained subject 
to the Caliphs of Bagdad, for 
615 years, when it was conquered 
by Zengbis Kan, and 130 years 
afterwards by Timour or Ta- 
merlane. For some time, the 
Persians have been governed by 
their own kings; but no country 
ins ever been the theatre of 
more cruelty and confusion ; but 
still it has, as a country, retain- 
ed its name and integrity ; and 
Mr. Morier is of opinion, that 



PET 

the manners described in the Bi- 
ble, are no where upon earth so 
perfectly retained as in Persia, 
of which he gives many illustra- 

PESTILENCE. See Plague, 
PETER, the son of Jonas, 
and brother of Andrew, was a 
native of Bethsaida; his origi- 
nal name was Simon; but Jesus 
called him Cephas or Peter, i.e. 
a stone or rock, to mark his need 
of steadiness in his faith and 
practice. He married a woman 
of Capernaum ; and had his mo- 
ther-in-law cured of a fever by 
our Saviour, Mark i,3l. Invited 
by Andrew Ins brother, he went 
and saw Jesus, and staid with 
him a night. About a year after, 
Jesus found them washing their 
nets, as they left off fishing on 
the sea of Gaiilee. He desired 
the use of their boat to sit in, 
and teach the people. After he 
had done so, to reward their 
kindness, and manifest his own 
power, he ordered them to cast 
their net into the sea for a 
draught. They had fished the 
whole night before, and caught 
nothing; but being obedient to 
our Saviour, they now caught 
such a multitude of fishes as 
loaded their own bo^it, and also 
that of James and John. Asto- 
nished at the draught, Peter de- 
sired our Saviour to depart, as 
he was too holy and great to stay 
in the company of one so sinful. 
Instead of fulfilling his stupid 
request, Jesus called Peter and 
Andrew, James nnd John, to be 
his disciples. John i. 40, 41, 42. 
Lukev. 1— 11. Matth. iv. Pe- 
ter was of a forward disposition, 
and more ready to speak than 
any of Christ's disciples; this 
might have been owing to his 
being the oldest among them, as 
we know that he was a married 
man before he became an apos- 
tle. When Christ came 1o his 
disciples in the night, walking 
on the sea. Pefer requested to 
be permitted to rome to him on 
402 






PET 

the water ; but his faith was not 
equal to his presumption, for he 
soon began to sink, and was 
constrained to cry for help 
When many of Christ's follow- 
ers withdrew, offended at his 
doctrines, and he said to his dis- 
ciples, ' Will ye also go away I 1 
Peter replied with promptitude 
and propriety, in the name of 
his brethren, 'Lord, to whom 
shall we go 1 thou hast the words 
of eternal life.' But the confes- 
sion which he made, when his 
Master asked the question, ' But 
whom say ye that I am V was 
indicative of strong faith. ' Thou 
art,' said Peter, ' the Christ, the 
Son of the living God.' On which 
occasion our Lord, in allusion to 
the import of his name, said, 
4 Thou art Peter, and on this 
rock will I build my church, and 
the gates of hell shall not pre- 
vail against it.' Peter was al- 
ways one of those selected by 
our Lord to accompany him, 
when he wished for the presence 
of only a few witnesses, as at 
the miracle of restoring to life 
the daughter of Jairus ; on the 
mount of transfiguration ; and 
in the place of our Lord's agony 
in Gethsemane. Peter at first 
refused to suffer his Master to 
wash his feet ; but when told, that 
unless he would submit he could 
have no part in him, he wished 
to have not only his feet, but his 
head and his hands washed also. 
His conduct in taking upon him- 
self to rebuke the Saviour, when 
he predicted his ignominious suf- 
ferings, betrayed a mind yet un- 
der the influence of the notions 
of an earthly kingdom, and was 
an officious arrogance, which 
deserved the severity of the re- 
proof which it drew forth from 
the lips of Jesus. His self-con- 
fidence and vain boasting, when 
our Lord predicted, that they all 
would forsake him, was altoge- 
ther incompatible with true hu- 
mility, or with due respect for 
the character of his Lord. His 



PET 
shameful conduct in thrice de- 
nying his Master in the presence 
of his enemies, and confirming 
his falsehood with oaths and im- 
precations is an instructive les- 
son of the weakness of man, and 
the feebleness of our own strong- 
est resolutions, if left to our own 
strength. But his speedy and 
bitter repentance shows, that the 
root of the matter was still in 
him, and that in accordance 
with the intercession of Jesus, 
his faith had not utterly failed. 
Christremembered him specially 
on the morning of the resurrec- 
tion, and sent to him a message 
by name ; and appeared to him 
in the course of the day. At the 
sea of Tiberias, Peter was gently 
admonished of his woful and re- 
peated sin, by having the ques- 
tion three times put to him, 
' Lovest thou me V We never 
read that he was reproached for 
his shameful conduct in any 
other way. On this occasion, 
also, he received an intimation 
from his Master, that he should 
have the honour of glorifying 
his name and showing his love, 
by dying as a martyr. When 
the disciples consulted about a 
successor to Judas, Peter ad- 
vised with wisdom, and was en- 
abled to give a just reple- 
tion, supported by scripture, of 
what was proper to be done. 
On the memorable day of Pente- 
cost, Peter was again the prolo- 
cutor of his brethren, whom he 
defended from the foul suspi- 
cions cast on them, as being 
drunken men. And new, filled 
with the Holy Ghost, which had 
come down upon them all w ; th 
mighty power, he delivered a 
discourse which was rendered 
sharper in the consciences of his 
hearers than any two-edged 
sword. Peter was now bold as 
a lion, and by him numerous 
miracles were wrought among 
the people. He and John, go- 
ing into the temple, healed a 
cripple who sat at the gate beg- 
403 



PET 

ging ; and when the people won- 
dered, he directed them to ascribe 
all the praise to the true author 
of the miracle, which was no 
other than Jesus Christ, in whose 
name they performed it. When 
arraigned before the rulers and 
priests, he and John boldly 
avowed the principle, that it was 
right to obey God, whatever man 
might command. Peter was the 
first who was selected to preach 
the gospel to the Gentiles. By 
a vision he was prepared for this 
new door of usefulness. But in 
general, he exercised his minis- 
try among them of the circum- 
cision. When James the bro- 
ther of John was slain by He- 
rod's order, to gratify the Jews 
still more, he put Peter also in 
prison, intending to have him 
executed after the feast ; but the 
angel of the Lord rescued hi 
Peter and Paul had more than 
one interview. When Paul first 
came to Jerusalem after his con- 
version, he conferred with Peter, 
and informed him of the nature 
of that gospel which he preach- 
ed among the Gentiles: but in 
the dispute at Antioch about the 
Mosaic rites, Peter was led 
astray by the fear of offending 
the Jewish converts who came 
down from Jerusalem; on which 
occasion Paul reproved him. He 
wrote two epistles; and is said 
to have superintended the writ- 
ing of Mark's gospel. Of the 
latter part of his life we have no 
record: the Romanists say, that 
he was first bishop of Antioch, 
then of Rome ; but the apostles 
were not bishops of any particu- 
lar church: their charge was 
Catholic. The common tradi- 
tion is, that Peter was crucified 
at Rome, with his head down- 
wards. 

PETHOR, or Pethora, the 
native place of Balaam, situated 
in Mesopotamia, about the east 
bank of the Euphrates, and not 
far from Thapsacus, Numbers 
xxii. 5. 



PHA 
PHARAOH, was long a com- 
mon name of the kings of Egypt, 
and is often added to other 
names. Josephus says, that in 
the old Egyptian language it 
signified king. It is certain, 
that in the Arabic language, it 
signifies one that excels all the 
rest, and in the Hebrew, signifies 
one that is free, or is arevenger. 
It is said, the Egyptians had 
sixty kings of the name of Pha- 
raoh, from Mizraim or Menes, 
to the ruin of their kingdom by 
Cambyses or Alexander. In 
scripture we have mentioned, 
(1.) That Pharaoh, who had his 
family smitten with plagues, for 
taking Sarah the wife of Abra- 
ham into it, Gen. xii. (2.) Pha- 
raoh, who had the dream por- 
tending the noted plenty and 
famine of Egypt ; who exalted 
Joseph, and kindly settled Ja- 
cob's family in Goshen, Gen. 
xli. — xlvii. (3.) Pharaoh, who 
began to oppress the Hebrews 
with hard labour ; and finding 
that ineffectual to stop their in- 
crease of number, ordered the 
midwives to kill every male 
child of theirs at the birth ; and 
finding that they disobeyed him, 
ordered all his subjects to des- 
troy the Hebrew male infants 
wherever they could find them. 
His daughter saved and educa- 
ted Moses, the Hebrew deliverer. 
Whether it was this Pharaoh, 
or his son, who sought to slay 
Moses after he had slain the 
Egyptian, we know not, Exod. 
i. ii. (4.) Pharaoh, from whom 
Moses demanded for the He- 
brews their liberty to go and 
serve their God ; and who, af- 
ter ten plagues on his kingdom, 
and frequent changes in his re- 
solution, was obliged to let them 
go ; and afterwards following 
them, was drowned with hia 
host in the Red Sea, Exod. v. — 
xiv. (5.) Pharaoh, who pro- 
tected, and gave his wife's sister 
in marriage to Harlad, the fugi- 
tive Edomite. Whether he was 
404 



PHA 

the father-in-law of Solomon, i 
who took Gezer from the Ca- 
natmites, and gave it as a por- 
tion with his daughter, we know- 
not, 1 Kings xi. iii. 1. ix. 16. 
(6.) Pharaoh-necho, the son of 
Psauimiticus, who fitted out 
great fleets in the Mediterranean 
Sea, marched a prodigious army 
to the Euphrates ; took Carche- 
mish; defeated Josiah in his 
way thither, and made Jehoahaz 
his prisoner, and set up Jehoia- 
kim for king of Judea in his re- 
turn home. In about four years 
after, his army at, Carchemish 
were entirely routed, the city 
taken, and the garrison put to 
the sword, and the fugitives 
pursued to the border of Egypt, 
by the Chaldeans, 2 Kings xxiii. 
xxiv. 2 Chron. xxxv. Jer. xlvi. 
(7.) Pharaoh-hophra, the grand- 
son of the former, reigned 25 
years, and was for awhile reck- 
oned one of the happiest of 
princes. He invaded Cyprus, 
and made himself master of al- 
most all Phoenicia. Depending 
on his assistance, Zedekiah re- 
belied against the king of Baby- 
lon. Pnaraoh sent an army to 
assist him against the Chaldeans, 
who were besieging his capital : 
but when the Cnaldeans march- 
ed to attack them, the Egyp- 
tians retreated home with pre- 
cipitation. About sixteen years 
after, the Chaldeans furiously 
invaded his country, murdered 
the inhabitants, and carried off 
their wealth. Just before, Pha- 
raoh had invaded Cyrene both 
by sea and land, and lost the 
bulk of his army in that at 
tempt. His subjects, enraged 
with his ill success, took arms 
against him, alleging thathe had 
ruined his army in order that he 
might rule in a tyrannical man 
nei. He sent Amasis, one cf 
his generals, to crush this rebel- 
lion. Whenever Amasis began 
to expostulate with the rebels, 
they clapped a helmet for a 
crown upon his head, and pro- 



PHA 

claimed him their king. Ama- 
sis then headed the rebels, and 
after various battles, took king 
Pharaoh prisoner. He would 
have treated him with kindness, 
but the people forced him out 
of his hands, and strangled him, 
Jer. xliii. 9—13. xliv. 30. 

PHARISEES, a famous seel 
which arose among the Jews 
after their return from their long 
aptivity in Babylon, and de- 
rives its name from a Hebrew 
word which signifies 'to sepa- 
rate ;' but the history of their 
origin is buried in obscurity. 
In the times of Jannaeus and 
Hyrcanus, they were numerous 
and powerful ; and often after- 
wards became very troublesome 
to the rulers of the common- 
wealth. Pride and hypocrisy 
were their prominent character- 
istics. They affected uncom- 
mon sanctity, and abounded in 
rites of purification, which they 
received on the authority of tra- 
dition ; but in many cases they 
made void the law of God by 
their superstitious observance 
of the commandments of men. 
They were reproved by our Sa- 
viour for many faults, particu- 
larly for ostentation in their 
prayers and alms; for pride in 
dress, salutations, titles, broad 
phylacteries, and taking the 
highest seats at feasts and in 
the synagogues. They are also 
charged with laying heavy bur- 
dens on the people, which they 
would not touch with one of 
their fingers ; and with shutting 
up the kingdom of heaven a- 
gainst men, neither entering 
themselves, nor suffering others 
to enter. They are denounced 
for making a cloak of their re- 
ligion, under cover of which 
they devoured widows' houses ; 
for being extremely punctilious 
about trivial matters, while they 
utterly neglected the weightier 
matters of the law. Or account 
of the detection of their hypocri- 
sy, and the open denunciation 
405 



PHCE 

of their crimes, they hecame al- 
most universally the bitter ene- 
mies of Christ, whom they often 
encountered in disputation, and 
attempted to ensnare by insi- 
dious questions. Atlengih they 
determined on taking away bis 
life, which, by the determinate 
council and foreknowledge of 
God, and with wicked hands 
and malignant hearts, they ac- 
complished. Their theological 
opinions were far more orthodox 
than those of the Sadducees ; as 
they believed in the resurrection 
of the body, and in a future" 
state of rewards and punish- 
ments, as also in the existence 
of angels and spirits. With 
these they held some errors, as 
the transmigration of souls, &.c. 

The Pharisees observed the 
Sabbath with a rigour which 
was not required by the law 
of God, and which was inconsis- 
tent with the gracious intention 
of its appointment. On this 
ground their most frequent ac- 
cusations of our Saviour were 
raised. But, in regard to this 
thing, he vindicated his own 
conduct, and proved that they 
were inconsistent and hypocriti- 
cal, Matt. v. 20. xv. xxiii. ix. 
14. 34. xvi. 6. Luke v. 30. vi. 
7. vii. 30. xi.39. xvi. 14. xv. 2. 
sviii. 11, 12. John i. 21. vii. 32. 
43. xi. 47.57. 

PHENICE, a harbour south- 
west of* the isle of Crete. 

PHOENICIA, a country on 
the shore of the Mediterranean 
Sea, on the north-west of Ca- 
naan and south-west of Syria, 
whose principal cities were Tri- 
poli, Botrys, Bybius, Bervtus, 
Ecdippa, Ptoiemais, Dora, Tyre, 
and Zidon. This country was 
anciently stocked with inhabit- 
ants descended from Canaan. 
The Zidonians, Arvadites, Ark 
ites, and perhaps the Zemarites 
and Sinites dwelt here. No 
doubt, in the time of Joshua and 
Barak, others of their Canaanit- 
ish brethren poured in upon 



PHI 

them. The overstocking of their 
country made them apply to 
navigation and trade. They, 
especially the Tynans and Zido- 
nians, had almost all the trade 
of the then known world. There 
was scarce a shore or isle of the 
Mediterranean Sea, where they 
did not plant colonies. The 
most noted of which was that 
of the Carthaginians, who once 
long contended with Rome. 
It is thought the Phoenicians 
pushed their trade as far as Bri- 
tain. It appears that they had 
settlements on the Red Sea and 
Persian Gulf. Sir Isaac New- 
ton thinks vast numbers of 
Edomites fled hither in the days 
of David, and carried their arts 
along with them. 

PHILADELPHIA, a city of 
Mysia, or Lydia, at the north 
foot of mount Timolus ; was so 
called, either from Attalus Phila- 
delphus, who at least mightily 
adorned, if he did not build it; 
or because there the Asian 
Greeks held their kind and bro- 
therly feast. It stood about 24 
miles east of Sard is, and 72 
from Smyrna. Here was a 
Christian church very early 
planted, to which John was di- 
rected to write a consolatory 
and directive epistle, Rev. hi. 
7 — 13. This was the last city 
in these quarters that submitted 
to the Turks, after a terrible 
siege of six years. We can 
trace the history of Christianity 
in this country for about 800 
years ; nay, at present, there 
are in it about 1 or 2000 Chris- 
tians. The present name of 
Philadelphia is Alasher, tke 
beautiful city. 

PHILEMON, a rich citizen 
of Colosse. He and his wife 
were very early converted to 
the Chribtian faith, by Paul or 
Epaphras; and the Christians 
held their meetings in his house. 

PHILIP, the apostle, was a 
native of Bethsaida. Havin? 
been by his brother introduced 
405 



PHI 



PHI 



to Jesus, and invited by Jesus -was, "under the Romans, divided 
to his lodging, he afterwards into four parts; and PhiKppi, 
brought Nathaniel to him, John ; probably belonged to the first of 
i. 43—51. To try him, Jesus; these divisions."' And a colony.' 
osked him how they could pro- 1 These words have also created 



cure bread for the 5000 men, be 
sides women and children 1 Phi- 
lip replied, that 200 pennyworth, 
or 61. 9s. sterling worth of bread, 
would not give each a scanty 
morsel, John vi. 5, 6, 7. He 
and his brother introduced the 
Greeks to Jesus, John xii. 21, 
22. 

Philip, the second of the se- 
ven deacons, Acts vi. 5. He 
seems to have resided at Cesa- 
rea, on the west of Canaan. En- 
dowed with the Holy Ghost for 
preaching the gospel, he, after 
the death of Stephen, went and 
preached in the country of Sa- 
maria, where he wrought mira- 
cles, and baptized not a few. 
Philip. See Herod. 
PHILIPPI, a city of Macedo- 
nia, anciently called Datos ; but 
being repaired by Philip, the fa- 
ther of Alexander the Great, it 
received its name from him. It 
stood to the north-west of Nea- 
polis, about 70 miles north-east 
of Thessalonica, and about 190 
west of Constantinople. It vvai 
rendered famous by the defeat 
of Brutus and Cassius, two no- 
ble Roman strugglers for liberty, 
in the neighbourhood. Here 
there was a Roman colony. 
Here Paul preached about Ji. f). 
52; and Lydia and many others 
were converted. In the Acts of 
the Apostles, iris said, l we came 
toPhilinpi, which is the chief city 
of that part of Macedonia,' Acts 
xvi. 11, 12. Now, as it is known, 
that Thessalonica was the chief 
city of Macedonia, which was 
far off, this passage has perplex- 
ed commentators not a little ; 
but Mr. H. Korne proposes, that 
the passage should be rendered 
4 a city of the first part of Mace- 
donia,' or Macedonia prima; 
for by means of medals, it has 
been discovered that Macedonia 



difficulty ; for in no history ex- 
tant, do we read that Philippj 
ever was a Roman colony : but 
in the event, this phrase furnish- 
es remarkable evidence of the 
accuracy of Luke, in matters of 
history ; for by an ancient medal 
it has been discovered, that Ju- 
lius Caesar bestowed the dignity 
and privileges of ' a colony,' on 
this very city of Philippi. Paul 
probably visited this place first, 
about the year 50, and after- 
wards about A. D. 57. Of all 
the churches planted by this 
apostle, none manifested to- 
wards him such a spirit of gra- 
titude, liberality, and kindness, 
as the church of the Philippians. 
One of his canonical epistles was 
addressed to the bishops, dea- 
cons, and members of thi3 
church, Phil. 1. 1, 2. iv. Acts 
xvi. xx. 6. 

PHILISTIA, or Palestine, is, 
with some writers, a name of 
the whole of Canaan ; but in 
scripture it means only a narrow 
strip of land along the sea-coast, 
in the south-west of Canaan, 
about 40 miles long, and except 
at the south part, scarce ever 
above 15 miles broad. Its cities 
were Gerar, Gaza, Majuma, As- 
kelon, Ekron, Ashdod,and Gath. 
The Philistines, and the Caph- 
torim, descended from Casluhim, 
the son of Mizraim, who peo- 
pled Egypt ; and their country is 
perhaps called the isle or coun- 
try of Caphtar, Jeremiah xlvii. 4. 
When they returned from Egypt, 
and settled in Canaan, we know 
not. It is certain their kingdom 
of Gerar was erected and go- 
verned by the Jtbimetechs x in the 
days of jlbraham and Isaac. 
Their territory was divided to 
the Hebrews: but they neglect- 
ing to take possession of it, the 
Philistines were made a severe. 
407 



PHI 

and lasting scourge to them, 
Josh. xiii. 2, 3. xv. 45, 46, 47. 
Judg. iii. 1, 2, 3. In the days of 
Shamgar, they ravaged the ad- 
jacent territories; but he mauled 
them, and killed 600 of them at 
once with an ox-goad, Judg. iii. 
31. In thedrtys of Jephthah they 
also ravaged the Hebrew terri- 
tories ; but perhaps the terror 
of his arms made them desist, 
Judg. xi.6. In the days of Sam- 
son and Eli, they, under their 
five lords or kings, for 40 years 
terribly tyrannized over the He- 
brews. Samson fearfully maul- 
ed them ; but by fraud they got 
him made their prisoner, though 
not so much to their profit at 
last. At the time of Eli's death, 
by defeating the Hebrews in 
sundry battles, and taking cap- 
tive the ark, they had reduced 
them to the very brink of ruin. 
The maiming of their idol Da- 
gon, and a plague of emerods, 
if not also of mice, attended the 
captive ark, and obliged them to 
Fend it back, with a present of 
the images of the emerods and 
mice in gold. Some time after, 
Samuel defeated them at Ebe- 
nezer, the Lord assisting the He- 
brews with thunder, ISam. iv — 
vii. Not long after the corona- 
tion of Saul, the Philistines, with 
a terrible hostof perhaps 300,000 
footmen and 6000 horsemen, and 
30,000 chariots for war or bag- 
gage, invaded the country of Is- 
rael. Newton thinks this host 
was so exceedingly swelled, es- 
pecially in carriages, by the re- 
turn of the Phenician shepherds 
from Egypt at that time. This 
huge army quite terrified the 
Hebrews, and at the same time 
they carried off all the smiths 
from the land of Israel, that no 
arms might be forged ; but by 
Jonathan, and his armour-bear- 
er, was the rout of this mighty 
host begun : and the Hebrews 
pursued them to the very bor- 
ders of their country. Not long 
after, the Philistines, along with 



PHI 

Goliath, invaded the Hebrew 
territories; but he being slain, 
the rest fled home with the ut- 
most precipitation, 1 Sam. xiii. 
xiv. xvii. As they continued the 
enemies of Saul, and made re- 
peated inroads into his kingdom, 
David, after giving them several 
checks, for some time sheltered 
himself among them, 1 Sam. 
xviii. xxiii. xxvii. xxix. About 
the end of Saul's reign they in- 
vaded the Hebrew territories, to 
the very heart of the country, 
killed Saul and his sons, and 
spread such terror among the 
Hebrews on the west of Jordan, 
that many of them left their 
dwellings, and took up their re- 
sidence in Giiead, 1 Sam. xxix. 
xxxi. David having taught his 
subjects the use of the bow, at- 
tacked the Philistines, and in 
sundry battles cut offtheir giants, 
and rendered them his tributa- 
ries, 2 Sam. v. viii. 1. 12. xxi. 
xxiii. 10. 12. 16. For about 150 
years they continued subject to 
the Jews. Nadab the son of 
Jeroboam, and some of his suc- 
cessors, carried on a war with 
the Philistines for the city of 
Gibbethon, 1 Kings xv. xvi. 
They formed a party in the com- 
bination against Jehoshaphat, 
Psal. lxxxiii. 7. In the reign of 
Jehoram they formally revolted; 
nor, though harassed by the Sy- 
rians under Hazael, were they 
reduced by the Jews till the reign 
of Uzziah, 2 Kings xii. 17. 2 
Chron. xxi. xxvi. In the dayB 
of Ahaz they again revolted ; 
invaded the low or west country 
of Judah, and took Bethshe- 
mesh, Ajalon, Gederoth, Sho- 
eho, and Gimzo, and sold the 
Jews to the Tyrians for slaves, 
2 Chron. xxvii i. 18. Isa. ix. 12, 
Joel iii. 6. Hezekiah reduced 
them to the lowest ebb; and 
took all their country to Gaza ; 
and by sword and famine vast 
multitudes of them were ruined, 
2 Kings xviii. 8. Isa. xiv. 29, 30. 
Their country was seized by the 
403 



PHR 

Assyrians, and was on that ac- 
count invaded by Psammiticus 
king of Egypt, Isa. xx. It was 
afterwards seized by the Chal- 
deans, the Persians, and Greeks, 
in their turn. Tryphon, the 
Greek usurper of Syria, gave it 
to Jonathan the Maccabee. — 
Alexander Janneus reduced it 
entirely, and obliged the inhabit- 
ants to submit to the Jewish re- 
ligion ; and about 140 years af- 
ter, many of them became Chris- 
tians, Amos i. 6, 7, 8. Isa. xiv. 
27—31. Jer. xxv. 20. 27. xlvii. 
Ezek. xxv. 15, 16, 17. Zeph. ii. 
1—7. Zech. ix. 5, 6, 7. Obad. 
19. Isa. xi. 14. Psal. lxxxvii. 4. 
Mr. Faber has rendered it ex- 
tremely probable, that the Phi- 
listines derived their origin from 
the Egyptians. 

PHILOSOPHY is the know- 
ledge of things founded on rea- 
son and experience. 

PHIXEHAS, the son of Elea- 
zer, and third high-priest of the 
Jews. 

Phinekas. See Eli. 

PHRYGIA, a country of Les- 
ser Asia, having the Mediterra- 
nean Sea and Hellespont on the 
north-west, Galatia on the east, 
and Lydia on the south. It was 
divided into two parts, the Les- 
ser Fhrygia on the west, and the 
Greater on the east. The prin- 
cipal cities of the western were, 
Troas, Cyzicus, Lampsacus, 
Abydos, Antandros, <fcc. Those 
of the Greater were Hierapolis, 
Colosse,Gordium, Lysias. Some 
Greek authors would have the 
Phrygians to have sprung from 
the'Bryges, a tribe of Macedo- 
nians ; but it is more probable 
they were the descendants of 



PHY 

The gospel was very early 
preached in Phrygia, and a 
church settled, which for many 
ages made a considerable ap- 
pearance, Acts xvi. 6. xviii. 23. 
Xor is Christianity yet quite abo- 
lished. 

PHUT, the third son of Ham. 
Calmet will have his posterity 
to have settled in the canton of 
Ptemphis in Lower Egypt, or in 
Phthenotis, whose capital wa» 
Buthus; but if they did so, w« 
are persuaded, they, in aftei 
times, removed westward to 
Mauritania, where we find tha 
region Phute ; and probably the 
Pythian Apollo is no other than 
Phut deified by his posteritv. 

PHYGELLUS and HER- 
MOGENES, were professed 
Christians of Asia. It is said, 
they were originally magicians ; 
but it is more certain that they 
forsook Paul in the time of his 
distress and imprisonment, 2 
Tim. i. 15. 

PHYLACTERIES, preserv- 
atives, they consisted of small 
pieces of parchment or skin, in 
which certain texts were writ- 
ten out of the law, and were 
fastened to the forehead by a 
string. The practice of using 
them was founded on a literal 
interpretation of that passage, 
where God commanded the He- 
brews to have the law as a sign 
on their foreheads, and as front- 
lets between their eyes, Exod. 
xiii. 16. It is probable that the 
use of phylacteries came in late 
with other superstitions; but it 
should be remembered, that our 
Lord does not censure the Pha- 
risees for wearing them, but for 
making them broad, out of 09- 



Gomer, by his son Askenaz, or j tentation ; and it is still uncer- 
Togarmah. The Phrygians had ; tain, whether the words referred 
anciently sovereigns of their own. j to, ought not to be taken literal- 



Those of Troy are not a little 
famous in the ancient fables. 
For about 2500 years past, they 
have been subject to the Ly- 
dians, Persians, Greeks, Ro- 
mans, and Turks, in their turn. 



ly. A phylactery was composed 
of four pieces of parchment; on 
the first of which w r a3 written 
Exod. xiii. 2—10; the second 
Exod. xiii. 11—21 ; on the third 
Deut. vi. 4—9 ; and on the fourth 
35 409 



PIL 

Dent. xi. 18 — 21. These pieces 
of parchment, thus inscribed, 
they inclosed in a piece of tough 
•kin, and bound them round their 
foreheads with a thong or rib- 
band, when they went to the 
synagogue. Some wore them 
evening and morning; and others 
only at the morning prayer. 

PHYSICIAN ; (1.) One who 
practises the art of medicine, 
Mark v. 26. (2.) An embalmer 
of dead bodies, Gen. 1. 2. (3.) 
Such as comfort and relieve from 
distress by their advice and coun- 
sel, Job xiii.4. 

PIHAHIROTH, the pass 
through which the Hebrews 
marched to the west bank of 
the Red Sea. 

PILATE PONTIUS, was 
probably an Italian, and was the 
successor of Gratus, in the go- 
vernment of Judea, A. D. 26 or 
27. He was a most obstinate, 
passionate, covetous, cruel, and 
bloody wretch, tormenting even 
the innocent, and putting peo- 
ple to death without so much as 
a form of trial. Taking offence 
at some Galileans, he murdered 
them in the court of the temple 
as they offered their sacrifices. 
This, as our Saviour hinted, 
was a prelude of the Jews be- 
ing shut up in their city, and 
murdered, when they assembled 
to eat the passover, Luke xiii. 
1, 2. Wicked as he was, his 
conviction of our Saviour's in- 
nocence caused him to try se- 
veral methods to preserve his 
life. His wife too sent him word 
to have nothing to do in con- 
demning him, as she had a ter- 
rible dream about him. He was 
the more intent to preserve him. 
When the Jews accused our 
Saviour of calling himself the 
Son of God, Pilate was the more 
afraid, as he suspected he might 
be so. They then cried out, he 
would be a traitor to Caesar if 
he dismissed Jesus. Dreading a 
charge of this nature, he washed 
his hands, and protested, that he 



PIN 

was innocent of Jesus's deathj 
and then condemned him to be 
crucified. Guided by Providence, 
he, instead of an abstract of the 
causes of condemnation, caused 
to be written on our Saviour's 
cross, This is Jesus of Naza- 
reth, the King of the Jews > 
which at once declared his inno- 
cence, royalty, and Messiahship; 
nor could all the entreaties of 
the Jews cause him in the least 
to alter the inscription. He rea- 
dily allowed Joseph the dead 
body to give it a decent inter- 
ment. He as readily allowed 
the Jews to seal and guard the 
sacred tomb ; and so our Sa- 
viour's resurrection became the 
more notorious. About three 
years after, Pilate, for his cruel- 
ty and oppression, was deposed, 
by Vitellus governor of Syria, 
and sent to Rome, to give an 
account of his conduct. Cali- 
gula the*emperor, soon after ba- 
nished him to Vienne in Gaul, 
where extreme poverty and dis- 
tress influenced him to put a 
wretched end to his own life. 

PILLAR ; (1.) A prop to sup- 
port a house or building, Judg. 
xvi. 25, 26. 29. (2.) A monument 
raised to commemorate a person 
or deed, Gen. xxxv. 29. 2 Sam. 
xviii.18. The pillars of the earth, 
are the foundations or rocks 
which support and strengthen it, 
Job ix. 6. The pillars of hear 
ven, are the mountains, on 
whose tops the skies seem to 
rest, Job xxvi. 11. 

The PINNACLE of the tem- 
ple can hardly be supposed to 
have been a spire on the top of 
it, as the top was set thick with 
golden pikes, that no birds might 
light thereon, and defile it; but 
rather some battlement, that sur- 
rounded part, if not the wholo 
of the roof, especially that to- 
wards the east, the height of 
which was dreadful, Matt. iv. 5. 
The word translated ' pinnacle,' 
signifies not a 'summit,' but a 
wing;' and the part of the tara- 
410 



PIS 

Sle to which our Lord was taken 
y Satan, was probably the ele- 
vation over the roof of Solo- 
mon's porch, which overlooked 
the valley on the east, and had 
beneath a perpendicular depth 
of several hundred feet ; for at 
this part of the valley a wall 
had been carried up to a level 
with the ground on which the 
temple stood. 

PINE-TREE, is somewhat 
akin to the fir. It yields a rosin 
and pitch, and the heart of it, 
when fully lighted, will burn as 
a torch. It thrives best in moun- 
tains and sandy places; and if 
its under branches are cut, it 
grows the higher. The Hebrews 
used branches of it to form their 
booths at the feast of taberna- 
cles, Neh. viii. 15. Isa. xli. 19. 
and lx. 13. 

PISGAH, the highest top of 
that chain of mountains called 
abarim, and a part of mount 
Nebo; and so Moses is some- 
times said to view Canaan from 
Nebo, and sometimes from Pis- 
gah, Deut. iii. 27. xxxiv. There 
were fine springs of water at its 
bottom,. called Ashdoth-pisgah, 
Deut. iv. 49. 

PISIDIA, a province of Lesser 
Asia, at the west end of mount 
Taurus, and on the south-west 
of Lycaonia, north of Pamphylia, 
and east of Caria and Ionia. It 
was anciently a populous coun- 
try. 

PISON, the name of the first 
branch of the river of Eden. 
This Calmet and Reland will 
have to be the Phasis, which 
they say runs northward through 
Colchis, (with them Havilah,) 
from near the head of the Eu- 
phrates, till at last it falls into 
the Euxine Sea : but these great 
men are egregiously mistaken ; 
for Phasis, instead of taking its 
rise near the head of the Eu- 
phrates, and running north-west, 
has its spring head about 300 or 
400 miles north of the head of 
the Euphrates, and runs south 



PLA 

j west into the Euxine Sea. We, 
with Bochart and many others, 
take Pison to be the western 
branch of the divided stream of 
the Tjgris and Euphrates, which 
runs along the side of Havilah 
in Arabia, Gen. ii. 1], 12. 

PIT; (1.) A natural or artifi- 
cial hole in the ground of some 
considerable extent. The Asiatic 
nations used to shut up their 
captives in pits all night ; and the 
Africans serve their slaves so 
still, Is. xxiv.22. (2.) The grave, 
which is digged like a pit, PsaL 
xxx. 3. (3.) Hell, where the 
damned for ever sink into de- 
spair, perplexity, and ruin, Rev. 
xx. 1. (4.) Great distress and 
misery, spiritual, temporal, or 
eternal, Isa. xxxviii. 17. Matth. 
xii. 11. 

PITCH, a kind of rosin for 
plastering ships, and securing 
them against drawing water. 
That with which Noah overlaid 
his ark, was perhaps the same 
as slime, or bitumen, Exod. ii. 3^ 
Isa. xxxiv. 9. 

PITHOM and RAME3E3, 
were the two cities, for the build- 
ing of which the Hebrews made 
brick. Whether they were erectr 
ed for treasure cities, or for fron- 
tier-cities, for securing against 
the departure of the Hebrews, 
and against the inroads of the 
Amalekites and Philistines, is 
not agreed. Nor is it agreed 
where these cities stood. Some 
would have Pithom to be Pelu- 
sium ; but it is more probable it 
was Pathumos, which stood al- 
most straight west of the north 
end of the Red Sea; and Dr. 
Shaw thinks, Ramesas stood 
where Cairo is now built. Gen. 
xlvii. 11. Exod. i. 11. 

PLAGUE; any great distress 
or calamity, Psal. xci. 10. But 
the plague of the heart, is the 
inward corruptions thereof, 1 
Kings viii. 38. The seven last 
plagues, are those that shall 
come on the Anti-christians, for 
their ruin, Rev. xxi. 9. 
411 



PLU 

Pestilences were, and still are, 
very common in Asia and Africa. 
By a kind of pestilence were the 
first-born of Egypt cut off, Psal. 
ixxviii. 50. 

A pestilent fellow, is one suf- 
ficient to corrupt and ruin a 
multitude, Acts xxiv. 5. 

PLANETS. See Star. 

PLEDGE, a pawn which a 
lender takes from a borrower, to 
secure the payment of his money. 
No millstone was ever to be 
*aken in pledge : the widow's ox, 
or a person's clothing for body 
or bed, was not at all to be 
taken, or at least to be restored 
that very night. No Hebrew was 
to take a pledge from a poor 
man of their own nation, nor to 
go into the borrower's house to 
take a pledge for himself; but 
the borrower was to bring out to 
him what could be best spared, 
Exod. xxii. 26. Deut. xxiv. 10 
—17. Ezek. xviii. 7—12. 16. 

PLEIADES, that cluster of 
stars, which we call the seven 
stars,in the neck of the constel- 
lation Taurus. They appear 
about the end of March. 

PLOUGH, a well-known in- 
strument for tilling of ground. 
Those of the east are so light, 
that two cows or two asses, and 
often one, may draw them. To 
put one's hand to the plough 
and look back, signifies to en- 
gage in Christ's service, particu- 
larly that of the ministry, and af- 
terwards turn away to a worldly 
or wicked course, Luke ix. 62. 
The ploughshare, is that part of 
it which cuts and turns up the 
tilled ground, Is.ii. 4. Toplough, 
(1.) To till the ground. (2.) To 
labour in a calling or work, 1 
Cor. ix. 10. Prov. xx. 4. 

PLUMB-LINE, that on which 
the plummet of masons and car- 
penters hangs, for discovering 
theexactness of their work. The 
Lord sets a plumb-line in the 
midst of his people, and lays 
judgment to the line, and righ- 
teousness to the plummet, when 



POM 

he manifests how disagreeable 
their conduct is to the rule of his 
word, and executes just judg- 
ment upon them, Amos vii. 7, 8. 
Isa. xxviii. 17. 

rOETS, such as compose 
songs or verses in metre, Acts 
xvii. 28. 

A POLL, a head, Num. i. 2. 

POMEGRANATE-TREE, is 
of the apple kind. Its breadth 
is greater than its height. Its 
wood is hard and knotty; its 
bark is reddish; its leaves are 
greenish, inclining to red, and 
somewhat like those of myrrh. 
Its blossoms are large, comely, 
and reddish ; and the cup formed 
by them is of the form of a bell. 
When the flowers are double, no 
fruit follows. Wild pomegra- 
nate-trees are more prickly than 
the cultivated kind. The pome- 
granate-apple is extremely beau- 
tiful, reddish both within and - 
without. Its juice is like wine, 
mixed with little kernels; nay, 
wine is frequently made of it, or 
mixed with it, Song viii. 2. It 
appears to have been anciently 
used to give a flavour to meats 
and liquors, till the juice of 
lemons and oranges has almost 
superseded it. Deut. viii. 7, 8. 
Num. xx. 5. xiii.23. ISam. xiv.2. 

The pomegranate is as large 
as our common apples, is round, 
and replete with a refreshing 
liquor, which is excellent for 
quenching thirst. The value set 
on this fruit may be learned 
from the fact, that it was among 
the productions of Canaan 
brought to the camp of Israel by 
the spies, Num. xiii. 23. xx. 5. 
It was also one of the things the 
privation of which, produced 
strong regret in the people when 
in the wilderness. It is classed 
by Moses, with wheat and bar* 
ley, the vine, and fig, oil-olive, 
and honey, Deut. viii. 8; and 
finally, was honoured with a 
place at the bottom of the high- 
priest's robe, Exod. xxviii. 33. 
The pomegranate comes to great 
412 



POR 

perfection in the southern part 
of the United States. 

POXTUS, a province in Asia 
Minor, bounded on the north 
with the Euxine, and on the 
south with Cappadocia. 

POOR. Men are poor, (1.) 
In outward condition, having 
scarcely whereupon to live. As 
these are ready to be overlooked, 
despised, and injured by men, 
God claims the peculiar inspec- 
tion of them, Prov. xiv. 31. Un- 
der the Jewish dispensation, he 
accommodated almost every 
kind of offering to the case of 
the poor; he charged to take 
special notice of them ; he ap- 
pointed the gleanings of fields 
and vineyards, and the increase 
of the seventh year, and part of 
the third tithe, to be their's, Lev. 
xxv. 25 — 47. xix. 10. Christians i may be got to run express with 



POT 

tive places, 1 Chr. xxiii. 5. xxvr. 
They resided at Jerusalem and 
its environs, and were a kind of 
militarv guards to the temple, 
Neh. vii. 73. 

POST; (1.) A pillar, such as 
those which support the upper 
lintels of doors or gates, Exod. 
xii. 7. Judg. xvi. 37 The Jews 
set up their posts by God's post, 
when they valued and observed 
their idolatries and traditions on 
a level with his statutes and 
worship, Ezek. xliii. 8. (-2.) A 
courier or swift messenger, for 
riding or running with letters, or 
other intelligence. Some foot- 
posts in Barbary are said to run 
150 miles in 24 hours. In many 
countries in Asia and Africa no 
posts like ours are established; 
hut for a small price a messenger 



are also charged to provide for 
them ; and a blessing is promised 
on such as wisely consider their 
case and help them, Gal. ii. 10. 
Psal. xli. 1, 2, 3. Prov. xix. 7. 
Judges are charged to do them 
justice, but not unjustly to fa- 
vour them for their poverty, Ps. 
lxxxii. 4. Exod. xxiii. 3. Lev. 
xix. 15. 

POPLAR ; this name is twice 
found in our version, Gen. xxx 



letter. To convey intelligence 
quickly, the Persian king3 had 
centinels placed at proper dis- 
tances, who, by crying one to 
another, gave notice of public 
occurrences. This method, how- 
ever, was quite improper for 
secrets. Cyrus therefore settled 
pests that rode night and day, in 
the manner of ours, Esth. iii. 13. 
The Asiatics and others had 
also pigeons which carried let- 



37. Hos. iv. 13; but it is not easy ters, especially from besieged 
to determine what species of cities. They had posts in Baby- 
tree is intended. The Hebrew i Ion, that run from one part of 
word signifies, 'white,' and : the city to another, Jer. Ii. 31. 



therefore, the poplar has been 
fixed on, the leaves of which are 
white. 

PORCH, an entrance to a 
lodging, Judg. iii. 23. The ori- 



Man's life is swifter than a post, 
continually hurries on to an end. 
Job ix. 25. 

POT. The Orientals put their 
earthen pots into holes in their 



entals receive visits in them both houses or tents, about a foot and 
in summer and winter, and dis- ■ a half deep; by which means, a 
patch business; and great men i few thorns, a little dried dung, 
admit few any farther, except on straw, <fcc. make them quickly 



extraordinary occasions, Ezek. 
xxxiii. 30. Esther iv. 11. 



boil, Eccl. vii. 6. Psal. lviii. 9. 
Job xli. 31. Micah iii. 3. Zech. 



PORTERS, such as keep the xiv.21.To lie among the pots, is 
gates of a city or house, and to be exceedingly defiled, en- 
shut or open the same when it is slaved, and distressed, Ps. lxviiu 
proper. David appointed 4000 13. 

of the Levites to be porters in A POTSHERD, is a piece of 
the temple, each in their respec- a broken earthen vessel, Job iu8 % 
35* 413 



PRI 

A potter, is one that makes 
pots, or earthenware, Jer. xviii.3. 

POTENTATE, a powerful 
ruler. God is the only Potentate, 
King of kings, and Lord of lords; 
he is the sole Supreme ruler of 
all persons and things, 1 Tim. 
vi. 15. 

POTIPHAR, an officer of 
Pharaoh, the second in our list. 
Some will have him to he his 
general, or captain of his guard ; 
others will have him the chief 
of his cooks or butchers. He 
bought Joseph from the Midian- 
ites, and rinding every thing 
prosper in his hand, he conceived 
an affection for him, and com- 
mitted to his care the whole 
management of his household 
affairs. 

Whether Potipherah, priest or 
prince of On, and father-in-law 
of Joseph, was the same as the 
above Potiphar, is controverted. 
We think him a different person. 
On was about 45 miles distant 
from Zoan* where Pharaoh and 
Potiphar dwelt. Potipherah ap- 
pears to have been one of the 
greatest men in Egypt, which 
Potiphar does not. 

POTTAGE, in the east, is 
made by boiling a little flesh cut 
into small pieces, along with 
rice, flour, parsley, &c. 2 Kings 
iv. 39. Prov. xv/l7. Notwith- 
standing their large flocks and 
herds, the Orientals eat but little 
fiesh, Prov. xxiii. 20. 

TOrXD, the same as the 
J\Ianeh. See Talent. 

PREACH. See Gospel. To 
preach, is loudly to proclaim the 
will of God, as his appointed 
heralds, Eph. iii. 8. 

PRESBYTERY, a court of 
ecclesiastic elders, for ordain 
ing officers and governing the 
<Jiurch, 1 Tim. iv. 14. 

PRESIDENTS, chief rulers 
■who govern and direct subordi- 
nate ruler?, Dan. vi. 2. 

PRIEST. The word Cohen, 
signifies one that intercedes, or 
deals familiarly with a sovereign. 



PRI 

When it relates to civil things, 
it denotes such as are chief and 
intimate rulers under a king, 1 
Chr. xvii. 18. When it relates to 
religion, Cohen signifies a priest, 
or one who, by virtue of a divine 
appointment, offers sacrifices, 
and intercedes for guilty men. 
Before the consecration of 
Aaron, fathers, elder brothers, 
princes, or every man for him- 
self, offered his sacrifice, as is 
clear in the case of Abel, Cain, 
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 
Job. When God at Sinai ratified 
his covenant with the Hebrews, 
young men, perhaps the eldest 
sons of their princes, officiated 
as priests, Exod. xxiv. 5, 6. The 
whole Hebrew nation are called 
priests, because they were de- 
voted to God, and much em- 
ployed in his service, Exod. xix. 
6. In the consecration of Aaron 
and of the tabernacle, Moses 
acted as priest* Exod. xl. Lev. 
viii. After which, the priest- 
hood, in ordinary cases, pertain- 
ed solely to the family of Aaron; 
and Korah, Uzza, and king 
Azariah, were severely punished 
for interfering with their work: 
but some extraordinary persons, 
as Gideon, Samuel, and Elijah, 
in extraordinary cases, offered 
sacrifice, Judg. vi. 1 Sam. vii. 
ix. xvi. 1 Kings xviii. 

Priesthood; (l.)The office of 
a priest, Numb. xvi. 10. The 
anointing of Aaron and his sons, 
was an everlasting priesthood; 
it secured to them and their seed 
the office of priests for many 
generations, Exod. xl. 15. Num. 
xxv. 13. Christ's priesthood is 
unchangeable, as it never pass- 
eth from him to another, Heb. 
vii. 24. (2.) The execution of 
this office : and the iniquity of 
the priesthood, is what was 
committed in performing the 
work of that office, Num. xviii. 
1. (3.) A class of priests: so the 
saints are a holy and royal 
priesthood; a company of spi- 
ritual priests, washed in Jesus's 
414 



PRO 

blood, sanctified by his word and 
Spirit, and all of them kings 
and priests to God, 1 Peter ii. 
5.9. 

PRINCE, one who, whether 
as the son of a king or other- 
wise, is possessed of high rule 
and authority. When the He- 
brews came out of Egypt, they 
had twelve princes to govern 
their twelve tribes. These prin- 
ces, on twelve several days, of- 
fered their oblations for the dedi- 
cation of the tabernacle. The 
offering of each was one silver 
charger of 130 shekels weight, 
one silver bowl of 70 shekels, 
both of them full of fine flour 
mingled with oil, for a meat- 
offering; one golden spoon of 
ten shekels, full of incense ; one 
bullock, one ram, and one lamb 
for a meat-offering ; one kid for 
a sin-offering; and two oxen, 
five rams, five he-goats, and as 
manv lambs, for a peace-offer- 
ing, Num. i. 5—16. vii. 12—89. 
Ten princes of the congregation, 
along with Joshua and Eleazar, 
were appointed to divide the 
land of Canaan westward of 
Jordan, Numb, xxxiv. 17, 18, 19. 
David had twelve princes, who 
commanded the standing militia 
in their respective months ; and 
Solomon had twelve princes, 
who provided for his family. 
David's princes contributed 
largely towards the expenses of 
building the temple. Jehosha- 
phat's were aetive in reforming 
the country; and those of Joash 
active in corrupting it with ido- 
latry. Hezekiah's princes were 
active in his reformation, and 
gave to the people for offerings 
at the solemn passover, 1000 
bullocks and 10,000 sheep. Jo- 
siah's princes did much the 
same, 1 Chr. xxix. 6, 7, 8. 2 Chr. 
xvii. xx. xxiv. 17, 18. xxx. xxxv. 
xxxv. 

PRISON, a place for confin- 
ing mad people, or evil doers, 
Luke xxiii. 19. 

PROFANE, not holy, but al- 



PRO 

lowed for common use, Ezek, 
xlii.20. xlviii.15. 

PROFESSION is either, (1.) 
The truths of God, which we 
openly avow our belief of, and 
adherence to; or, (2.) Our act 
of boldly avowing these truths, 
Heb. iii. 1. iv. 14. x. 23. 

PROMISE ; (1.) An engage- 
ment to bestow some benefit, 2 
Pet. ii. 19. So God's promise is 
his declaration of his readiness 
to bestow his favours on men, 1 
Kings viii. 56. (2.) The good 
thing promised: so the Holy 
Ghost, in his saving and miracu- 
lous operations, is the promise of 
the Father, Acts i. 4. Eternal 
life in heaven is called the pro- 
mises : it is the thing promised in 
many of them, Heb. vi. 12. The 
promise to the Jews and their 
seed, and every one called by the 
gospel, is God's offer and en- 
gagement to be their God, and 
to render them his people, Acts 
ii. 39. 

Some promises relate to out- 
ward things, as of health, 
strength, food, raiment, peace, 
comfort, success to men and to 
their kindred, Prov. iii. 7, 8. Ps. 
ciii. 5. xxxvii.3. 11. Deut. x. 18. 
Job v. 24. Psal. xci. 10. cxxi. 8. 
Job xi. 18, 19. Prov. iii. 24. PsaL 
cxxviii. 2, 3. Deut. xxviii. 4, 5. 
12. Ps. i. 3. ciii. 17. cii. 28. xlv. 
16. xxxiv. 15, 16. Isa. lvii. 1. 
Prov. x. 7. 22. Ps. xxiii. 5, 6. Job 
xxii. 24, 25, 26. Deut. viii. 10. 
Joel ii. 26. Gen. xii. 2. Deut. 
xxvi. 11. Some promises relate 
to God's preventing, moderating, 
and shortening men's affliction, 
supporting them under and de- 
livering them from afflictions, 
and bringing good out of them, 
Ps. cxxi. 7. Job v. 19. Isa. xxviL 
8. Jer.xlvi.28. Ps.xxv.3. Mark 
xiii. 19, 20. Gen. xv. 1. Ezek. 
xi. 16. Psal. xxxvii. 24. 1 Cor. 
xii. 9. Isa. xliii. 2. Psal. xli. 3. 
Deut. vii. 15. Exod. xxiii. 25, 
Matt. xix. 29. x. 39. v. 11, 12. 
1 Pet. iv. 19. Psal. xii. 5. lxviii. 
5. Jer. xxxiii. 3. Isa. xxvii. 9 
415 



PRO 

Psal. cvii. 11. Zech. xiii. 9. But 
the principal promises relate to 
the spiritual good things: as of 
union to Christ, Hos. ii. 19, 20. 
Isa. liv. 5 ; of the Spirit, Ezek. 
xxxvii. 27. Prov. i. 23 ; justifica- 
tion, Isa. i. 18. xliii. 25. xliv. 22. 
xlv. 24, 25; adoption, Jer. iii. ]9. 
2 Cor. vi. 18; sanctification, 
change of nature and life, Ezek. 
xi. 19, 20. xxxvi. 26, 27 ; of spi- 
ritual knowledge, Prov. ii. 3 — 8. 
James i. 5 ; of faith, John vi. 37. 
Eph. ii. 8; of repentance, Rom. 
xi. 26. Ezek. xvi. 62, 63. xx. 43 ; 
of love to God, 2 Thess. iii. 5. 
Deut. xxx. 6; of filial fear of 
God, Hos. iii. 5. Jer. xxxii. 39, 
40: of new obedience, Deut. 
xxx. 8; of hope, 2 Thess. ii. 16. 
Rom. xv. 4; of peace and joy, 
Isa. lvii. 18, 19. xxvi. 3. Psal. 
lxiv. 10. xcvii. 11, 12; and of 
unfailing perseverance in a state 
of ffrace, Jer. xxxii. 39,40. John 
iv. 14. xvi. 24. x. 27, 28 ; of a 
happy death, Rev. xiv. 13; and 
of eternal happiness, Isa. xxxv. 
10. 2 Tim. iv. 8. Some promises 
are permanent, fulfilling in every 
age: and others are periodical, 
fulfilled in certain particular 
periods; and so are prophecies, 
us they fcretel what is future; 
but promises, as they ascertain 
the bestowal of good. 

PROPHECY, (1.) A declara- 
tion of future things, Neh. vi. 12. 
(2.) A declaration of hidden, 
obscure, and important things, 
Prov. xxx. 1. (3.) The preaching 
of the gospel, 1 Tim. iv. 14. Rom. 
xii. 6. (4.) The gift of explaining 
obscure passages of Scripture, 
or of foretelling things to come, 
] Cor. xii. 10. xiii. 8. 

A Prophet is, (1.) One who 
foretels future events, Amos iii. 
7. (2.) One who explains obscure 
mysteries or passages of Scrip- 
ture, under a peculiar direction 
of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. xvi. 26. 
(3.) One who is under special 
influence of the Spirit, 1 Sam. 
xix. 20. (4.) A false pretender to 
speak under inspiration, Jer. 



PRO 

xxix. 21; and so the Heathen 
poets are called prophets, be- 
cause they were supposed to 
speak under divine influence, 
Tit. i. 12. (5.) One who declares 
the mind of another to the peo- 
ple, so Aaron was the prophet 
of Moses, Exod. vii. 1. (6.) The 
inspired books of the Old Testa- 
ment are called the prophets, 
besides the books of Moses, or 
besides these and the Psalms, 
Luke xvi. 31. xxiv. 27. 44. An- 
ciently prophets were called 
seers, because they had more 
knowledge than others, 1 Sam. 
ix. 9. Sometimes God revealed 
his mind to his prophets by 
dreams, voices, visions: or some- 
times he did it by an efficacious 
impression of his will on their 
understanding, and an excite- 
ment of their will to declare it 
to others. Enoch, Noah, Abra- 
ham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Mo- 
ses, Aaron, Samuel, Gad, Na- 
than, David, Solomon, Iddo, 
Ahijah, Shemaiah, the man of 
God from Judah, Azariah, 
Hanani, Jehu, Elijah, Micaiah, 
Eleazer, Elisha, Jonah, Amos, 
Hosea, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, 
Obed, Nahum,Habakkuk,Zeph- 
aniah, Jeremiah, Urijah, Eze- 
kiel, Obadiah, Daniel, Haggai, 
Zechariah, Malachi, Zacharias, 
Simeon, John Baptist, and Aga- 
bus, are marked as true and 
pious prophets. — A prophetess, 
signified not only the wife of a 
prophet, as Isa. viii. 3; but also 
a woman that foretold future 
things. Among these we may 
' reckon Miriam, Deborah, Han- 
'nah, Huldah, Elisabeth, the 
I Virgin Mary, Anna, and the 
four daughters of Philip the dea- 
' con. Among wicked prophets, 
real or pretended, we may 
reckon Balaam, and the old pro- 
phet of Bethel, who, pretending 
a revelation, decoyed the man 
of God from Judah to return and 
eat bread with him, and then 
foretold his death by a lion, for 
disobeying the contrary orders 
416 



PRO 

from God, 1 Kings xiii. Zede- 
kiah the son of Chenaanah, 
Hananiah, Shemiah, the Ne- 
helamite, Ahab the son of 
Kolaiah, Zedekiah the son of 
Maaseiah, Caiaphas, &c. Noa- 
diah, and Jezebel of Thyatira, 
were two pretended prophet- 
esses. When the priests about 
the time of Samuel, neglected 
the instruction of the people, 
schools of prophets were formed, 
wherein young men were piously 
educated, to prepare them for 
receiving the gift of prophecy. 
Such schools we find at Bethel, 
Gilgal, Najoth, Jericho, and Je- 
rusalem, &c. which were in- 
spected by Samuel, Elijah, Eli- 
sha, &c. ; but it does not appear 
that all these young men were 
ever inspired, I Sam. x. xi. xix. 
2 Kings ii. Whether the most of 
the noted prophets were anoint- 
ed, at their entrance on their of- 
fice, we know not. It is certain 
they generally lived in a very 
low and temperate manner. 
The presents given them were 
such as oil, bread, fruits, honev, 
2 Kings iv. 42. lSam.ix.7,8. x. 
3. Elijah had nothing but simple 
provision provided him, at the 
brook Cherith, and in the wi- 
dow's house, or in the wilder- 
ness of Judah. The 100 prophets 
whom Obadiah maintained in 
two caves, had no more but 
bread and water. The Shunam- 
ite provided nothing but mere 
necessaries for Elisba. As there 
were multitudes of true prophets, 
so there were no fewer false 
ones. Ahab and his wife had 
850 of them all at once ; and it 
appears from the prophecies of 
Hosea, Micah, Jeremiah, and 
Ezekiel, that the country of Is- 
rael and Judah then swarmed 
with them. The Hebrews were 
therefore required to try pre- 
tenders to prophecy in the most 
accurate manner. None were to 
be held for true prophets, except 
their prophecies were fulfilled, 
and also their doctrines and lives 



PRO 

tended to promote the hononr 
and service of God, Deut. xiii. 
Jer. xxviii. xxix. Moses was su- 
perior to the rest of the prophets. 
He appears to have been habitu- 
ally disposed to receive the reve- 
lations of God ; and to him, God, 
in a more familiar manner, ut- 
tered his mind, and revealed a 
complete system of rules for his 
worship, and which was but ex- 
plained and inculcated by a 
great deal of what was said by 
the rest, I)eut. xxxiv. 10. John 
Baptistwas more than a prophet^ 
as he pointed out Jesus Christ 
as already incarnate, Matt. xi.9. 
Paul, Peter, and John, may be 
called prophets, as there are in 
their writings a variety of pre- 
dictions, 2Thess. i. ii. lTim.iv. 
2 Tim. iii. iv. 1 Pet. iv. 2 Pet. ii. 
iii. Uohnii. Rev. iv — xxii. But 
Jesus Christ is called that Pro- 
phet, he was infinitely superior 
to all the rest in dignity of per- 
son, in extent of knowledge, in 
high authority, and efficacious 
instruction, John vi. 14. He was 
a Prophet like unto Jloses. 
How noted his meekness, his 
intimacy with God, and his faith- 
ful discharge of his work ! By 
him God revealed a whole sys- 
tem of gospel-worship ; and at 
what infinite hazard do men 
pise him! Deut. xviii. 15 — 19. 
Acts iii. 22. 

PROPITIATION, that which 
atones for and covers our guilt, 
as the mercy-seat did the tables 
of the law. Jesus Christ is called 
the propitiation or atonement, 
as his complete righteousness 
appeases his Father, and satisfies 
his law and justice for all our 
transgressions, Rom. iii. 25. 1 
John ii. 2. 

PROSELYTE, one that turn- 
ed from Heathenism to the Jew- 
ish religion, Acts ii. 10. Accord- 
ing to most authors, some were 
only proselytes of the gate, 
who, though they renounced the 
Heathen idolatries, observed 
what the rabbins call the sn a 
417 



precepts of Noah, and attended 
the Jewish instructions, yet 
were not circumcised, nor par- 
took of the passover. To these 
the Jews admitted hopes of eter- 
nal life, and they allowed them 
to dwell in Canaan ; and tc them 
they reckoned themselves allow- 
ed to sell the flesh of animals 
strangled or dying of themselves. 
Of this kind of proselytes we 
suppose Naaman, Cornelius, the 
Ethiopian eunuch, and Solo- 
mon's 153,600 servants. Others 
were proselytes of righteous- 
ness, or of the covenant; obliged 
to fulfil the whole law of Moses. 
At their admission, their motives 
influencing them to change their 
religion were examined, and they 
were instructed in the principles 
of Judaism. Next, if males, they 
were circumcised, and then bap- 
tized with water, by plunging 
them into a cistern, and then 
presented their oblation to the 
Lord. Their females were bap- 
tized, and then they offered their 
offering before God. No boys 
under 12 years of age, or girls 
under 13, were admitted, without 
the consent of their parents, or, 
if these refused, without the con- 
sent of the juoges of the place. 
After admission, children or 
slaves were accounted free from 
the authority of their parents or 
master. Some think, no Edom- 
ites or E yptians could be ad- 
mitted : .-' alytes till the third 
generalio :, and the Ammonites 
or Moabites not till the tenth. 
But we suppose this exclusion 
only deba' rod them from places 
of civil government, Deut. xxiii. 
1—8. 

PROVENDER, grain for 
beasts to eat. The Hebrews' 
provender seems to have been a 
mixture of chopped straw and 
barley, or of oats, beans, and 
peas, Gen. xxiv. 25. Isaiah xxx. 
24. 

PROVERB; (1.) A short sen- 
tence, containing much sense in 
it, Eccl. xii. 9. (2.) A short 



PSA 

taunting speech, Is. xiv. 4. Per 
sons or things become a proverb 
or by-word, when often men- 
tioned in a way of contempt and 
ridicule, 1 Kings ix. 7. 2 Chron. 
vii. 20. Proverbs were anciently 
very much in use, and were 
ordinarily a kind of short para- 
bles, Numb. xxi. 27. Solomon 
spoke 3000 proverbs; but many 
of these never being intended 
for a standard to the church, are 
now lost. Such as remain, are 
in the Hebrew called mishle 
parables, well pressed or ruling 
sentences. In the book of Pro- 
verbs, we have rules for every 
period and station of life ; for 
kings, courtiers, tradesmen, mas- 
ters, servants, parents, children, 
&c. 

PROVIDENCE. God's pro- 
vidence, is his holy, wise, and 
powerful management of his 
creatures, supporting them in 
their being and form, and go- 
verning them in all their actions, 
natural, civil, virtuous, or sinful, 
to the glory of his name, and the 
good of his people, Rom. xi. 36. 
Dan. iv. 24, 25. Providence ex- 
tends to every creature, but is 
chiefly versant about rational 
creatures, in giving them laws, 
in enabling them to obey, and 
remitting of sin, and in reward- 
ing or punishing in time and 
eternity, as is meet; and Christ 
and his church are the most 
peculiar objects thereof, Psal. 
cvii. Isa. 1. iii. liii. 

PSALM, a poetic composition 
adapted to music, vocal or in- 
strumentnl, but especially the 
latter. When psalms, hymns, 
and spiritual songs, are men- 
tioned together, psalms may de- 
note such as were sung on in- 
struments; hymns, such as con- 
tain only matter of praise ; and 
spiritual songs, such as contain 
doctrines, history, and prophecy 
for men's instruction, Eph. v. 19. 
The book of Psalms is one of 
the most extensive and useful 
in Scripture, suiting every case 
418 



PUB 

of the saints; and indeed, like 
their condition, which is at first 
much mixed with complaints 
and sorrows, and at last issues 
in high and endless praise. That 
David composed the most of the 
Psalms, is beyond doubt. He- 
man composed the 88th ; Ethan 
the 89th ; Moses the 90th. Whe- 
ther those under the name of 
Asaph were penned by one of 
that name, or whether they 
were only assigned to be sung 
by him, as others were to the 
sons of Korah, we cannot posi- 
tively determine. Some, as the 
74th, 79th, and I37th, appear to 
have been composed after the 
first captivity of Babylon. The 
rest, including these two marked 
with the name of Solomon, 
might be composed by David, 
who, on that account, is called 
the sweet psalmist of Israel, 2 
Sam. xxiii. 1. 

PSALTERY, a musical in- 
strument much used by the He- 
brews. It was made of wood, 
with strings fixed thereto. It is 
said to have been of a triangu- 
lar form, with a hollow belly, 
and with strings from top to bot- 
tom, which being touched with 
the finger or bow, gave a very 
agreeable sound, and to have 
differed little from the harp, 
only it was played on below, 
and the harp above. In Jose- 
phus's time, the psaltery or na- . 
blion had 12 strings. Our mo- ' 
dern psaltery is a flat instrument 
of a triangular form, strung from 
side to side with iron or brass 
wire, and played on with a kind 
of bow. 

PTOLEMAIS. See Accho. 

PUBLICAN, an inferior col- 
lector of the Roman tribute. ■ 
The principal farmers of this ; 
revenue were men of great ere- ; 
dit and influence ; but the un- 
der-farmers or publicans were 
accounted as oppressive thieves 
and pickpockets. As they were 
at once crual oppressors, the 
Jews detested them to the last 



PUN 

degree. If either farmers or 
publicans were convicted of op- 
pression, the Roman law order- 
ed them to restore fourfold, 
Luke xix. 8. Our Saviour 
showed a compassionate regard 
to the publicans, and told the 
Pharisees, who were enraged on 
account of it, that publicans and 
harlots, being more ready to re- 
ceive conviction, stood fairer to 
enter into the kingdom of God 
than themselves. Matthew, 
Zaccheus, and perhaps other 
publicans, became his disciples, 
Luke xv. 2. Matthew xxi. 31. 
Luke xviii. 10 — 14. xix. 1 — 10. 

PUBLIUS. See Melita. 

PUL : (1.) The first king of 
Assyria, who invaded Canaan, 
and by a present of 1000 talents 
of silver, was prevailed on by 
Menahem to withdraw his 
troops, and recognise the title 
of that wicked usurper, 2 Kings 
xv. 19. 

PULSE, coarse grain, as peas, 
beans, and the like, Dan. i. 12. 
Grains or seeds which grow in 
pods are so called, Levit. xxiii. 
14. Ruth. ii. 14. 1 Sam. xvii. 
17. 2 Sam. xvii. 28. 

PUNISHMENT, denotes 
whatever disagreeable is inflict- 
ed upon one for his faults, whe- 
ther in a way of proper wrath, 
or of kind correction, Lam. iii. 
39 ; but properly taken, it de- 
notes the infliction of deserved 
wrath, Matth. xxv. 46. It also 
denotes church-censure, for cor- 
recting and reforming offenders, 
2 Cor. ii. 6. In scripture, we 
find a variety of civil punish- 
ments, as, (1.) Retaliation, ac- 
cording to which, the offender 
was served as he had injured 
his neighbour, stripe for stripe, 
an eye for an eye, and a tooth 
for a tooth, &c. ; but this might 
be changed into some other satis- 
faction, as of monev, &c. Exod. 
xxi. 23, 24, 25. Deut. xix. 21. 
(2.) Fining, in a certain value 
or sum of money. To this may 
be reduced whatever part of re? 
419 



PUN 

titution was above the value of 
the principal, Exod. xxii. Lev. 
xxvii. ; and confiscation of goods 
to the king's use, Ezra vii. 26. 
(3.) Scourging. But among the 
Jews one was never to receive 
above fortv stripes at once, Deut. 
xxv. 1,2,3. 2 Cor. xi. 24. (4.) 
Imprisonment : sometimes in 
deed this was not a proper pun- 
ishment, but used as a means to 
retain persons ; so Joseph im 
prisoned all his ten brethren 
three days, and Simeon much 
longer, Gen. xliii. 16, 19. The 
blasphemer and the gatherer of 
sticks on the Sabbath-day were 
imprisoned till the Lord should 
declare their punishment, Lev. 
xxiv. 12. Numb. xv. 34. Some- 
times it was proper punishment, 
especially when attended with 
severities of another kind. Jo- 
seph was imprisoned and put in 
chains byPotiphar, Gen. xxxix. 

20. Psal. cv. 18. Samson was 
imprisoned by the Philistines, 
and meanwhile had his eyes put 
out, and was obliged to grind at 
their mill. Hoshea, Manasseh, 
Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Ze- 
dekiah, were all shut up in pri- 
son by their conquerors ; and 
the last had his eyes put out, 2 
Kings xvii. 4. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 
11. 2 Kings xxiv. 12. xxv. 7 — 
27. The prophet who rebuked 
Asa, Micaiah, Jeremiah, Peter, 
John, Paul, &c. were all put in 
prison for their faithfulness. 
Sometimes there was an impri- 
sonment at large, as when Paul 
had leave to dwell at his own 
hired house, with a soldier that 
kept him. Bonds, fetters, stocks, 
hard fare, &c. ordinarily attend- 
ed imprisonment. (5.) Pluck- 
ing out of the eyes. This hap- 
pened in the case of Samson 
and Zedekiah, and was intend- 
ed for the inhabitants of Jabesh- 
gilead, Exod. xxi. 24. Judg. xvi. 

21. 2 Kings xxv. 7. 1 Sam. xi. 
2. (6.) Cutting off particular 
members of the body, as of the 
toes or thumbs : so Adonibezek 

420 



PUR 

served 70 of his fellow kings of 
Canaan, and at last was so used 
by the Hebrews himself, Judges 
i. 5, 6, 7. Baanah and Rechab 
who murdered Ishbosheth, had 
first their hands and feet cut off, 
and then were hanged, 2 Sam. 
iv. 12. 

PUNON, where the Hebrews 
encamped in the desert, is pro- 
bably the same as the Phanos 
or Phenos, which Eusebius 
places four miles from Dedan> 
between Petra and Zoar, and 
whose bishops we find among 
the subscribers in the ancient 
councils. Whether it was here, 
or at Zalmonah, that the brazen 
serpent was erected, we can 
hardly tell; but near to this 
place there were mines, so dan- 
gerous to work, that the con- 
demned malefactors lived in 
them but a few days, Numbers 
xxxiii. 42, 43. 

PUR. See Feast. 

PURPLE-DYE, especially 
that of Tyre, was much es- 
teemed, and was much worn by 
kings and emperors. It was 
dyed with the blood of a shell- 
fish ; plenty of which were found 
in the sea on the north-west of 
Canaan, and are still found a 
bout the Carribee-islands, and 
other parts of America, and 
even on the west of England. 
Purple was used in the curtains 
of the tabernacle and robes of 
the priests ; if what we render 
purple and scarlet ought not ra- 
ther to be rendered scarlet and 
crimson, Exodus xxv. — xxviii. 
xxxv. — xxxix. The Chaldeans 
clothed their idols with habits 
of purple and azure colour. 
The husband of the. virtuous 
woman, and the rich glutton, are 
represented as clothed in purple, 
Prov. xxxi. 22. Luke xvi. 19. 
To reward Daniel for explain, 
ing Belshazzar's dream, he was 
clothed in purple or scarlet, and 
had a chain of gold put about 
his neck, Dan. v. 7. 29. Morde- 
cai, when made chief minister 



PUT 

of state in Persia, was clothed 
in purple and fine linen, Esth. 
viii. 15. Purple was much used 
in Phoenicia, Ezek. xxvii. 7. 16 ; 
and the Popish cardinals wear 
clothes of it, Rev. xvii. 4. To 
ridicule our Saviour's royalty, 
his enemies arrayed him in pur- 
ple, Mark xv. 17. See Chariot. 

PUTEOLI, a city in Campa- 
nia in Italy ; so called from the 
stink of its hot waters, or the 
multitude of its wells. It stood 
about eight miles from Naples, 
and 100 south of Rome. From 
hence a considerable trade was 
carried on with Alexandria in 
Egypt: and here Paul halted 



PYG 

seven days, as he went prisoner 
to Rome, Acts xxviii. 13. We 
find several of its bishops in the 
primitive councils of the Chris- 
tian church. 

PYGARG, is a name some- 
times given to the eagle with a 
white tail ; but with Moses, it 
signifies a four-footed beast. Its 
Hebrew name Dishon, hints it 
to be ash-coloured ; and so it is 
like to be the tragelaphus, or 
goat-deer, whose back and sides 
are partly ash-coloured. It was 
a clean beast ; but whether the 
same with the pygarg of He 
rodotus, Pliny, and Elian, we 
cannot say, Deut. xiv. 5. 



QUI 

QUAILS, a kind of birds of a 
middle size, between spar- 
rows and pigeons. They are 
exceedingly numerous in warm 
countries. 

The children of Israel receiv- 
ed an abundant supply of flesh 
in the desert from vast flocks of 
this bird, which alighted around 
the camp. This prodigious flight 
of quails occured twice while 
they sojourned in the wilderness, 
Exod. xvi. 3 — 13. Num. xi. 32. 
Psal. cv. 40. Quails are migra- 
tory, and pass, in large multi- 
tudes, in the spring, from Asia 
to Europe. Ludolf and Patrick 
will have the word rendered 
quails, to mean ' locusts f but 
all the ancient interpreters are 
against them. 

QUATERNION, four in 
companv, Acts xii. 4. 

QUICK-SANDS, or syrtes. 
two sands on the north of Af- 



QUI 

rica, almost over against Si- 
cily, which, either by the slime, 
or the attractive quality of the 
sand, draw ships to them, or 
hold them fast, Acts xxvii. 17. 

QUIVER, a case for holding 
arrows. When children are li- 
kened to arrows, the house is 
the quiver, Psalm cxxvii. 5. 
When God's judgments are 
likened to arrows, his purpose 
and providence are the quiver, 
Lam. iii. 13. When Christ, or 
Isaiah, are likened to an arrow, 
God's protection, wherein they 
are hid and preserved, is the 
quiver, Isaiah xlix. 2. Some- 
times quiver is put for arrows 
in it. Thus the quiver, i. e. the 
arrows from it, rattle against 
the horse in battle, Job xxxix. 
23 ; and the quiver of the Chal- 
deans was an open sepulchre : 
their arrows killed multitudes, 
Jer. v. 16. 



RAA 

RAAMAH, the fourth son of 
Cush, and who peopled a 
country in Arabia the Happy, I 
suppose at the entrance of the 
Persian gulf. The posterity of 
Raamah carried on trade with 
421 36 



RAB 

the Tyrians, in spices, precions 
stones, and gold, Genesis x- 7. 
Ezek. xxvii. 22. 

R ABB AH, or Rabbath, the 
capital city of the Ammonites, 
stood near the source of the river 



RAI 

Arnon. It seems to have been 
a considerable city in the time 
of Moses; and to it the iron bed- 
stead of Og was transported, 
Deut. iii. 11. After Joab had 
besieged it a longtime, and Uri- 
ah had been slain before it, Da- 
vid went thither with a reinforce- 
ment, and quickly after took it, 
and used the principal inhabit- 
ants, if not others, in a terrible 
manner. Some time after, Sho- 
bi, the conquered king's brother, 
and David's deputy in it, brought 
him beds for his soldiers at Ma- 
hanaim, 2Sam. xi. xii. xvii. The 
city was, long after, pillaged by 
the Assyrians and Chaldeans, 
Amos i. 14. Jer. xlix. 2, 3. Ezek. 
xxi. 20. xxv. 5. 

RABBI, rab, rabban, rabbon; 
a title signifying master. 

RABSHAKEH. See Senna- 
dierib. 

RACE, to run. 

RACA, an empty, despicable 
fop, that is ashamed of nothing 
base, robbery, or murder: a 
scoundrel, Matth. v. 22. Judg. 
ix. 4. 2 Sam. vi. 20. 2 Chron. 
xiii. 7. Prov. xii. 11. 

RACHEL. See Jacob. 

RAGS, to be clothed with 
them, denotes deep poverty, 
Prov. xxiii. 21. Our self-righte- 
ousness is likened to filthy rags; 
it can nc more adorn our soul, 
or render it accepted before God, 
as our Judge, than filthy rags ; 
but, with its vileness, provokes 
his detestation, Isa. Ixiv. 6. 

RAHAB; (1.) A name given 
to Egypt, to denote the pride 
and strength of that kingdom, 
Psalm Ixxxvii. 3. Ixxxix. 10. Isa. 
li. 9. (2.) A Canaanitish harlot, 
or inn-keeper of Jericho. 

RAIN, the moist vapours ex- 
haled by the heat of the sun, 
which being collected into 
clouds, fall upon the earth in 
drops ; and when it freezes in, 
or before its fall, it is called hail 
or snow. When it falls down, 
as in water-spouts, the windows 
or flood-gates of heaven are said 



RAI 

to be opened. In the time of 
drought, the earth is represented 
as crying to the heavens, and the 
heavens or clouds crying to God, 
for his allowance to pour their 
moist treasures in rain and dew 
upon the earth, Hos. ii. 21. In 
Upper Egypt it seldom rains. In 
some parts of the Persian empire 
it rains little for eight months. 
In Syria and Barbaiy there is 
scarce any rain during the sum- 
mer. In Canaan they ordinarily 
had a plentiful rain twice a-year. 
The former rain happened about 
September, and the latter about 
the beginning of March, just be- 
fore their harvest, Joel ii. 23. 
Zech. x. 1. In the winter months 
it often rains very violently and 
ordinarily in the night, and is 
preceded by a squall of wind, 2 
Kings iii. 16, 17. Rain, when 
seasonable, is showers of bless- 
ing, Ezek. xxxiv. 26. 

The Rainbow is never seen 
but when the sun shines, and in 
direct opposition to him ; and is 
formed by the refraction of his 
rays on a watery cloud ; nor can 
the sun form such a refraction 
if he is above 42 degrees higher 
than the horizon, as then his re- 
fraction is lower than the earth. 
The bright rainbow is often in- 
vested with a fainter one, at 
some distance, and of greater 
extent. There are also a kind 
of rainbows formed by the re- 
flection of the moon-light, or of 
the raging sea; but these last 
have their arms invsrted up- 
wards. One may form a kind 
of artificial rainbow, by hanging 
a bi ick cloth opposite to the 
sun, and, turning his back to tho 
sun, and face to the cloth, cause 
water to fall like a shower of 
rain between him and it : thus a 
rainbow will be formed in these 
drops. Whether the common 
rainbow, proceeding from natu- 
ral causes, appeared before the 
flood is not agreed. Perhaps it 
did not ; and then it behoved to 
be the more striking a token, and 
422 



RAM 

the more effectual to confirm 
Noah's faith in the divine pro- 
mise, that the flood should never 
return to overflow the earth. It 
is certain every disposition of a 
rainy cloud is not proper to pro- 
duce a rainbow; and who knows, 
but before the flood, the clouds 
might be always so disposed as 
nofto form any ? Its appearance, 
though now ordinary, continues 
still a divine token, that the earth 
shall no more be drowned with 
an universal flood, Genesis ix. 
8—17. 

R AISIXS, a well known kind 
of dried grapes. The largest are 
those of Damascus, a bunch of 
which will sometimes weigh 25 
pounds ; but their taste is faint- 
ish, and not very agreeable. The 
Spanish raisins of the sun are 
also noted. The spirit of raisins 
is very useful to distillers in rec- 
tifying their liquors. 

RAM-SKINS, RED. are men- 
tioned Exod. xxv. 5. Dr. Adam 
Clarke thinks, that these were the 
skins of rams whose natural co- 
lour was red : the existence of 
which, he informs us, is attest- 
ed by many respectable travel- 
lers, and are mentioned by Ho- 
mer, Aristotle, and Pliny : but it 
is much more probable, that our 
version is correct, and that these 
skin? were dyed red. 

RAMAH, or Ramathaim, a 
city of Benjamin, about six miles 
northward from Jerusalem, Josh, 
xviii. 25; not far distant from 
Geba and Gibeah, Isaiah x. 29. 
Hosea v. 8. Near to it Deborah 
dwelt, Judg. iv. 5. Elkanah and 
Samuel resided in it, 1 Sam. i. 1. 
19. vii. 17. viii. 4. xxv. 1 ; and 
at Najoth, or the meadows of 
Ramah, was a college of young 
prophets, 1 Sam. xix. As it stood 
in a pass between the kingdom 
of Israel and Judah, Baasha 
king of Israel seized it, and be- 
gan to fortify it, that none of his 
subjects might pass that way into 
the kingdom of Judah, 1 Kings 
xv. 17. 21. The inhabitants were 



RAV 

terribly affrighted when Senna- 
cherib marched this way against 
Hezekiah, Hos. v. 8. Isa. x. 29 
Here Nebuzaradan, the Chal- 
dean general, disposed of his 
Jewish prisoners after their ca- 
pital was taken, which occa- 
sioned a dreadful mourning to 
the daughters of Rachel, Jer. xl. 
1, 2, 3. xxxi. 15. Ramah was 
afterwards rebuilt by its inhabit- 
ants who returned from Baby- 
lon, Neh. vii. 30. xi. 33. There 
was another Ramah on the west 
border of Naphtali, Josh. xix. 
38 ; and a Ramath or Ramoth, 
which we suppose the same as 
Baalath-beer, in the lot of Si- 
meon, Josh, xix. 8. 1 Sara. xxx. 
27. See Gilead; and a Ra- 
moth, Remeth, or Jarmuth, in 
the lot of Issachar, Josh. xix. 21. 

RAME3ES. See Pithom. 

RAMPART, a fence to a ci- 
ty. The Mediterranean sea, or 
rather the river Nile, was a ram- 
part, that defended the citv of 
No, Nah. iii. 8. 

RANGE, to go up and down 
at pleasure, Prov. xxviii. 15. 
Range of the mountains, is any 
place on or about them, Job 
xxxix. 8. 

Ranges, ranks of men, who 
were as protecting rails about 
the king, 2 Kings xi. 8. 

RANK ; (1.) Order, station, 1 
Chron. xii. 33. (2.) High-grown 
and fruitful, Gen. xli. 5. 

RANSOM; (1.) The price paid 
for the pardon of an offence, or 
the redemption of a slave or cap- 
tive, Prov. vi. 35. Exod. xxi. 
30. (2.) A bribe, 1 Sam. xii. 3. 
To prevent the plague, and make 
ceremonial atonement for their 
souls, every male Hebrew come 
to age, paid half a shekel year- 
ly, as a ransom, Exod. xxx. 12. 
The obedience and death of 
Christ are the only proper ran- 
som and price of our deliverance 
from sin and misery, Matth. xx. 
23. Job xxxiii. 24. 

RAVEN, a bird of prey, ce- 
remonially unclean, Lev. xi 15. 
423 



REC 

Whether the raven sent out of 
the ark by Noah ever returned 
to him, is not agreed: according 
to the literal reading of the He- 
brew, also of the Samaritan 
text, and the Chaldee, he did ; 
but a different opinion is sup- 
ported by the LXX. the Syriac, 
the Latin, and most of the fa- 
thers, Gen. viii. 7. There is al- 
so some differences of opinion 
respecting the ravens by which 
Elijah was fed at the brook Che- 
rith. An ingenious writer has 
discovered that in that region 
there was a village called iEro- 
bi, and a brook called Corith, 
and he conjectures that the 
^Erobites supplied the prophet 
with food : but if they supplied 
him with food, why not with 
water, when the brook failed ; 
and why, in that case, could 
not Ahab find him? 1 Kings 
xvii. 4. 6. Lev. xi. 15. Job 
xxxviii. 41. Psalm cxlvii. 9. 
Prov. xxx. 17. Cant. vii. 11. 
Isa. xxxiv. 11. n 

REBEKAH, Rebecca, daugh- 
ter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, 
and wife of Isaac, Gen. xxiv — 
xxviii. xlix. 31. 

RECHAB. See Baanah, and 
Eenites. 

RECHABITES, a tribe of 
Kenites or Midianites, descended 
from Jonadab, the son of Re- 
chab, from which last, they de- 
rived their name. Jonadab ap- 
pears to have been zealous for the 
pure worship of God, and was 
associated with Jehu in the de- 
struction of the idolatrous house 
of Ahab. He established a rule 
for his posterity, that they should 
possess neither land nor houses, 
but should live in tents ; and 
should drink no wine or strong 
drink. In obedience to this rule, 
the Rechabites continued a se- 
parate but peaceable people, 
living in tents, and removing 
from place to place, as circum- 
stances required. WhenJudea 
was first invaded by Nebuchad- 
nezzar they fled to Jerusalem 



REC 

for safety, where it pleased God 
by the prophet Jeremiah, to ex- 
hibit them to the wicked inhabi 
tants of Jerusalem, as an exam- 
ple of constancy in their obedi- 
ence to the mandates of an 
earthly father, 2 Kings x. 15. 
Jer. xxxv. 2. Judg. i. 16. 

Some highly interesting facts 
are known respecting the present 
condition of the Rechabites. The 
reader will do well to ace quaint 
himself with their history — see 
Judg. i. 16. iv. 11. 1 Sam. xv. 6. 
1 Chron. ii. 55. 2 Kings x. 15. 
Jer. xxxv. 

They still dwell in the moun- 
tainous tropical country, to the 
north-east of Medina. They are 
called Beni Khaibr, sons of 
Heber ; and their land is called 
Khaibr. They have no inter- 
course with their brethren, the 
Jews, who are dispersed over 
Asia; and are esteemed as false 
brethren, because they observe 
not the law. These persons can- 
not accompany a caravan, be- 
cause their religion permits them 
not to travel on the sabbath, yet 
their country is so surrounded 
by deserts, that unless in a cara- 
van, it can neither be entered or 
left safely. (Niebhur's Travels 
vol. 2, p. 43.) 

Mr. Wolfe inquired of a Jew 
about them, and whether they 
ever came to Jerusalem ; and the 
Jew proved that they came to 
that city in the time of Jeremiah, 
by reading chapter xxxv. Thi3 
Jew stated that these persons, 
who were unquestionably the 
descendants of the Rechabites, 
are now known to drink no 
wine; to have neither vineyards, 
field, nor seed ; and to be wander- 
ing nomades, dwelling like Arabs 
in tents, and they have "never 
wanted a man to stand before 
the Lord," but have maintained 
strictly, and constantly the wor- 
ship of the true God.— ( Wolfs 
Journal, p. 234.) 

RECONCILE ; (1.) To make 
peace between parties at va 
424 



RED 

-iance; to secure favour, Matt. 
v. 24. (2.) To atone for; con- 
secrate, Lev. vi. 30. Ez. xlv. 20. 

RECORD; (1.) To bear wit- 
ness ; and so a record is a so- 
vran testimony and declaration, 
Acts xx. 26. John i. 19. 1 John 
v. 7. 10, 11 ; and to call God for 
a record upon one's soul, is to 
make a solemn appeal to him, 
2 Cor. i. 23. (2.) To declare; 
make mention of, 1 Chron. vi. 
14. Exod. xx. 24. (3.) To mark 
in a register, Neh.vii.5, 64; and 
eo an historical register is called 
a record, Ezra vi. 2 : and a re- 
corder was an officer that noted 
things in a register or book of 
account, and put the king in 
mind of what ought to be consi- 
dered, 2 Sam. viii. 16. 

REDEEM ; (1.) To buy back 
persons or things formerly sold, 
by paying a due price for them, 
Lev. xxv. 25. (2.) To deliver 
from distress and bondage, by 
the exertion of great power and 
love, Deut. vii. 5. xxxii. 6. (3.) 
To deliver men from the broken 
law, sin, Satan, an evil world, 
death, and hell, by the price of 
Jesus' obedience, and suffering, 
and by means of the enlighten- 
ing and sanctifying power of his 
Spirit, Gal. iv. 4, 5. Tit. ii. 14. 
Luke i. 68. 1 Pet. i. 18. 

REDEEMER. The Hebrew 
goel, or kinsman-redeemer, who 
was also the nearest of kin, was 
to exert himself in favour of h ; s 
destitute kinsman. If he had, 
through poverty, mortgaged his 
inheritance, the goel was to buy 
it back. If he had sold himself 
into slavery, the goel was to pay 
his ransom. \ If he was murder- 
ed, the goel was to avenge his 
blood. If he died childless, the 
goel might espouse his widow; 
but it does not appear that he 
was obliged to this, except he 
was an unmarried brother, Num. 
v. 8. xxvii. 11. xxxv. Deut. xxv. 
1—8. Ruth iv. 4. 

REDOUND, to tend towards, 
2 Cor. iv. 15. 

s2 36 ; 



REF 

REEDS grow in fenny and 
watery places, and are of many 
different kinds. The common 
reeds in our country are of no 
great use, except for thatching 
of houses: the paper reeds of 
Egypt, the sugar reeds or canes, 
and the Spanish reeds, of which 
walking staves and weavers' 
reeds are formed, are of much 
more account. (2.) A staff made 
of reed ; such a one, by way of 
derision, was put into our Sa- 
viour's hand, instead of a scep- 
tre ; and with this they held up 
to him on the cross the sponge 
full of gall and vinegar, Matth. 
xxvii. 29, 30. 48. (3.) A mea- 
sure of six cubits, or 11 feet 
2.328 inches, Ezek. xl. 3. Christ 
will not break the bruised reed, 
nor quench the smoking flax; 
he will not utterly destroy, but 
kindly help, care for, and com- 
fort the weak saints, and their 
weak graces, that are upon the 
point of losing all their grace, 
and comfort, Isaiah xlii. 3. 

REFINE ; to purge, as foun- 
ders do metal from dross, or as 
vintners do wine from dregs, 1 
Chron. xxviii. 18. Isaiah xxv. 6. , 
Christ is a refiner and -purifier; 
by his word, his Spirit, and by 
sanctified troubles, he purges out 
the dross of error, corruption, 
and scandalous persons from the 
church, and the dross of sinful 
defilement from the heart and 
life of his people, Mai. iii. 2, 3. 
Isaiah xlviii. 10. Zech. xiii. 9. 

REFORM, to bring into a new 
shape or course. The Hebrews 
were reformed, when they left 
their idolatries, and other evil 
courses and turned to the Lord, 
Lev. xxvi. 23. The gospel dis- 
pensation is called the reforma- 
tion; the ceremonial ordinances 
being fulfilled in Christ, were 
laid aside for more clear, easy, 
and spiritual ones; and multi- 
tudes of Jews and Gentiles were 
turned from their legal, super- 
stitious, idolatrous, and other 
wicked courses, to the profes- 
b 425 



REF 

§ion, faith, and obedience of a 
God in Christ, Heb. ix. 10. 

REFUGE, shelter; a place 
of safety in time of storms or 
danger, Job xxiv. 8. God and 
Christ are a refuge or shelter \ 
by them the saints are gracious 
ly protected against every storm 
of wrath, against every danger, 
and against the assaults of every 
foe, Psalm xiv. 6. xlvi. 1. Ixi. 3. 
Refuges of lies, are vain imagi- 
nations, and ill-grounded hopes 
of safety: or persons we trusted 
disappointing us, as the Assy- 
rians, who, instead of helping 
Ahaz, distressed him, Isa. xxviii, 
15. 17. To inspire the Hebrews 
with a horror of bloodshed, an<f 
mercifully provide for the re 
lief of involuntary man-slayers, 
God appointed six of their cities, 
Bezer, Golan, and Ramoth-gi- 
lead, on the east of Jordan ; Ke- 
desh-naphtali, Shechem, and 
Hebron, on the west of it, all of 
them belonging to the priests or 
Levites, to be cities of refuge ; 
and they were commanded to 
add to these when their territo- 
ries should be enlarged : but we 
find no account of any such ad- 
dition. These cities were of 
easy access, situated in moun- 
tains or large plains. That no- 
thing might retard the manslayer 
in his flight to them, the roads, 
to the width of 53 feet 4 inches, 
were kept in good repair, and 
the rivers of note had bridges 
thrown over them; where any 
other way crossed or parted from 
them, posts, marked with refuge, 
directed to the city of refuge. 
On the 15th day of the 12th 
month, at the end of the winter, 
' the roads were inspected by the 
magistrates, and repairs were 
ordered. These cities were plen- 
tifully stored with necessary pro- 
visions ; but no weapons of war 
were made or sold therein. — 
When a Hebrew, or a stranger 
among them, unintentionally 
killed his neighbour, he fled with 
ail possible expedition to the ci-j 



REG 

ty of refuge that was next to 
him ; for if any of the friends of 
the killed person could overtake 
him before he got thither, they 
were warranted to slay him 
Whenever the manslayer enter- 
ed the city, he used to send some 
prudent and moderate persons to 
meet the pursuing avenger of 
blood, to soften his rage. When 
he came up, he presented an ac- 
cusation to the judges of the 
place, upon the footing of which 
the manslayer was cited to their 
bar. If, upon trial, it appeared 
he had slain his neighbour acci- 
dentally, he was received as a 
lodger into the city. Only, it is 
said, that the cause was again 
tried in the manslayer's own ci- 
ty ; and if he was again found to 
have done it accidentally, he 
was safely conducted back to the 
city of refuge, and abode there 
till the death of the high-priest; 
but he was obliged to apply him- 
self to some business, that he 
might not be chargeable to the 
inhabitants. The altar of burnt- 
offering was also a refuge for 
petty criminals ; and such as fled 
to it, if found to have done it un- 
designedly, were conducted to a 
city of refuge, Numbers xxxv, 
Deut. xix. 11, 12. Joshua xx. 

REGARD ; (1.) To think of, 
seriously consider, lay to heart 
Isa. v. 12. 1 Sam. xxv. 25. (2. 
To look upon one with pity anc 
concern, Deut. xxviii. 50. (3.) 
To have or shew a distinguished 
love to, esteem of, or care for, 2 
Kings iii. 14. Romans xiv. 6. 

REGENERATION, a being 
born again. This word is found 
only twice in the New Testa- 
ment, Matth. xix. 28. Tit. iii. 5; 
in the first passage, the meaning 
of the word will depend on the 
punctuation of the passage, and 
will either refer to the new-birth 
which the followers of Christ 
had undergone, or to the reno- 
vation or consummation of all 
things at Christ's second advent, 
when there shall be 'new hea- 
426 



REG 

vens and a new earth.' By ' the 
washing of regeneration' in the 
latter passage, many understand 
1 baptism ;' and it is probable, 
that there is a reference to that 
ordinance; but this will afford 
no proof that baptism is deno- 
minated regeneration by Paul, 
as it afterwards was, by many 
of the fathers ; for, in that case, 
the fair interpretation would be, 
4 that washing which is the sign 
of regeneration.' But although 
this word is not oftener read in 
the New Testament, other words 
conveying precisely the same 
idea are of frequent occurrence. 
Our Saviour says to Nicodemus, 
* except a man be born again he 
cannot see the kingdom of God,' 
John iii. 3. Christians are de- 
scribed as ' born of God,' John 
i. 13. 1 John ii. 29. v. 1. 4. 1 
John iii. 9. They are also 
represented as ' begotten of God, 
or bv the word of God,' 1 Peter 
1. 3." 23. James i. 18. And the 
same thing, in substance, is held 
forth in the scriptures, in almost 
every page, under the idea of ' a 
new creation,' ' a renewing of the 
spirit of our minds,' ' a renewing 
of the Holy Ghost,' ' a resurrec- 
tion from the dead,' 'a being 
quickened,' &c. The doctrine 
of regeneration may be thus de- 
scribed : ' It is the communica- 
tion of spiritual life to a soul 
previously dead in trespasses and 
sins, by the almighty energy of 
the Holy Spirit, making use of 
the word of truth as the instru- 
ment : in consequence of which 
divine operation the soul begins 
to apprehend spiritual things in 
a new light, to believe them in 
a new manner; to love them 
with an affection not before felt ; 
and to act henceforth from new 
motives and to new ends. The 
effects of regeneration cannot but 
be very perceptible, in the hum- 
ble penitence and contrition for 
sin, which is produced ; in the 
ardent breathings after the know- 
ledge of God, after conformity, 



REH 

to his holiness, and communion 
with him through Christ Jesus ; 
and in the kind and fraternal 
feelings which spontaneously 
flow from the regenerated soul 
towards all men, and especially 
to the household of faith: for to 
the brethren of Christ the soul 
born of God, cannot but enter- 
tain an affection of peculiar 
strength and tenderness ; both 
because they belong to Christy 
and because they possess and 
manifest something of the lovely 
image of him that hath begotteo 
them anew.' 

REGISTER, a public record 
for marking genealogies, and 
events worthy of remembrance, 
Ezra ii. 62. 

REHEARSE, to tell over, 
Exod xvii. 14. 1 Sam. xvii. 31. 

REHOB r a city of the tribe of 
Asher, given to the Levites. It 
seems to have stood on the north 
border of Canaan, and to have 
been a very different place from 
the Rooba of Jerome, which, he 
says, was but four miles from 
Bethshan, Numb. xiii. 21. Josh, 
xix. 28. xxi. 31. 

REHOBOAM, the son and 
successor of Solomon, born by 
one Naarnah, an Ammonitess, 
about the end of David's reign. 
It appears, from the book of 
Proverbs, that his father was at 
no small pains to teach him wis- 
dom ; but these instructions were 
not blessed of God to him, nor 
were they duly exemplified in 
his father's life. When he began 
to reign, A. M. 3030, he, being 
about 41 years of age, repaired 
to Shechem, whither the He- 
brews had assembled to make 
him king. Instigated by Jero- 
boam, who had begun to raise 
sedition a little before Solomon's 
death, they offered Rehoboam 
the sovereignty, provided he 
would ease them of the hard 
service and expensive taxes 
which his father had laid upon 
them as he carried on his build- 
ings. He took three days to de- 
427 



REI 

liberate on the proposal. His 
aged counsellors, who had serv- 
ed with his father in that sta- 
tion, advised him to give the 
people an obliging answer, and 
he would soon fix them in his 
interest. Unwilling to do so, he 
consulted with his young coun- 
sellors, who had been brought 
up with him. They advised 
him to tell the people, that he 
intended to load them with far 
more grievous burdens, and to 
punish them far more severely 
than ever his father had done. 
This advice suiting his haughty 
and foolish disposition, he fol- 
lowed it. The ten tribes of Reu- 
ben, Simeon, Ephraim, Manas- 
seh, Dan, Zebulun, Issachar, 
Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, pro- 
voked herewith, cried out, that 
they were under no obligation 
to, and had no interest in the 
family of David, and so would 
go home, and let Rehoboam and 
the family of David care for 
themselves. Upon their with- 
drawment in a body, Rehoboam 
sent Hadoram his treasurer af- 
ter them, to persuade them to 
return. Perhaps supposing him 
the author of their late hard- 
ships, they stoned him to death. 
Rehoboam seeing this,posted off 
to Jerusalem in his chariot,where 
the tribes of Judah and Benja- 
min acknowledged him king. 

REHOBOTH; (1.) A city 
near Nineveh, perhaps the same 
astheOrobaof Pliny ; but some 
translate it, to signify the streets 
of the city Nineveh, Gen. x. 11. 
(2.) A city of Edom, where 
Saul, king of that country, was 
born ; for it is absurd to imagine 
he could be of the other Reho- 
both on the Tigris, Gen. xxxvi. 
37. (3.) A well digged by Isaac, 
eastward of Gerar, so called, 
because there the Lord had 
made room- for him, Genesis 
xxvi. 22. 

RE HUM. See Samaritans. 

REINS; (1.) The kidneys, 
or Inward parts of an animal, 



REM 
Lev. xv. 2. Job xix. 27. Psalm 
cxxxix. 13. (2.) Man's soul, 
with its disposition and thoughts, 
Lam. iii. 13. Rev. ii. 23. God 
is far from men's reins, when 
they have no true knowledge, 
fear, love, desire of, or delight 
in him, and perform no true 
obedience to him, Jer. xii. 2. 

RELIGION ; (1.) The true 
religion, which consists in an 
inward and spiritual knowledge 
and belief of divine truth, faith 
in, and love to Christ, and to 
God in him, manifested in a re- 
gular acknowledgement, and 
worship of, and obedience to 
him, and in showing proper de- 
ference to men, chiefly such as 
are in distress and want, Jam. 
i. 27. (2.) The external and 
ceremonial worship of the Jews, 
Acts xxvi. 5. (3.) A supersti- 
tious worshipping of angels, Col. 
ii. 18. Religious or devout, are 
such as are much given to a re- 
ligious course or profession, 
Acts xiii. 43. 

REMEDY, a cure for pre- 
venting or removing evil, 2 Chr. 
xxxvi. 16. 

REMEMBER; (1.) To call 
to mind what is past, Deut. xv. 
15. (2.) To keep in mind some- 
what future and important, that 
we may prepare for it, or take 
notice of it when it comes, Ex. 
xx. 8. (3.) To think of and 
consider, Psalm lxiii. 6. Matth. 
xvi. 9. (4.) To esteem, reward, 
Eccl. ix. 15. (50 To mention 
in the way of praise and -com- 
mendation, 1 Chron. xvi. 12 

REMIT, to forgive, declare 
forgiven, absolve from censure, 
John xx. 23. 

REMPHAN, an idol. Some 
think him to have been Remphis, 
a king of Egypt, worshipped af- 
ter his death. Perhaps he is 
the same as Moloch, Chiun, and 
the Egyptian Serapis, and Osi- 
ris. To commemorate the dream 
of the kine, whereby Egypt was 
saved, a deity was there wor- 
shipped in the form of a bull ; 
428 



REN 

und the Hebrews carried the 
portrait of Remphan, in the wil- 
derness, when they had their 
golden calf among them, Amos 
v. 26. Acts vii. 43. Others 
think Remphan to be the same 
as Ham, Chronus, or Saturn, the 
father of the Rephaim, or giants. 

REND ; (1.) To tear asunder, 
pull in pieces, Psal. vii. 2. (2.) 
To reproach, Psal. xxxv. 15. 
Rending of garments, imported 
one's being overwhelmed with 
grief, or shocked with something 
terrible, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27. 
Gen. xxxvii. 29. 34. As the 
priests were not allowed to rend 
their garments, Caiaphas rend- 
ing his garments, was a token 
the priesthood was departing, 
Matth. xxvi. G5. Rending of 
the heart, imports great and bit- 
ter sorrow for sin, Joel ii. 13. 
God rends the heavens, and 
comes down, when, in a majes- 
tic manner, he powerfully deliv- 
ers his people, Isa. lxiv. i. 

RENDER; (1.) To give, 
Num. xviii. 9. (2.) To return 
in thanksgiving, Psal. cxvi. 12. 
(3.) To return like for like, to 
recompense. Psalm xciv. 2. 

RENEW; (1.) To make 
over again, Rom. xii. 2. (2.) 
To repair and purge, 2 Chron. 
xv. 8. (3.) To confirm, estab- 
lish, 1 Sam. xi. 14. God renews 
the earth, when he returns the 
spring, and gives a new succes- 
sion of creatures to replenish the 
earth, Psalm civ. 30. He re- 
news his people's days, when 
he brings them out of captivity, 
and restores them to a flourish- 
in? estate, Lam. v. 21. 

RENEWING, regeneration ; 
(1.) That work of the Holy 
Spirit, whereby through the im- 
putation of Jesus's righteous- 
ness, his grace is implanted in 
us, and we are born again, and 
spiritually changed in our whole 
man. Our mind is made new ; 
being endowed with spiritual 
light, it apprehends, judges, es- 
teems, devises, searches,reasons, 



REP 

thinks, and deliberates on new 
matters, and after a new manner 
REPENT, is, with grief, to 
change one's mind to what is 
thought more proper, Matth.xxi 
29. Men's repentance is, (LJ 
A change of mind, earnestly 
wishing something undone tha' 
is done. Isaac found no place 
for repentance ; though Esau 
with tears, begged it, and him 
self earnestly desired it, yet he 
could not possibly recal the 
blessing of Jacob, and transfer 
it to Esau, Heb. xii. 17. Or a 
change of opinion concerning 
the Messiah, or sinful acts, &c. 
Matth. iii. 2. iv. 17. (2.) A le- 
gal repentance, wherein one is 
grieved for, and turns from his 
sin, to outward appearances of 
religion, merely on account of 
the hurt it hath done, or is like 
to do to him : so a malefactor, 
who still loves his sin, repents 
of doing it, because it brings 
him to punishment ; so Judas 
repented of his betraying his 
Master, because he saw it would 
bring him to everlasting shame 
and torment, Matthew xxvii. 3. 
(3.) Gospel repentance, which is 
a saving grace wrought in the 
heart of a sinful person by the 
word and Spirit of God, where- 
by, from a sight and sense of 
his sin, as offensive to God, 
murderous to Christ, and defil- 
ing to his own soul, and from an 
apprehension of the mercy of 
God in Christ, he, with grief and 
hatred of all his known sins, 
turns from them to God, as his 
Saviour, Portion, and Lord, 
with full purpose of, and endea- 
vour after, new obedience. This 
is called repentance towards 
God, as therein we turn from 
sin to him ; and repentance 
unto life, as it proceeds from, 
and manifests our spiritual life, 
and daily increaseth it, and is- 
sues in, and prepares for eternal 
life, Matth. iii. 2. Acts iii. 19 
xx. 21. xi. 18. In every case a 
correspondent faith must pre- 
429 



REP 

cede repentance ; the faith of 
the law must precede legal re- 
pentance, Rom. iii. 19 ; and the 
faith of the gospel must precede 
a true evangelic repentance: 
we must first by faith look on 
Jesus, and then mourn : he that 
cometh to God must believe, 
and come by Christ, as the way ; 
and whatsoever is not of faith 
is sin, Zech. xii. 10. Heb. xi.6. 
John xiv. 6. Rom. xiv. 23. But 
repentance is sometimes men- 
tioned first, perhaps, because 
repentance is the end, and faith 
is the means, Acts xx. 21 ; or, 
in that expression, Repent, and 
believe the gospel, the sense 
may be, Change your carnal no- 
tions of the Messiah, and his 
kingdom, and believe the truths 
and offers of the gospel, Mark i. 
15. Repentance is an absolute- 
ly necessary fruit of pardon of 
sin in justification, Ezekiel xvi. 
62, 63. xxxvi. 25—31 ; part of 
begun salvation, and preparative 
for the complete degrees of sal- 
vation, Luke xiii. 3. 5. See 
Forgive. 

The vain REPETITIONS 
of the Pharisees, were the saying 
the same things over and over 
in their prayers, as if the more 
they spake, they would be the 
better heard, Matth. vi. 7. 

REPLENISH, to fill with in- 
habitants or wealth, Ezek. xxvi. 
2. God replenishes sorrowful 
souls, when he fills them with 
jov and comfort, Jer. xxxi. 25. 
REPHAIM, a valley on the 
south or west of Jerusalem, very 
fruitful in corn, Isa. xvii. 5. It 
seems to have had its name 
from the giants that anciently 
inhabited it ; and here the host 
of the Philistines encamped fre- 
quently, 1 Chron. xi. 15. xiv. 9. 
REPHIDIM, a place on the 
east side of the western gulf of 
the Red Sea, where the He- 
brews tempted God, and quar- 
relled with Moses, for want of 
water ; and so it was called Mi- 
rebah, contention, and Massah, 



RES 

temptation. Here Moses brought 
them water from a rock; and 
here they, under the direction of 
Joshua, routed the Amalekites. 
To REPLY against God, is 
to quarrel with his purpose or 
providence, Rom. ix. 20. 

REPROBATE,not approved. 
Among metallists, it signifies 
what cannot abide the trial, 
without showing itself drossy, or 
of a coarse alloy. Thus wicked 
men are reprobate silver ; they 
are not purged nor refined, nor 
will pass current according to 
the standard of God's law, Jer. 
vi. 30. When used concerning 
wrestling-games and races, it 
signifies him who miscarries, 
and loses the prize. Lest I 
should be a reprobate or cast- 
away ; lest I should be found 
an hypocritical counterfeit, one 
void of true grace, one whom 
God will never reward as a run- 
ner of the Christian race, or as 
a victorious fighter of the good 
fight of faith, 1 Cor. ix. 27. A 
reprobate mind, is one hardened 
in wickedness, and which can- 
not discern between good and 
evil, Rom. i. 28. Men are rep- 
robate concerning the faith, 
when they apostatize from the 
doctrines of Christ, and aban- 
don themselves to the most hor- 
rible errors, 2 Tim. iii. 8. They 
are reprobate to every good 
work, when quite incapable, 
and averse to perform them, and 
to others performing of them, 
Tit. i. 16. 

REREWARD, the last body 
or hindmost part of the troops 
in a marching army, who, as it 
were, guard the back of the 
army, Josh. vi. 13. The Lord, or 
his glory, is the rereward of his 
people, when he affords them 
full protection, even from un- 
seen enemies : so he was to the 
Jews in their return from Baby- 
lon, Isa. Iii. 12. lviii. 8. 

RESCUE; (1.) To recover 
back from captivity, 1 Samuel 
xxx. 18. (2.) To save from 
430 



RES 

imminent danger, Acts xxiii. 
27. 

RESEMBLE, (1.) To be 
like to other persons or things, 
Judg. viii. IS. (2.) To liken or 
compare, Luke xiii. ]8. 

RESEN, a noted city of As- 
syria, built by Ashur, between 
Nineveh and Calah. Some 
think all the three, together 
with Rehoboth, were at last 
united into Nineveh ; but per- 
haps Resen is the same as La- 
rissa on the Tigris, which was 
eight miles in circumference, its 
walls 100 feet high, and 25 
broad, Gen. x. 12. 

RESERVE; (1.) To leave,, 
eet aside for a particular use, 2 
Sam. viii. 4. (2.) To keep firm- 
ly and carefully, Jude 6. (3.) 
To keep things in store, in order 
to give them out afterwards, 1 
Pet. i. 4. 

RESIDUE, what is left or re- 
mains behind, Exod. x. 5. Neh. 
xi.20. 

RESORT ; (1.) To meet to- 
gether, Neh. iv. 20. (2.) To 
come to, Ps. Ixxi. 3. 

RESPECT, to esteem,regard. 
Sinful respect of persons, is to 
regard and esteem them, in giv- 
ing sentences of judgment, for 
their outward honour, power, 
and wealth, not attending to 
truth and equity, Levit. xix. 15. 
Deut. i. 15. In this sense, God 
in Christ respects not persons 
for their nation, family, or out- 
ward circumstances, nor ought 
judges or others to do so, Acts 
x. 34. Lev. xix. 15. Deut. i. 17. 
James ii. 1. 9. 1 Pet. i. 17. 

RESPITE, a breathing, a 
time wherein to advise, Exodus 
viii. 15. 1 Sam. xi. 3. 

RESURRECTION, or rising 
again from the dead, is either, 
(f.) Civil, when a person or na- 
tion are recovered from a state 
of distress and bondage, as in 
the case of David, Hezekiah, 
Paul, Ps. xxv. 3, 4. Isa. xxxviii. 
16. 2 Cor. i. 9, 10 ; and of the 
Jewish nation, Lam. iv. 20. Hos. 



REU 
vi. 1,2. Ezek. xxxvii. 1—14. (2.) 
Spiritual, from a state of death 
in sin, to spiritual life and hap- 
piness; and this is either of par- 
ticular persons, when they are 
regenerated and born again, 
John v. 25. Eph. ii. 1. 5. Col. ii. 
12. iii. 1 ; or of the church, when, 
by the influences of Christ, she 
is mightily increased in her 
members, and they in their lively 
walking with God, and in their 
outward comfort and prosperity. 
This will signally take place in 
the beginning of the Millennium, 
and is called the first resurrec- 
tion, Isa. vi. 59. 21. lx. 1. Rom. 
xi. 14. Rev. xx. 1—8. (3.) Cor- 
poreal, when dead bodies are re- 
stored to life. That there will be 
a general raising of the dead 
bodies of men and women at the 
last day, is most agreeable to 
reason. 

REU, or Ragau, the son of 
Peleg, and father of Serug, waa 
born A. M. 1787, and died A. 
jM. 2026, Gen. xi. 18. 

REUBEN, the eldest son of 
Jacob by Leah, born A. M. 2246. 
His sons were Hanoch, Pallu, 
Hezron, andCaimi; allofw T hora 
were parents of considerable fa- 
milies, Num. xxvi. 5, 6. When 
the Reubenites came out of 
Egypt, their number fit for war 
amounted to 46,500, under the 
command of Elizur, the son of 
Shedeur. They, with their bre- 
thren of Simeon and Gad, formed 
the second division in the march 
of the Hebrews, and went just 
before the ark. Their spy for 
searching the promised land, was 
Shammua, the son of Zacchur 
Dathan, Abiram, and On, who 
rebelled against Moses and 
Aaron, along with Korah, were 
of this tribe. In the plains of 
Moab their warriors amounted 
to 43,730. When Moses seized 
the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, 
the Reubenites and Gadites, ob- 
serving how proper the country 
was for their vast numbers of 
flocks and herds, begged to have 
431 



REU 

it as their portion. At first Mo- 
ses refused; but on their pro- 
posing to assist their brethren 
with all their force, in the con- 
quest of western Canaan, he 
granted the country to them and 
the half-tribe of Manasseh. 
There they repaired the cities, 
and settled their wives and chil- 
dren. Their warriors went over 
Jordan; and though perhaps 
they visited their families at 
turns, yet they continued with 
their brethren for the most part 
of seven years, till all the tribes 
had got their settlements ; after 
which they were honourably dis- 
missed. In their return home, 
they erected the altar of Ed, on 
the bank of the Jordan, not for 
offering sacrifices or incense, but 
for a testimony that they were 
of the same Hebrew stock and 
religion with their brethren. 
The design of this was at first 
mistaken by the other tribes ; 
and Phinehas, and a variety of 
the princes, were sent to expos- 
tulate with them about this mat- 
ter, as they took it to be a step 
towards apostasy from the wor- 
ship of God; but when they 
heard the true design of erecting 
the altar, they were satisfied. 
According to the predictions of 
Jacob and Moses, this tribe 
never excelled, there never be- 
ing any noted person thereof, 
and they lay much exposed to 
enemies, the Moabites on the 
south, the Ammonites on the 
east, and the Syrians from the 
north, Numb. xxvi. 5, 6. i. 5. 21. 
x. 16 — 21. xvi. xxxii. Josh. xxii. 
Deut. xxxiii.G. In the days of 
Deborah, the Reubenitcs were 
so embarrassed with intestine 
brcils or foreign invasions, that 
they could send no assistance to 
Barak. During the reign of 
Saul, they, perhaps under the 
command of Eela the son of 
Azaz, conquered a tribe of the 
Hagarites on the east of Gilead, 
and seized on their country. Of 
them, and their brethren the 



REW 

Gadites and Manassites, to the 
number of 120,000, attended at 
David's coronation. In that 
period, Eliezer the son of Zichri 
was their governor; and Adina 
the son of Shiza was one of Da- 
vid's worthies. Hazael king of 
Syria terribly ravaged their coun- 
try; but it seems, that after- 
wards, in the reign of Jeroboam 
II. they and their brethren of 
Gilead smote the Hagarites. and 
took from them their country, 
and a prodigious booty of flocks. 
Not long after, when Beerah 
was their prince, Tiglath-pileser 
carried them captive into the 
north-east parts of his empire, 
Judg. v. 15, 16. IChron. xii. 37. 
xxvii. 16. xi. 42. 2 Kings x. 33. 

1 Chron. v. 

REVELLINGS, luxurious 
feasting, attended with wanton 
songs and behaviour, Gal. v 
21. 

REVENGE, or vengeance; 
(1.) An angry resentment of an 
injuvy that has been, or is sup- 
posed to be done us, Jer. xx. 10. 
(2.) A just censure of a scandal, 

2 Cor. x. 6. (3.) A hatred of sin, 
manifested in using all proper 
methods to destroy it, 2 Cor. vii. 
11. 

REVENUE, profit, income, 
Ezra iv. 3. Isa. xxiii. 3. Christ's 
revenue is the blessings he gives 
to men, which are more pre- 
cious, enriching, and useful, than 
choice silver, Prov. viii. 19. 

REVIVE; (1.) To become 
lively and cheerful, after much 
fainting and sorrow, Gen. xlv. 
27. (2.) To live again, after be- 
ing dead, or deadlike, Rom. xiv. 
9. Hos. xiv. 7. (3.) To quicken, 
and render lively and active, 
Psal. Ixxxv. 6. 

REWARD, wages; (l.)What 
is gained by service, or as the 
subsistence of ministers, 1 Tim. 
v. 18. 2 Cor. xi. 8; and what is 
gained by sinful works, is the 
wages of unrighteousness, 2 
Pet. ii. 15. (2.) The fruit of men's 
labour, Eccl. ix. 5. (3.) A bribe 
432 



RHO 

given to a judge for his favour 
in a cause, Deut. xxvii. 25. 

REZIN, rhe last king of the 
ancient Syrians, perhaps a de- 
scendant of Hazael. Entering 
into a league with Pekah king 
of Israel, they invaded the king- 
dom of Judah, then governed by 
Ahaz. Not being able to take 
Jerusalem, they ravaged the 
country, and returned home. 
Soon after, JRezin's army again 
plundered the country; and 
about this time he marched to 
the Red Sea, and took Elath, 
and restored it, whether to Syria 
or the Edomites we are uncer- 
tain, as in the Hebrew Aram 
and Edom are so very similar. 
But it is certain, that not long 
after Tiglath-pileser, king of 
Assyria, at Ahaz's desire, in- 
vaded Syria, slew Rezin, and 
carried his subjects captive to 
Media, 2 Kings xvi. 2 Chron. 
xxviii. Isa. vii. viii. 

REZON, the son of Eliadah, 
revolting from his master Ha- 
dadezer, the Syrian king of 



RIM 

Mediterranean Sea, about 75 
miles east of Crete, and eight 
south of Caria and Lycia id 
Lesser Asia, and about 120 
miles in circumference. Some 
think it was peopled by Do- 
danim, or Rhodanim, the grand- 
son of Japheth; but perhaps it 
was rather peopled by the pos- 
terity of Shem, who dwelt in ths 
adjacent continent; and had its 
name from the multitude of 
roses that grew on it. It is cer- 
tain, the Rhodians were famous 
about the time of the Trojan 
war. Their most ancient cities 
were Lindus, Camirus, Jalysus, 
and Rhodes, which soon eclipsed 
all the rest, and is still a place 
of note. 

RIBLAH, a city of Syria, in 
the land of Hamath. Ii was i 
most agreeable place. HerePha- 
raoh-necho, in his return fro:n 
Carchemish ordered Jehoahaz 
to meet him, and deprived him 
of his crown, giving it to Je- 
hoiakim his brother, 2 Kings 
xxiii. 33, 34. Here Nebuchad- 



Zobah, while David made warinezzar spent his time, while his 
upon him, put himself at the ' generals besieged Jern • 
head of a band of robbers, and i and here he murdered Zede- 
after sundry ravages of the coun- j kiah's children, and several of 
try about Damascus, he seized I the Jewish princes, put out Ze- 
on that city, and set up for king ■ dekiah's eyes, and put him ;n 
of that place. But whether he ' chains, 2 Kings xxv. Jer. xxxix. 
did so in the time of David, or : 5. lii. 9. Some think Riblah was 
only in the time of Solomon, we j the same as Antioch, or as 
know not. Nor know we at : Daphne in Syria; but as the 
what time he began to give dis- j Scripture represents it as on the 
turbance to Solomon. It is cer- ! way between Carehemish and 
tain, that at the time of his j Jerusalem, we can scarce be- 
death, he could scarce be less I lie ve it was either of the two; 
than 90 years of age; and was but rather a city not far from 



probably succeeded bv his son 
Hezron, 1 Kings xi. 23, 24, 25. 
xv. 18. 
RHEGIUM, a city in the king- 



Damascus, the vestiges of which 
are now gone. 

RIGHT: besides its significa- 
tion, relative to hand, or sid£ 



dom of Naples, on the south | also signifies, (1.) Straight. Prov. 
point of Italy, about six miles : ix. 15. (2.) Just and proper, or> 
east of Messina in Sicily, and posite to what is wrong. Gen. 



180 south of Naples. It is said 
to have been originally built by 
a colonv from Chalcis. 

RHODA. See Peter. 

RHODES, an island of the 
T 37 



xviii. 25. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS. See 
Justice. 

RIMMON, or Remmon; (1.) 

A city belonging to the Simeon- 

433 



RIO 

ites, and which was rebuilt after 
the captivity of Babylon. It 
seems to have stood about 25 
miles south-west of Jerusalem, 
Josh. xix. 7. Neh. xi. 29. (2.) 
Remmon-methoar, a city of 
Zebulun given to the Levites, 
Josh. xix. 3. 1 Chr. vi. 77. (3.) 
A steep rock near Gibeah, whi- 
ther 600 Benjamites fled when 
the rest of their tribe was de- 
stroyed, Judg. xx. 47. Perhaps 
it was under this rock, not un- 
der a pomegranate tree, that 
Saul stood, ISam.xiv. 2. (4.) A 
principal idol of the Syrians, 
worshipped at Damascus. The 
name signifies elevation , but 
whether that idol be the Elion, 
or Most High of the Pheni- 
cians, or the Sun or Saturn, or 
Juno, or Venus, is not agreed. 
Perhaps he was none of all 
these, but Jupiter Cassius, who 
had a temple on the north-east 
of Egypt, and was figured with 
his hand stretched out. I sup- 
pose he was Caphtor, the father 
of Caphtorim, whose name, as 
well as that of Rimmon, signifies 
a pomegranate-tree, 2 Kings v. 
18. 

RINGS were either for hang- 
ing curtains or other things by; 
or for ornaments on the hands, 
fingers, ears, &c. Judah, Pha- 
raoh, the Midianites, and He- 
brew men, wore rings on their 
fingers ; and sometimes they 
were finely engraved, Gen. 
xxxviii. 18. xli. 42. Num. xxxi. 
50. Exod. xxviii. 11. 

RINGLEADER, one who, as j 
a captain of the vanguard, leads j 
on all the rest: one that, by his! 
doctrine and example, chiefly 
stirs up others to any particular 
course, Acts xxiv. 5. 

RIXG-STRAKED, having 
spots on their legs, where they 
used to be tied for the slaughter, 
or for shearing, Gen. xxx. 35. 

RINSE, to make clean by 
washing and rubbing, Lev. xv. 
11. 

RIOT rioting excessive and 



ROD 

expensive feasting, 2 Pet. ii. 13. 
Rom. xiii. 13. 

Riotous, intemperate, lascivi- 
ous, Prov. xxviii. 7. 

RIPHATH, the second son 
of Gomer, and grandson of Ja- 
pheth. We suppose his offspring 
peopled Paphlagonia or Bithynia 
in Lesser Asia, where Mela the 
ancient geographer places a tribe 
called the Riphateei, or Riphates. 

RITES, laws, customs, cere- 
monies, Num. ix. 3. 

RIZPAH. See Saul 

ROD, Staff, Sceptre; (1.) A 
rod, in its original signification, 
is a twig, or a small branch of a 
tree ; and Jesus Christ is called 
a Rod or Branch, Is. xi. 1 ; and 
so the word shebet, which we 
sometimes render rod, Gen. xxx. 
37, is also used for tribes, be- 
cause they grow as branches 
from a common root. And the 
two sticks of J ud ah and Ephraim 
becoming one, denotes the junc- 
tion of the tribes of Judah and 
Benjamin, which were one king- 
dom, with those of Ephraim 
and his fellows, which formed 
another, Ezekiel xxxvii. 15 — 22. 
(2.) In the hand of one walking, 
it signifies a staff, to support 
and enable to finish the journey. 
With these the heathens of old 
used to divine what course they 
should follow, Hosea iv. 12 ; 
and in allusion hereto, food that 
supports men in life and action, 
is called a staff and stay, Isaiah 
iii. 1. The Egyptians were a 
staff of reed to the house of Is- 
rael, i. e. an ally on which they 
depended, but which always 
failed them in a time of need, 
Ezek. xxix. 6. (3 ) In the hand 
of a shepherd, it signifies his 
crook, whereby he directs and 
apprehends such of his flock as 
he pleaseth, Leviticus xxvii. 32. 
Christ's staves of beauty and 
bands, which he cut asunder 
with respect to the Jews, were 
his peculiar concern wirh them 
as their Shepherd, and their 
brotherly connection among 
434 



ROD 

themselves, which had been 
their glory and support; and 
which being dissolved, they not 
only lost their church-state, but 
fell into such furious contentions 
as hastened their ruin, Zech. xi. 
10—14. (4.) In the hand of a 
surveyor, it signifies his measure 
for meting out fields ; and so the 
thing measured is called the 
rod; so the Jewish nation are 
called the rod of God's inheri- 
tance, as they were set apart to 
be his peculiar property, Psalm 
lxxiv. 2; or the word might be 
rendered tribe, Jer. x. 16. (5.) 
In the hand of a thresher, it de- 
notes a flail, or threshing staff, 
Isaiah xxviii. 27; and in allusion 
hereto, in the hand of an offend- 
ed person, it signifies an instru- 
ment to beat, correct, or punish 
the offender, Proverbs xxiii. 13. 
And in allusion to this correc- 
tion, church-censure is called a 
rod, Micah vi. 9. vii. 14. 1 Cor. 
iv. 21. Prov. xxix. 15. God's 
chastisements of his people are 
called the rod of men, as they 
are inflicted with the kindness 
and compassion of a Father, 2 
Sam. vii. 14. (6.) In the hand 
of a warrior, it signifies his 
truncheon, the staff of his spear, 
or his walking staff, 2Sam.xxiv. 
19. (7.) In the hand of a ruler, 
it is a sceptre, or badge of au- 
thority, to direct, govern, chas- 
tise, and reward, Esther viii. 4 ; 
and hence it is put for power 
and authority, Isa. xiv. 5 ; and 
also for the ruleis themselves ; 
bo where we have shebet in one 
place, we have judges in the 
parallel place, compare 2 Sam. 
vii. 7. 1 Chron. xvii. 6 ; and the 
princes of Judah are called rods, 
because with authority they 
ruled and corrected others,Ezek. 
six. 14. 

The rod of Clirisfs strength 
stnt out of Zion, is the gospel, 
attended with miraculous and 
saving influence, for the authori- 
tative conversion of multitudes, 
and the support and direction 



ROM 

of saints, Psalm ex. 2. See 
Shiloh. 

ROE, roebuck ; a small ani- 
mal of the deer kind, being only 
about two feet high. The body 
is covered with long hair of an 
ash colour, with streaks of black. 
The ears are long, the horns 8 
or 10 inches, and the tail very 
short. The rump is of a pure 
white, and the chest, belly, and 
inside of the legs of a yellowish 
white. The form of the roe- 
buck is elegant, and its motions 
light and easy, and very swift. 
When pursued by the hunters, 
it returns on its former track, 
and, by various windings, en- 
deavours to confound the scent, 
so that the dogs may be unable 
to follow it. 

ROLL. One rolls himself 
on the Lord, when he depends 
on him for direction, Ps. xxxvii. 
5. The Chaldeans were rolled 
down from the rocks, when dri- 
ven out of their strong and lofty 
city, perhaps some of them 
thrown over the walls, and de- 
prived of all means of shelter by 
the Persians, Jer. Ji. 25. Na- 
tions are like a rolling thing 
before the whirlwind, when easi- 
ly tossed to and fro with the 
judgments of God, Isa. xvii. 13. 

Roll, a piece of paper for fold- 
ing up : for anciently, before the 
binding of books was invented, 
all writings were in rolls of pa- 
per or parchment ; and the Jews 
in their synagogues still read 
the scriptures out of copies in 
loose sheets, that are rolled up 
on a staff. The roll in Ezekiel 
and Zechariah's vision, is repre- 
sented as containing denuncia- 
tions of heavy judgments against 
wicked men, Ezek. ii. Zech. v. 
The roll, or volume of the book, 
as it relates to David, may signi- 
fy some written vow of his, 
wherein he had solemnly devot- 
ed himself to the service of God. 

ROME, the most noted city 
of Italy, and long the mistress 
of the world, was built by the 
435 



ROM 

Etrurians, and enlarged by Rom- 
ulus, and a number of little else 
than banditti, under his direc- 
tion, about A: jM. 3254. It 
gradually increased till it ex 
tended over seven hills; nay, at 
last, it took in thirteen. The 
river Tiber, which run through 
it, when swelled with rain, and 
blown back by the south-west 
wind, often did it a great deal 
of hurt ; but was of great use on 
ordinary occasions, to afford 
water to the city, and to carry 
olf the filth, which was conveyed 
to it by canals under ground. 
Its walls never seem to have 
been above thirteen miles in cir- 
cumference ; and if deductions 
be made for their various wind- 
ings, they will be found much 
less ; but the country around 
was formed into a vast extent 
of suburbs. To mention the di- 
versified fate of this city, its 
burnings and pillage by the 
Gauls, and by the Goths, Van- 
dals, Heruli, Greeks, &,c. and 
the various massacres, famines, 
and pestilences, which have hap- 
pened in it, would be improper 
in this work. In the time of 
Romulus it. contained about3000 
inhabitants ; in the time of Au- 
gustus they were about two 
millions. At present, they 
scarce amount to 200,000 ; and 
no more than about the third part 
of what is within these walls is 
inhabited. It is now noted for 
multitudes of ancient ruins, and 
for Peter's church, which was 
100 years in building, and the 
Vatiean or winter-palace of the 
Pope, which consists of about 
12,500 chambers, halls, and 
closets, and has a famed library, 
garden, and arsenal. Its hospi- 
tals are under excellent regula- 
tion ; but the morals of the in- 
habitants are licentious to an 
uncommon degree. 

While the Romans governed 
a great part of the world, they, 
either for money, or good deeds, 
or of free favour, conferred the 



ROM 

right of citizens on such as were 
not of their nation, and even 
sometimes on the inhabitants of 
a whole city. In this sense 
Paul and Silas were Romans, 
having a legal title to all the 
privi leges of the citizens of 
Rome, or her colonies, Acts xvi. 
37, 38. xxii. 25, 26, 27. 

At the birth of Jesus Christ, 
this city was in its highest glory, 
and was indeed the mistress of 
the world. Judea, at this time, 
formed a part of this overgrown 
empire ; and Joseph and Mary 
were brought to Bethlehem by 
a decree of Ca?sar. Christianity, 
doubtless, obtained an early 
footing in this great city, into 
which there was a flow of every 
thing, good and bad, from all 
parts of the empire ; but it re- 
mained in obscurity, and did not 
attract the notice of the empe- 
rors, until about A. D. 64, when 
Nero commenced a bloody per- 
secution against the church. 
From the death of Nero, A. ZX 
68, the Christians seem to have 
continued undisturbed until the 
reign of Domitian, A. D. 81, 
when the second persecution be- 
gan, and continued until A. D„ 
96, when Domitian died. Ner- 
va, in his short reign of 10 
months, put a stop to all perse- 
cution. But Trajan, renowned 
for his virtues, and especially for 
clemency, persecuted the Chris- 
tians, against whom he cherish- 
ed an implacable hatred. The 
correspondence between him 
and Pliny the younger, still ex- 
tant, furnishes full evidence of 
the fact. It was in his reign that 
Simeon, the venerable bishop 
of Jerusalem, suffered martyr- 
dom, by crucifixion, at the age 
of 120 "years ; and Ignatius, an- 
other saint, of whom the world 
was not worthy, was sent to 
R.ome, in the reign of Trajan A* 
D. 11.7, to be devoured by wild 
beasts. But in the same year, 
the emperor died, and was suc- 
ceeded by Adrian, who seems to 
436 



ROM 

have been a moderate and 
peaceful man ; but though he 
enacted no new edicts against 
the church, was not careful to 
abrogate those already in force; 
so that, in some of the provinces, 
persecution continued to rage, 
until the apathy of the indiffe- 
rent emperor was aroused by 
two Apologies for the Chris- 
tians: the one written by Q.uad- 
ratus, bishop of Athens, and the 
other by Aristides, of the same 
city. He also received a letter 
from Serenius Granianus, pro- 
consul of Asia, in which he had 
courage to remonstrate in the 
following manner : ' It seems to 
me unreasonable, that the Chris- 
tians should be put to death, 
merely to gratify the clamours 
of the people, without trial, and 
without having any crime prov- 
ed against them.' After this, 
Adrian interposed to check the 
rage of persecution ; but such 
was the violent rage of the su- 
perstitious people, that it was 
not entirely quelled, until the 
reign of his successor, Antoninus 
Pius. To him was addressed 
the Apology of Justin Martyr, 
which probably produced a good 
effect. During the 22 years 
which this reign lasted, the 
church enjoyed repose, and grew 
exceedingly. Marcus Antoninus, 
called Aurelius, while, like Tra- 
jan, he had the character of a 
virtuous prince, like him, in- 
dulged unreasonable enmity a- 
gainst the Christians. Under his 
reign, Justin suffered martyr- 
dom, at Rome, A. D. 163 ; also 
Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, A. 
D. 167, who was extremely old, 
for he had presided over that 
church for 74 years. Commo- 
dus was, in every thing, the op- 
posite of his father, being one of 
the most profligate of mortals ; 
and yet, during his reign, which 
lasted 12 years, the church en- 
joyed peace, which continued 
through the short reigns of Per- 
tinax and Julian, and until the 
37 



ROM 
10th year of Severus, A. D. 202, 
when the fires of persecution 
were enkindled for the fifth time, 
and continued eight years, till 
the death of the emperor. Cara- 
calla, a very monster of wicked 
ness, did not molest the Chris 
tians, which is said to have been 
owing to impressions received 
from his nurse, who was a Chris- 
tian. He died A. D. 217, and 
was succeeded by Macrinus, 
who reigned only one year and 
two months. Next came Helio- 
gabalus, another monster of 
folly and iniquity, and who, 
like the others of similar charac- 
ter, was restrained from all acts 
of persecution. He died, how- 
ever, at the early age of 16, A. 
D. 222, and was succeeded by 
Alexander, then only 18 years 
of- age, but esteemed one of the 
best moral characters in profane 
history. He was much under 
the influence of Mammsa, his 
mother, who was an excellent 
woman, and is supposed to have 
been a Christian. But this 
young prince was slain, together 
with his mother, at Mentz, in 
Germany, A. D. 235, after a 
reign of 13 years. His succes- 
sor Maximin, was a very diffe- 
rent character, by whom a fresh 
persecution was commenced, 
which continued until the death 
of the tyrant ; and, happily, he 
reigned only three years. Dur- 
ing the joint but short reign of 
Pupienus and Balbinus, the six 
years' reign of Gordian, and the 
five years of Philip, nothing was 
done by public authority against 
the church. Eusebius, indeed, 
calls Philip a Christian ; but the 
evidences of it in his acts, is not 
very satisfactory. To him suc- 
ceeded Decius* under whom 
commenced the seventh general 
persecution, which raged with 
unexampled fury, both in the 
east and west ; but ended wifh 
his death, which occurred within 
three years after his accession. 
Gallus, at first, was favourable 
437 



ROM 

in his measures, but towards the 
close of his reign, renewed the 
persecution. The same is true 
of Valerian; for three years, 
Christians were members of his 
household ; but then, under the 
influence of Macrinus his fa- 
vourite, he commenced a perse- 
cution, which continued for 
three years and a half, when 
it was terminated by his death. 
Under this reign, the pious Cy- 
prian, bishop of Carthage, suf- 
fered martyrdom. From this 
time until the end of the century, 
a period of 40 years, under the 
reigns of Gallienus, Claudius, 
Aurelian, Tacitus, Probus, Ca- 
rus, and his two sons, and a part 
of that of Dioclesian, the Chris- 
tians enjoyed the protection of 
government. The reign of this 
prince commenced Ji. D. 284, 
and for 18 years he was indul- 
gent towards the Christians. 
Indeed, his wife Prisca, his 
daughter Valeria, and many of 
the officers of his household, 
were Christians ; and they were 
freely admitted to posts of ho- 
nour, and allowed to erect tem- 
ples in every part of the empire. 
But the capricious tyrant having 
been provoked to wrath by the 
refusal of some persons in his 
service to sacrifice to the gods, 
commenced one of the bloodiest 
persecutions which ever afflicted 
the church. Eusebius relates, 
and he was an eye-witness, that 
from 10 to 100 were martyred in 
Egypt in a single day. In that 
country alone, 114,000 are reck- 
oned to have suffered death for 
their adherence to Christianity. 
The object of the tyrant was 
undoubtedly to extirpate the 
church utterly ; and he seems to 
have been persuaded at one 
time that the work was accom- 
plished, for a medal was struck 
by him, which is still extant, 
with this device, Nomine Chris- 
tianorum Dcleto, i. e. the name 
of Christians blotted out. Dio- 
clesian was stimulated to great- 



ROO 
er cruelties than he himself was 
inclined to exercise, by his col- 
league Maximinian, by whom he 
was persuaded to issue the 
edicts which authorized this 
persecution ; and being now ad- 
vanced in years, he resigned the 
empire into the hands of his col- 
league. But Maximinian soon 
followed the example of Diocle- 
sian, and resigned also. Their 
successors were Galerius in the 
east, and Constantius in the 
west; but this change had no 
effect in abating the persecution, 
which was carried on by Gale- 
rius in the east with unrelenting 
severity, but in which Constan- 
tius took no part. He being in 
Britain, and confined with sick- 
ness, sent for his son Constan- 
tine, that he might give him his 
counsel before his death. He 
arrived in time to receive his 
father's last advice, Ji. D. 311. 
Galerius died of a loathsome 
disease, but the persecution con- 
tinued under Maximin, his suc- 
cessor, with unabated fury; but 
he also died of a terrible disease, 
Ji. D. 313. The empire was 
now governed by Licinius in the 
east, and Constantine in the 
west ; while Maxentius, the son 
of Maximinian, the colleague of 
Dioclesian, was declared empe- 
ror in Italy ; but Constantine 
coming suddenly upon him, 
overthrew him. Just before the 
battle commenced which was to- 
decide the fate of the empire 
and of the church too, Constan- 
tine declared that he saw in the 
heavens a cross with this inscrip- 
tion, Sub hoc signovinces. The 
persecution continued for some 
time in the east ; but Licinius 
engaged in a war with Constan- 
tine, by which he lost his empire 
and his life, and Constantine 
became sole emperor Ji. D. 325, 
when all persecution ceased, 
and Christianity was fully es- 
tablished. 

ROOF; (1.) The covering of 
a house. The Jews had theirs 
43S 



ROS 
flat for walking on, or even erect- 
ing booths on, Nehem. viii. 18 ; 
and a battlement, breast high, 
around, to prevent any body 
falling from them. As this ren- 
dered them private places, they 
oft performed their devotions on 
them, and burnt incense to idols, 
particularly the queen, or frame 
of the heavens, Deuteronomy 
xxii. 8. Acts x. 9. Jeremiah 
xix. 13. xxxii. 29. (2.) The up- 
per part of the mouth, which is 
an instrument of speaking and 
tasting. 

ROOM; (I.) A place, Gen. 
xxiv. 23. (2.) The stead, or of- 
fice, 2 Samuel xix. 13. (3.) A 
state of liberty and comfort, Ps. 
xxxi. 8. (4.) Chambers, apart- 
ments. As upper-rooms were 
most retired, strangers at the 
passover and other solemn feasts, 
had the upper rooms allotted for 
their lodging, Mark xiv. 15 ; and 
here the disciples attended their 
devotions, Acts i. 13. (5.) A 
seat, Luke xiv. 8. 

ROOT ; (1.) That part of a 
plant which is fastened in the 
earth, Job xiv. 8. (2.) A foun- 
dation which establisheth what 
is built on it, Job xxviii. 9. (3.) 
That from which any thing pro- 
ceeds : so the love of money is 
the root or cause of all evil, 1 
Tim. vi. 10. 

To put ROPES on the head, 
was expressive of great distress, 
and earnest begging of compas- 
sion, and perhaps their swords 
were hung in them, in the man- 
ner in which the people of those 
places now beg mercy from 
their conquerors, 1 Kings xx. 
31, 32. 

ROSE, the name of a well 
known flower, and the tree that 



RYE 

bears it. Rose-bushes thrive 
best in a rich, moist, open soil ; 
for when the soil is dry, and the 
situation shadowed, the flowers 
are less beautiful. Tournefort 
mentions 53 kinds of roses, of 
which the damask rose and the 
rose of Sharon are among the 
finest. The essence of damask 
roses is an excellent perfume, 
Cant. ii. 1. Isa. xxxv. 1. 

RUBY, a precious stcne, of a 
red colour, mixed with purple. 
In its most perfect state, it is a 
jewel of great value, and in 
hardness is second only to the 
diamond. Its usual size is of the 
bigness of the head of a large 
pin, but is found from that size 
to forty carats. The price of 
Jesus Christ and his grace, is 
infinitely superior in value to 
rubies. 

This word occurs in the au- 
thorized English version in the 
following places. Job xxviii. 18. 
Prov. iii. 15. viii. 11. xx. 15. 
xxxi. 10. Lam. iv. 7; but toe 
word here used {peninim) pro- 
perly signifies 'pearls.' 

RUE, a plant that bears a rosy 
flower, and which, when dried, 
is much used in medical infu- 
sions. It is a small shrubby 
plant, common in our gardens ; 
which has a bitter, penetrating 
taste, and a strong smell, Luke 
xi. 42. 

RYE, a species of grain used 
for bread, and for provender for 
animals. The word signifies 
' bearded :' but barley and some 
kinds of wheat are bearded aiso. 
The word occurs, Exod. ix. 32. 
Isaiah xxviii. 25. Ezekiel iv. 9. 
In this last, however, it is ren- 
dered ' fitches,' in our English 
Bibles. 



SAB 

SABACHTHAXI, or Hhas- 
abtani, Thou hast forsaken 
me, Mark xv. 34. 

SABAOTH, or Tzabaoth, 
armies, Rom. ix. 29. James v. 4. 



SAB 
SABBATH, or Rest. The 
Greeks sometimes give this name 
to the whole week, because the 
principal day of it was the Sab- 
bath : so the Pharisee boasts that 
439 



SAB 

he fasted twice in the Sabbath, 
or week, Luke xviii. 12. Gr. ; 
but the Sabbath, properly so 
called, is that day of holy rest in 
tne week. God having finished 
his work of creation in six days, 
ceased or rested therefrom on 
the seventh, and set it apart for 
the more solemn worship of him- 
self by men, and as an emblem 
and pledge of their eternal bless- 
edness, Gen. ii. 1, 2. No doubt 
the ancient patriarchs observed 
the Sabbath, though in their 
short history we have no ex- 
press account thereof, any more 
than of their family-worship; 
but that is no more than hap- 
pens in the history from Moses 
to the end of David's reign, 
which was near 440 years, when 
it is granted by all to have been 
the appointment of Heaven. 
The end of days, when Cain and 
Abel offered their oblations ; the 
diy^when the sons of God met 
together, or the days of Job, 
e'ands fair to be the Sabbath, 
Gen.iv. Jobi.6. ii. 1. In Ho- 
mer, Hesiod, and Herodotus, and 
others of the most ancient wri- 
ters among the Heathen, we 
have hints of a seventh-day Sab- 
oath, whose observation they 
had derived from their progeni- 
tors. When the manna began to 
be given to the Hebrews, Moses 
mentions the Sabbath as not un- 
known to them, and warns them 
that a double portion of manna 
would fall on the day preceding, 
and ought to be gathered, as 
none would fall on the Sabbath, 
Exod. xvi. 23. To mark the per- 
petual and universal obligation 
of the observance of the Sab- 
bath, God proclaimed the law 
of it from Sinai, wrote it in a 
table of stone, along with the 
rest which were allowed to be 
moral; and he enforced it with 
manifold reasons, absolutely 
moral and universal, Exod. xx. 
8 — 11. Injunctions to keep it, 
r.nd threatenings for the breach 
of it, are every where found in 



SAB 

the law and the prophets. For 
gathering some sacks on it, God 
appointed a man to be stoned to 
death, Numb. xv. 32—36. For 
neglect to observe it, the Jewish 
nation was almost destroyed, 
and their land lay 70 years deso- 
late, Lev. xxvi. 34, 35. Neh. xiii. 
lti — 13. Jer. xvii.27. Ezek. xx. 
To honour his own resurrection, 
Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, 
changed the Sabbath from the 
seventh to the first day of the 
week. To mark the divine au- 
thority of this' change, he, on 
that day, made repeated visits to 
his disciples, John xx. 19.26; he 
bestowed the miraculous gifts, 
and grace of the Holy Ghost, 
Acts ii. 1. This is called the 
Lord's day, and thereon the 
primitive Christians met for their 
public worship, and made their 
collections for the poor, Rev. i. 
10. Acts xx. 7. 1 Cor. xvi. It 
must not be forgotten, that til} 
the Romans destroyed Jerusa- 
lem, the Jewish Christians show- 
ed a respect to the ancient Sab- 
bath, and the apostles very often 
took the opportunity of prea cit- 
ing to the Jews, as they thereon 
assembled in their synagogues, 
Acts xiii. 42. xvi. 13. xviii. 4. 
The first day was all along ob- 
served by Christians as their 
| Sabbath, for almost 1600 years, 
| before any pretenders to that 
name, that I know of, opposed 
I it. Nor do I yet know of many 
l of its opposers, whose practice 
j is not a scandal to the Christian 
I name. As the command plainly 
! prohibits all manner of civil 
1 business, travelling, carnal talk, 
• &c. Exod. xx. 8 — 11. Isa. Iviii. 
1 13 : it were to be wished, multi- 
tudes of this generation would 
consider, how they will reconcile 
i their idle recreation, their un- 
' necessary sleeping, their idle 
chat, or grosser violations of it ; 
or how they will answer for 
these at the judgment seat of 
Christ. 
God, indeed, prohibited the 
440 






SAD 

Jews to kindle fire on the Sab- 
bath, for the work of erecting 
the tabernacle, or dressing of 
their manna, or to travel through 
their tt-nts, Exod. xxxv. 2, 3. 
xvi. 29; but in our Saviour's 
time, they in some things carried 
their strictness to an excess: 
they found fault with his hungry 
disciples, for eating a few ears 
of corn as they walked through 
a field ; and quarrelled with him- 
self, for healing diseases on the 
Sabbath, Matt. xii. 1—12. Mark 
ii. 23—28. iii. 1—6. Luke xiii. 
11—16. xiv. 1—6. John v. 

SABEANS. See Sheba. 

SABTA and SABTECHA, 
the third and fifth sons of Cush. 
We suppose both may have set- 
tled in Arabia the Happy. But 
Bochart will have the latter to 
have settled in Kerman, on the 
east of the Persian gulf, where 
he finds ancient vestiges of his 
name, Gen. x. 7. 

SHCBUT, an ancient musical 
instrument used in Nebuchad- 
nezzar's concert. It is thought 
to have bad four strings, and to 
have had a shrill sound. Athe- 
naeus thinks it was similar to the 
psaltry: but Isidore will have it 
a kind of flute or hautboy. 

SACKCLOTH, a kind of 
coarse linen, was ordinarily worn 
to express mourning, as by Job, 
Abab, and the Syrians, who 
came to implore mercy for Ben- 
hadad, and by Mordecai, when 
the Jewish nation was in danger 
of ruin. Job xvi. 15. 1 Kings xxi. 
27. xx. 31. Esth.iv. 1,2. The 
prophets also wore it, or like 
coarse apparel; and the false 
prophets, to be like them, wore 
rough or coarse garments, Isa. 
xx. 2. Zech. xiii. 4. 

SACRIFICE. See Offering. 

SACRILEGE, the stealing of 
things set apart to a holy use, 
Kom. ii. 22. 

SADDUCEES, a sect which 
derived its origin fromTzadoc, a 
disciple of Antigonus, who lived 
240 years before Christ. This 



SAD , 

Antigonus had inculcated on 
his disciples, the doctrine of dis- 
interested obedience, saying, 
' Be not as slaves, who obey 
their masters for reward, but 
obey without hoping for any 
remuneration for your labours. 
Let the fear of God be upon 
you.' This salutary doctrine, if 
rightly understood, was by Tza- 
doc perverted ; who taught, that 
there were no future rewards or 
punishments appointed unto 
men; and consequently, no 
world of retribution; and no an- 
gels or spirits. The account 
which Josephus gives of the 
Sadducees is as follows ; ' They 
say there is no such thing as 
fate, but that our actions are in 
our own power; so that we are 
ourselves the causes of what, is 
good, and receive what is evil 
from our own folly.' Again, 
' The doctrine of the Sadducees 
is, that the soul dies with the 
body ; neither do they observe 
any precepts but what they find 
in the written law.' The same 
writer informs us, that the doc- 
trine of the Sadducees was re- 
ceived by few; but these were 
commonly persons of wealth and 
dignity. As a sect, however, 
they had no influence over the 
people, so that when they be- 
came magistrates they conform- 
ed to the policy of their rivals, 
; the Pharisees. Josephus also 
! represents them as wanting in 
comity and kindness towards 
lone another; while the Phari- 
jsees were the reverse: but it 
I must be recollected, that the 
historian belonged to the latter 
1 sect. The Sadducees, as well as 
! the Pharisees, were bitterly op- 
' posed to Christ, and often con' 
tended with him on the points 
which were peculiar to their 
sect; but they seem to have 
mustered their strength, and to 
have come forth with all their 
power, against the apostles, 
when they preached the resur- 
rection of Jesus from the d»-*d 
441 



SAL 

which single fact, was a death- 
blow to their system. The sect 
of the Sadducees made some 
figure in the 3d century, and 
again in the 8th, hut for a long 
time past they have been extinct, 
or studiously conceal their opi- 
nions. There is reason, how- 
ever, to fear, that the infidel opi- 
nions of this sect, are still secretly 
cnerished by multitudes of the 
modern Jews ; who, while they 
conform externally to Jewish 
rites, have no faith in their own 
law. It is an awful reflection, 
made by a pious writer, that we 
never read, in the New Testa- 
ment, of the conversion of a 
Sadducee, Matth. xxi. 23—32. 
Acts v. 17. iv. 1. Matth. iii. 7. 
xvi. 1. 6. Acts xxiii. 6, 7, 8. 

SAFFRON, an odoriferous 
herb, which is planted in Sep- 
tember, and is in full flower in 
February ; after which its leaves 
spring forth, and continue till 
May. Its flower is of a bluish 
colour, with yellow threads, and 
is of a very agreeable smell. It 
is an excellent cordial, and of 
great use in curing many dis- 
eases, Cant. iv. 14. 

S A IN TS ; holy ones ; (1.) Per- 
sons holy by profession, cove- 
nant-dedication, gracious dispo- 
sitions, and religious conversa- 
tion, Ps. xvi. 3. Heb. vi. 10. (2.) 
The separate souls of holy men, 
who in heaven are freed from all 
sinful infirmities, Rev. xviii 24. 
(3.) Holy angels, Deut. xxxiii. 2. 
Jude 14. See Sanctify. 

SALAM1S. There was an 
island of this name south of 
Athens, where the Persian fleet 
receiver! a terrible defeat from 
the Athenians; but the Salamis 
spoken of in Scripture was a 
city of Cyprus. Here Paul and 
Barnabas preached the gospel. 
About A. D. 118. the Jews de- 
stroyed it. It was however re- 
built, and was the seat of the 
principal bishop of the isle; but 
the Saracens razed it to the 
ground, when they seized on the] 



SAL 

Island. It is probable that Fama- 
gusta, which suffered so much 
when the Ottoman Turks took 
the island, arose out of its ruins. 

SALEM, or Salim, where 
John baptized, was probably a 
place near Shechern, whither 
Jacob came as he returned from 
Mesopotamia; but some com- 
mentators translate the word 
Shalem safe and sound, or in 
peace, John iii. 23. Gen. xxxii. 
18. It was probably here that 
Melchisedek was king, and came 
to meet Abraham in his return 
southward, from smiting Che- 
dorlaomer and his allies. It is 
certain Jerusalem, which was 
afterwards by contraction called 
Salem, Psal. lxxvi, 2, was then 
called Jebus, and was far off 
the way between Damascus and 
Sodom ; whereas this was direct- 
ly on it, when one came south 
by the west side of Jordan, Gen. 
xiv. 

SALMON. See Rahab Sal- 
mon. 

SALMONE, Salmovion, or 
Sammonium ; a city and sea- 
port on the east end of the isle 
of Crete, where Cape Salomone 
now is, Acts xxvii. 7. 

SALOME, the wife of Zebe- 
dee, and mother of James and 
John. She was one of those holy 
women who much followed our 
Saviour, and ministered to him 
for his subsistence. She foolishly 
begged that her two sons might 
have principal posts in his tem- 
poral kingdom. She witnessed 
his crucifixion, brought perfumes 
for his dead body, and visited 
his grave that morning he rose 
from the dead, Matth. xx. 21. 
Mark x. 37. xv. 40, 41. xvi. 
1,2. 

SALT is either digged out of 
mines, for there are whole moun- 
tains consisting of rocks of salt, 
and there are salt-mines in Up- 
per Hungary 180 fathoms deep; 
or it is formed by the heat of the 
sun exhaling the water from it 
on sea-shores ; or it is formed by 
442 



SAM 

boiling sea, or salt spring water ; 
or is extracted from other sub- 
stances ; as from earth moistened 
with excrements, &c. The salt 
mingled with the water of the 
sea is of use to preserve it from 
putrefaction, and to render it 
stronger to bear vessels ; and the 
perpetual motion thereof, is of 
use to prevent the salt particles 
falling to the bottom. There is 
scarce any substance without a 
mixture of salt. The use of salt 
is to season food, preserve from 
corruption, kill worms, heal 
wounds, and rectify the humours 
of animal bodies. 

Salt is the emblem of fidelity, 
in the sacred Scriptures ; as it is 
among the Arabs to this day. 
Hence the expression, * the salt 
of the covenant,' Lev. ii. 13. 
Num. xviii. 19. 2 Chron. xiii. 5. 
Salt is in the New Testament 
the emblem of wisdom or discre- 
tion, Col. iv. 6. And because 
salt land was usually barren, salt 
is sometimes the emblem of 
sterility, Judg. ix. 45. Every 
sacrifice was required to be 
salted, Lev. ii. New born infants 
were salted in the time of Eze- 
kiel, xvi. 4. Christ compares 
those who should fail to set a 
good example, to salt which has 
lost its savour, Matt. v. 13 ; but 
says to his disciples, l ye are the 
salt of the earth.' 

SALVATION. See Save. 

SALUTE, to pay friendly 
compliments, whether by words. 
kisses, or letters, Matth. x. 12. 
Rom. xvi. lfi. 1 Cor. xvi. 20. 

SAMARIA, (1.) A city of the 
Ephraimites, and the capital city 
of the ten tribes of Israel for 
some ages. When Omri was 
king of Israel, he, about A. M. 
3080, bought a hill from She- 
mer, for 684Z. 7s. Qd. and built 
on it a city, which, from the 
name of the late owner, he called 
Shomrom, or Samaria. It stood 
about 42 miles north from Jeru- 
salem, and 12 south of Dothaim. 
Its siiuation was very agreeable, 



SAM 

and it had plenty of fine water* 
Leaving Shechem and Tirzah| 
where the former kings had re- 
sided, Omri fixed his residence 
at Samaria ; Ahab his son built 
there a fine palace, whose prin- 
cipal chambers, it seems, were 
boxed with ivory, 1 Kings xxii. 
30. Though he, as well as his 
father, did what they could to 
fortify it; yet it appears, that 
Benhadad king of Syria obliged 
them to allow him to build 
streets, or places of trade, for his 
use in it. In Ahab's time, it 
sustained a siege from Benhadad 
and his 32 tributary kings, but 
was relieved by the defeat of tho 
Syrians, 1 Kings xx. In Jehoram 
his son's reign, it sustained an- 
other siege from the Syrians, till 
women eat their own infants for 
hunger; but was miraculously 
relieved and supplied, 2 Kings 
vi. vii. Not long after, the elders 
of it beheaded 70 of Ahab's de- 
scendants, and sent their heads 
in baskets to Johu, 2 Kings x. 
In the time of Jeroboam the 2d, 
it was extremely populous, and 
the inhabitants were luxurious, 
effeminate, oppressors of the 
poor, and idolatrous, to an un- 
common degree, Amos iii. 15. 
iv. 1, 2. Hos. vii. 1. viii. 5, 6. In 
A. M. 3283, Shalmaneser, after 
a siege of three years took it, 
and reduced it to ruins, 2 Kings 
xvii. 1 — 6. Mic. i. 1. 6. Isa. viii. 
4. Hos. xiii. 16. It was after- 
wards, but very gradually, re- 
paired. Alexander planted a 
colony of Macedonians in it. 
Hircanus the Jewish king de- 
molished it, and made the water 
run over its foundations. About 
A. M. 3947, Gabinius, the Ro- 
man governor of Syria, rebuilt 
it in part, and called it Gabi- 
niana, Herod the Great restored 
it to its ancient lustre, and called 
it Sebaste^ in honour of Augus- 
tus or Sebastos the Roman em- 
peror. Whatever it might suffer 
in the Jewish wars, it was a 
place of some consideration 
443 



SAM 
about A. D. 100. (2.) The coun- 
try of the Epbrairaites, or of the 
ten tribes, 1 Kings xiii. 32. In 
the New Testament, Samaria 
always signifies the territory be- 
tween Judea and Galilee; and 
where the tribes of Ephraim, 
Manasseh, and Issachar dwelt. 
Here our Saviour converted sun- 
dry, John iv ; here Simon Magus 
deceived the people; and here 
many were converted by the 
ministry of Philip the deacon, 
and of Peter and John, John iv. 
Acts viii. 

The remains of this place 
were visited by Mr. Bucking- 
ham, who found a village called 
Jabasta, containing about 30 
dwellings, seated on a stony hill, 
surrounded by fruitful valleys, 
and abounding in olive-trees; 
occupying a commanding as 
well as a pleasant situation. 
There is here a long street, lined 
by an avenue of columns with- 
out capitals, 33 of which are still 
standing, reported by the tradi- 
tion of the country, to have be- 
longed to Herod's palace, but 
more probably to the temple 
which he built here. There is 
also a group of 8 large, and 18 
small pillars without capitals ; 
and blocks of stone, which can- 
not easily be referred to any par- 
ticular species of building." The 
ruins of St. Helena's church are 
still very conspicuous : the edi- 
fice was 150 by 50 feet. The 
architecture cannot be reduced 
to any known order. 

Dr. Richardson also visited 
this place, which he calculates 
to be 48 miles from Jerusalem. 
'The situation,' says he, 'is ex- 
tremely beautiful and strong by 
nature: more so, I think, than 
Jerusalem. It stands on a fine 
large insulated hill, compassed 
all round by a broad deep valley; 
and when fortified, must have 
been, according to the ancient 
mode of warfare, impregnable. 
The valley is surrounded by 
four hills which are cultivated 



SAM 

in terraces to the top, and sown 
with grain, and planted with fig- 
trees and* olive-trees; as is also 
the valley. The hill of Samaria 
itself, rises in terraces to a 
height, equal to any of those in 
its vicinity. The present village 
is small and poor, and the ascent 
to it very steep; but viewed from 
our tents was extremely in- 
teresting, from its natural situa- 
tion, and the ruins of an ancieni 
convent, which are very pic- 
turesque.' This traveller, de- 
scribes the prospect from the 
hill of Scbaste as very charming, 
and says, ' that on the south side 
of the mountain, there are also 
some extensive ruins; particu- 
larly, a stately colonnade, run- 
ning from east to west.' 

SAMARITANS, the inhabit- 
ants of the country of Samaria. 
When Shalmaneser carried the 
ten tribes out of their own land, 
he transplanted others from Ba- 
bylon, and places adjacent, into 
it. There they continued their 
former idolatry: the Babylo- 
nians worshipped Succoth be- 
noth ; the Cuthites, Nergal ; the 
Hamathites, Ashima; theAvites, 
Nibhaz and Tartak; and the 
Sepharvites burnt their children 
in the fire to Adramelech, and 
Anammelech ; nor, if we believe 
the Jews, were these their only 
idols. God punished their ido- 
I latry in his land with the de- 
struction of many of them by 
lions. Suspecting the cause, they 
begged king Esarhaddon, who, 
it seems, transplanted other 
tribes thither, that he would 
take proper methods to instruct 
them in the worship of the God 
of their new country. He sent 
them a Hebrew priest, who in- 
structed them in the Jewish re- 
ligion, and gave them a copy of 
Moses's law. Copies of this still 
remain, with a version thereof 
in the Samaritan dialect, both in 
the Samaritan characters, but 
corrupted with sundry mistakes, 
especially in numbers, and where 
444 



SAM 

the transcribers mistook one He- 
brew letter tor another ; and with 
some stuifin favour of Gerizzim. 
Thus instructed, the Samaritans 
blended the Jewish religion with 
their own idolatries, 2 Kings 
xvii. When Nebuchadnezzar 
ravaged the countries of Moab 
and Amnion, it seems part of 
the inhabitants took refuge a- 
mong the Samaritans, who were 
spared as partly of a Chaldean 
original. When the Jews re- 
turned from Babylon, the Sa- 
maritans did all that lay in their 
power to oppose their rebuilding 
of the temple; and bribed some 
of Cyrus's counsellors, to do 
what they could to stop it. Aha- 
suerus, or Cambyses, had no 
sooner mounted the throne, than 
they wrote him a petition for 
that effect, accusing the Jews of 
disloyal designs. In the short 
reign of Artaxerxes Magus, Bish- 
lam, Mithridathand Tabeel, and 
their companions, wrote to him, 
to procure a stop to the. work. 
Much about the same time, Re- 
hum the chancellor, Smimshai 
the scribe, and their companions, 
the Dinaites, Apharsathchites, 
Torpelites, Apharsites, Arche- 
vites, Susanchites, Dehavites, 
Elamites, Babylonians, and 
others, wrote him a letter, where- 
in they represented the Jews as 
a very rebellious people, who, 
if permitted to rebuild their ci- 
ties and temple, would seize on 
all the king's territories on the 
west of the Euphrates ; and they 
begged the king would make en- 
quiry into the histories to which 
he had access, and he would find 
they had been a rebellious na- 
tion. The Magus returned an- 
swer, that a search into the re- 



SAM 

arsachites, sent a letter to Da- 
rius H}'staspes, informing him, 
that they had done what they 
could to stop the building of the 
Jewish temple ; and that the 
Jews had pretended an edict of 
Cyrus appointing them to build 
it. Upon search, the edict was 
found, and Darius ratified it, and 
ordered the Samaritans to. give 
the Jews no further trouble, 
Ezra iv. v. vi. When Nehemiah 
began to promote the rebuilding 
of the walls of Jerusalem, San- 
ballat the Horonite, Tobiah the 
Ammonite, and Geshem the Ara- 
bian, did all that lay in their 
power, by threatening and craft, 
to cutoff Nehemiah, or stop the 
work ; but their purposes were 
frustrated. Manasseh the son 
of Joiada, the Jewish high- 
priest, married the daughter of 
Sanbaliat, on which account 
Nehemiah banished him from 
Jerusalem. Sanbaliat applied 
to Darius Nothus, for leave to^ 
build a temple for his son-in-law, 
on mount Gerizziin. He repre- 
sented that this would effectual- 
ly divide the Jewish nation, and 
render them incapable to form 
any noted enterprize. He ob- 
tained his desire ; and the tem- 
ple was built. Before this, it 
seems, the Samaritans had no 
temple. Observing that Alex- 
ander heaped favours upon the 
Jewish nation, they pretended 
to be a part of them. When he 
left the country, and marched 
into Egypt, they revolted, and 
burnt Andromachus his gover- 
nor. He quickly revenged the 
affront, and put numbers of them 
to the sword. He placed a co- 
lony of Macedonians in the city 
of Samaria, and gave the terri- 



cords had been made, and it had j tories about to the Jews. This 
been found what powerful kings '■ heightened the animosity be 
had ruled among the Jews: and tween them and the Jews. — 
he desired them to stop the work | Whenever a Jew incurred pun 
by force, which they immediate- I ishment for the violation of any 
ly did. Soon after, Tatnai the important point of the divine 
governor, and Shethar-boznai, : law, he took refuge with the S* 
with their companions, the Aph- ! maritans, and embraced their 
38 445 



SAM 

method of worship. When An- 
tiochus Epiphanes persecuted 
the Jews, the Samaritans dis- 
owned connection with them, 
and pretended to be originally 
Phenicians, or descended from 
Joseph by Manasseh. Hyrcanus 
king of Judea ravaged their 
country, and razed Samaria and 
Shechem, their capital cities, to 
the very ground. When Herod 
re-established Samaria, a vast 
number of the Heathens settled 
in the country, but a part still 
clave to the half Jewish religion, 
and expected the Messiah ; but 
the contention between them 
and the Jews was extremely 
warm; they refused even civil 
dealings with one another, John 
iv. 9. The Samaritans refused 
to receive our Saviour to lodg- 
ing, because he seemed bound 
for Jerusalem, Luke ix. 52, 53. 
The Jews imagined the Samari- 
tans the worst of men, and pos- 
eessed by the devil, John viii. 
48. In one of our Saviour's 
journeys from Jerusalem to Sa- 
maria, he converted a Samaritan 
harlot, and sundry others at 
Shechem, John iv. 4 — 4*2. When 
afterwards he sent forth his apos- 
tles, he prohibited them to enter 
the cities of the Samaritans, 
Matth. x. 5. Much about this 
time, Simon the sorcerer mighti- 
ly deluded them, and was reck- 
oned by them some wonderful 
person, if not the Messiah.— 
When the gospel was preached 
in the country by Philip, many 
of them believed, and had the 
Holy Ghost conferred on them 
by the laying on of the hands of 
Peter and John ; but it is said, 
that by Simon's means, many 
of the once professed Christians 
in that place apostatized to the 
heresy and licentiousness of the 
Gnosticks, Acts viii. Some time 
after, the Samaritans, to insult 
the Jews and interrupt their de- 
votion, scattered dead men's 
bones in the court of the temple 
0. a passover feast. On other 



SAM 

occasions, they murdered soma 
Jews as they came from Galilee 
to the solemn feasts. This oc- 
casioned a war between the two 
nations. When the Jews re- 
volted, the Samaritans continu- 
ed their subjection to the Ro- 
mans; notwithstanding of which, 
they partly shared in the calami- 
ties of their neighbours. Since 
these times, they have always 
submitted to the powers that 
ruled the country. 

At present the Samaritans are 
few in number, but pretend to 
great strictness in their observa- 
tion of the law of Moses, and 
account the Jews intolerably 
lax. They have a copy of the 
law of Moses in their own pecu- 
liar character, which has been 
handed down from the time that 
the priest was sent to instruct 
them how to worship God ac- 
cording to the former usage of 
the land of Israel. 

SAMOS, an island in the east 
end of the Mediterranean Sea, 
about nine miles from the coast 
of Lesser Asia. It is about 80 
miles in compass ; but the soil i9 
so fertile, that it would employ 
100,000 hands. It was famous 
for the birth of the goddess Ju- 
no, and of Pythagoras and Me- 
lissus; and here the famed Ly- 
curgus and Pherecydes died. 
For many ages it was a state of 
no small note, and was a com- 
monwealth ; but Syloson, Poly 
crates, Meandrus, and other ty- 
rants of their own, for a while 
laid them under hard servitude. 
The Persians, Greeks, the kings 
of Pergamos, the Romans, Sara- 
cens, and Turks, have for more 
than 2000 years been generally 
masters of the place in their turn. 
Though Paul touched here as he 
sailed to Jerusalem, Acts xx. 15. 
yet we know of no Christianity 
here till about the end of the se- 
cond century; since which it has 
never been utterly abolished. At 
present the place is in a poor 
condition. Samo or Sussan its 
416 



SAM 

capital, is on the south-east 
coast, and has a tolerable har- 
bour ; but is little frequented, 
because of the pirates that infest 
the neighbouring seas. The is- 
land is inhabited by a few Turks, 
with about 12,000 Christians. 
These last have an archbishop, 
whose dues, after deducting his 
tribute to the Sultan, and the 
patriarch of Constantinople, can 
scarce make him live. Under 
him are about 200 priests, and a 
greater number of monks, ex- 
tremely ignorant, but neverthe- 
less judges in the absence of the 
Turkish Cadi. 

SAMOTHRACIA, now Sa- 
tnandrachi, is a small island 
about 20 miles in circumference, 
on the coast of Thracia, having 
several good harbours, and ori- 
ginally peopled by the Pelasgi 
and Athenians, and afterwards 
by the Samians. 

SAMSON, the son of Mano- 
ah, a Danite. The Angel of the 
Lord appeared to his mother, 
and informed her, that she should 
have a son, who should begin to 
deliver Israel out of the hand of 
the Philistines, who then had 
begun to oppress them. He or 
dered her to drink no wine or 
strong drink, nor to eat of any- 
thing unclean : but to consecrate 
the child to God, and bring him 
up as a Nazarite from his infan- 
cy ; but refused to tell her who 
he was. She went and informed 
her husband Manoah of what 
had happened. He prayed to the 
Lord, that the man of God who 
had spoke to his wife would 
again appear, and give further 
directions concerning the edu- 
cation of the child. The Angel 
again appeared to the woman, 
and she went and informed her 
husband, who, along with her, 
hasted to the Angel, who re- 
peated his former directions. 
Manoah and his wife begged he 
would tarry a little, till they pre- 
pared a kid for his entertain- 
ment. He told them, he would 



SAM 

eat none of their meat if it wero 
ready; and bade them offer their 
burnt-offering to the Lord- They 
asked his name, that after the 
fulfilment of his predictions they 
might know whom to honour as 
their informer. He refused, and 
told them his name was secret^ 
or wonderful. Meanwhile, Ma- 
noah offered his kid and a meat- 
offering on the rock beside them; 
and the Angel ascended up to 
heaven in the flame. Manoah 
and his wife, who till now had 
thought him a man, were seized 
with terror, and fell on their faces 
towards the ground. Manoah 
concluded, that since they had 
seen an angel, they must die ; 
but his wife more justly inferred, 
that if the Lord had a mind to 
kill them, he would not have 
accepted their offering, nor given 
them such information concern- 
ing their son. 

SAMUEL, the son of Elk*, 
nah by Hannah ; a child granted 
in answer to prayer, as the name 
imports, and devoted to God be- 
fore he was born. When wean- 
ed, he was taken by his mother 
to Shiloh, and left under the 
care of Eli, who was then the 
high-priest. God being displeas- 
ed with Eli, because he had not 
restrained the wickedness of his 
sons, revealed to Samuel, while 
a child, the judgments which 
would quickly fall on his house ; 
which he would have concealed 
from Eli, but he pressed hirn to 
reveal the whole matter, which 
he did. From this time, Samuel 
had frequent revelations, until 
it became generally known 
throughout Israel that Samuel 
was indeed a prophet of the 
Lord. After the death of Eli, 
the administration of affairs de- 
volved on Samuel, who labour- 
ed faithfully to bring about a re- 
formation among the people. In 
order to which he solemnly ex- 
horted them to put away all 
false gods from among them, and 
to return to the LordI He next 
447 



SAM 

appointed a general congrega- 
tion of the people at Mizpeh, 
where he proclaimed a fast ; and 
the peopl 3 bewailed and mourn- 
ed for their sins, and instead of 
drink-offerings of wine, poured 
out water before the Lord. The 
Philistines hearing of this assem- 
bly, marched to attack them ; 
but while they drew near, Sa- 
muel prayed and offered for a 
burnt-offering a lamb, whereup- 
on God struck the Philistines 
with consternation, and they lied 
in the utmost confusion ; and the 
Israelites pursued them, and 
took from them all the cities 
which had been wrested from 
them in times past. To com- 
memorate this event, Samuel 
set up a stone, which he called 
Ebenezer, the stone of help, be- 
cause their god had helped them. 
Samuel now made it a practice 
to take a regular circuit through 
the land of Israel, that the admi- 
nistration of justice might be 
brought to every man's door ; 
and in all his judgments he was 
righteous and impartial, so that 
none could accuse him of hav- 
ing injured them in the least. 
But when he grew old, he com- 
mitted the administration of 
justice, in part, to his two 
sons, Jad and Abiah; but these 
young men were unlike their 
father, for they perverted jus- 
tice, taking bribes. Of this the 
people loudly complained, and 
made it a pretext for asking to 
have a king placed over them, 
like the nations round about. 
This thing was highly displeas- 
ing to the Lord and to his ser- 
vant Samuel; but, as they per- 
sisted in their request, even after 
being explicitly informed of what 
oppressions their king would 
practise, the Lord told Samuel 
to indulge them in their wish — 
assuring him, that this conduct 
of the people was virtually a re- 
jection of the Lord from being 
their king. Accordingly, Saul 
was anointed to be king, and 



SAM 

Samuel on resigning his weighty 
charge, challenged all the assem- 
bled people to say, whether he had 
ever wronged any one of them, 
or had taken of their property; 
and they universally gave testi- 
mony to his upright conduct as 
a judge, and as a man. After 
a solemn exhortation to the peo- 
ple, he retired from the public 
service ; and went and resided 
at his own house, in Raman, 
Samuel seems to have been much 
attached to Saul ; but not long 
after his accession to the throne, 
he displeased the prophet very 
much, by offering a sacrifice 
himself, because Samuel, who 
was expected to perforin that 
service, did not make his ap- 
pearance at the expected time ; 
on this occasion, Samuel sharp- 
ly reproved Saul, and gave him, 
an intimation, that the kingdom 
would be taken away from him. 
Many years afterwards, Saul 
was ordered of the Lord, to go 
and inflict signal punishment on 
the Amalekites ; and to slay 
every thing which belonged to 
that wicked nation : but Saul 
having overcome them, spared 
Agag their king, and preserved 
alive, also, the best of the cattle 
and sheep. On this occasion also 
Samuel was sent to him, and se- 
verely rebuked him for his re- 
hellion; and plainly informed 
him, that the kingdom was for- 
feited. After this, Samuel never 
visited Saul any more, but he 
bitterly grieved on account of 
his rebellion, until he was re- 
proved of the Lord for setting 
his heart so much on this man, 
and was sent down to Bethle- 
hem to anoint one of Jesse's 
sons ; and after a trial of the se- 
ven eldest, David the youngest 
was sent for from taking care 
of the sheep, and was anointed 
in the midst of his brethren. Sa- 
muel then returned to Ptamah^ 
where he presided over a school 
of prophets; that is, a collection 
of young men, engaged in stu>- 
448 



SAN 
dying and transcribing the Holy 
Scriptures, and in cultivating sa- 
cred music. Commonly, from 
among these, were selected the 
prophets sent to denounce God's 
judgments to the people. Sa- 
muel does not seem to have 
lived many years after he had 
anointed David. He was a pro- 
phet of great eminence, and had 
mighty power with God, in 
prayer ; so that he is mentioned 
by the Lord in company with 
Moses and Aaron. He wrote ofr' i 
a set of rules to direct the kings | 
in their administration, but this 
document seems not to be ex- 
tant, and the Jewish tradition 
is, that the kings destroyed it, 
that they might rule as they 
pleased. Samuel wrote the his- ! 
tory of David; or at least that 
part of it which had occurred 
before his own death. This is ] 
contained in the first book of | 
Samuel. He wrote also, as is 
supposed, the book of Judges, 
and that of Ruth. He died in a 
good old age, and was greatly! 
lamented. After his death he; 
seems to have been permitted to 
return again, or some one in his 
likeness, to denounce upon Saul 
his approaching doom, 1 Sam. ' 
xvi. 1—13. xix. 18—24. xxv. 1. 1 
1 Sam. x. 25. 1 Chron. xxix. ; 
29.xxvi.28. 1 Sam.xxviii.11,12,15. 

SANCTITY, to prepare or 
set apart persons or things to a ' 
holy use, Exod. xix. 23. God \ 
sanctified Christ, when he set 
him apart to his mediatory of- 1 
fice. and furnished him with gifts 
and graces for the discharge of ' 
it, John x. 36. Christ sanctified 
himself: by his solemn prayer, 
he surrendered himself to, and 
prepared himself for suffering 
work, and by his suffering, he 
prepared himself to be our ef-j 
fectua! Saviour, John xvii. 19. 

Sanctification of men, as aj 
privilege, is purchased for, given 
to, and wrought in us, by a gra- ; 
cious God. As a duty it is stu-: 
died by us : and in order to at- 
t2 3S 



SAN 
tain it, we must receive it out 
of Christ's fulness, by faith in 
his person and promises. Sanc- 
tification is either of nature, 
whereby we are gradually re- 
newed after the image of God, 
in spiritual knowledge, righte- 
ousness, and true holiness, Eph. 
iv. 24. Col. iii. 10 ; or of prac- 
tice, whereby we more and more 
die unto sin, have its power 
weakened in us, and cease from 
the love and practice of it. and 
hate it as abominable, and live 
unto righteousness, loving, stu- 
dying,and practising good works, 
Tit. li. 11, 12. Sanctification 
comprehends all the graces of 
knowledge, faith, repentance, 
love, humility, zeal, patience, 
&c. and the exercise thereof in 
the dealings with God or man, 
Gal. v. 22—24. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. 
Matth. v. vi. vii. 

SANCTUARY, a holy or 
sanctified place, as (1.) The ho- 
ly of holies, where the ark and 
its appurtenances, and the cloud 
representing the divine glory 
stood, Lev. iv. 6; or the furni- 
ture of this holy place, Num. x. 
21. (2.) The apartment where 
the golden candlestick, table of 
shew-bread, altar of incense, 
&c. stood, 2 Chron. xxvi. 18. 
(3.) The whole tabernacle or 
temple, Josh. xxiv. 26. 2 Chron. 
xx. 8. It is called the sanctua- 
ry of strength, because it was a 
strong place, and easily fortified ; 
and it belonged to God the 
strength of Israel, Daniel xi. 31 ; 
a worldly sanctuary, as it was 
of a carnal and earthly typical 
nature, Heb. ix. 1. Nay, the 
sacred courts are sometimes in- 
cluded, and called the sanctua- 
ry, Lev. xii. 4. (4.) Any place 
appointed for the public worship 
of God, Psal. Ixxiii. 17. (5.) Ca- 
naan, which was a holy land, 
where God's people dwelt, where 
his tabernacle and temple were 
fixed, and his favours and pecu- 
liar presence enjoyed, Exod. xv. 
17. (6.) Heaven, where God 
* 449 



SAP 

and his holy angels and saints 
for ever dwell, Psal. cii. 19. 
Heb. viii. 2. (7.) The temples 
of idols are called sanctuaries, 
Isaiah xvi. 12. Amosvii. 9. (8.) 
In allusion to the Jewish sanc- 
tuary, whose brazen altar pro- 
tected petty criminals, a place 
of refuge and shelter is called 
sanctuary, Isa. viii. 14. Ezekiel 
xi. 16. 

SANDALS, at first, were on- 
ly soles fastened on the feet with 
strings or thongs ; afterwards 
they were covered ; and finally, 
shoes were called by this name, 
Mark vi. 9. Acts xii. 8. 

SANHEDRIM, or senate, the 
chief council of the Jewish na- 
tion, Acts v. 21. It is said to 
have consisted of 70 or 72 judges, 
and to have taken its rise from 
the instalment of the 70 elders 
assistant to Moses, Numb, xi ; 
and to have continued till Christ, 
and a long time after; and to 
have sat in the form of a half 
moon, at the tabernacle or tem- 
ple, when they existed. But as 
we find no vestiges of this court 
in the Old Testament, we can 
hardly believe it existed till some 
time after the captivity, perhaps 
in the days of the Maccabees. 
Whatever power Herod took 
from them, to punish their in- 
tended condemnation of him, it 
is certain this court afterwards 
existed, and Christ and his apos- 
tles, and Stephen the deacon, 
were brought before them, and 
the former condemned, John xi. 
47. Matth. xxvii. 1. Acts iv. v. 
xi: but at that time they had no 
power of life and death, John 
xviii. 31. Many things concern- 
ing this court are told us by some 
writers ; but as they are war- 
ranted by no proper voucher, we 
dismiss them as unworthy of our 
regard. See Judges. 

SAPPHIRE, a transparent 
jewel, which, in its finest state, 
is extremely beautiful and valu- 
able, and in lustre, hardness, and 
worth, second only to the dia- 



SAR 
mond. It is of a pure blue co- 
lour ; and the finest are of a 
deep azure. In the less fine, it 
varies into paleness, but of a lus- 
tre much superior to the crystal. 
The best sapphires come from 
Pegu in the East Indies ; nor are 
those of Bohemia and Silesia, 
contemptible. The ancient sap- 
phire was but a more beautiful 
kind of the lazuli, or a half 
transparent stone of a deep blue, 
tinged with white, and spotted 
with stars of a golden colour. It 
was the second stone in the higli- 
priest's breast-plate, and might 
represent the saints, as pure and 
heavenly minded, Exod. xxviii. 
18. It was the second founda- 
tion of the new Jerusalem, and 
might represent Christ as the 
untainted Lord from heaven, 
and his pure and heavenly 
truths, Rev. xxi. 19. Isa. liv. 11. 
God's throne of appearance to 
the Hebrews, was like unto 
sapphire, that is, was a sky of a 
bright blue azure colour, Exod. 
xxiv. 10. Job xxviii. G. 16, 
Isaiah liv. 11. Ezek. i. 26. x. 1. 
xxviii. 13. 

SARAH, Sarai, the wife of 
Abraham, was probably the 
same as Iscah, the daughter of 
Haran, Abraham's brother, and 
the grand-daughter of Terah, 
but not by Abraham's mother, 
Gen. xx. 12. xi. 29. She per- 
haps began to be called Sarai, 
my mistress, when she became 
the head of a family, and was 
called Sarah, the lady, after her 
being the mother of a multitude 
was divinely secured, Gen. xvii. 

SARAPH and JOASH, who 
had dominion, perhaps as Da- 
vid's deputies, in the country 
of Moab, were not Mahlon and 
Chilion, the sons of Naomi, who 
were poor and distressed, not 
rulers, 1 Chron. iv. 21. 

SARD1S, an ancient city of 
Lesser Asia, at the foot of mount 
Tmolus. It is said to have been 
built soon after the destruction 
of Troy, i. e. about A. M 3100 
450 



SAR 

In the time of Cyrus, it was tne 
capital of Lydia, or Lud, and 
was extremely rich and glorious. 
It was taken by Cyrus, and plun- 
dered ; but it continued a place 
of no small consequence. After 
it had suffered manifold disas- 
ters of war, it was entirely ruin- 
ed by an earthquake in the 
time of our Saviour. 

It is now little else than a heap 
of ruins. Nothing of this once 
rich and populous city remains 
but a few cottages. The name 
which the Turks give the place is 
Beuz-dag. Near to the site of the 
ancient Sardis, there is now a 
castle, on a high and inaccessible 
hill, from which the prospect is 
delightful. 

One of the seven churches of 
Asia, to which epistles were ad- 
dressed by Jesus Christ, was 
situated here ; in which the pro- 
fessors were reproved for ' hav- 
ing a name to live while they 
were dead.' And among whom 
the little good which remained 
' was ready to die.' But in this 
declining church, while the gar- j 
ments of most were spotted and | 
stained. there were 'afew names, j 
even in Sardis,' who had not de- j 
filed their garments ; to whom it 
was promised, ' And they shall 
walk with me in white, for they 
are worth v,' Rev. iij. 1 — 6. 

SARDINE, or Sardius, a 
precious stone of a reddish 
bloody colour. The best come 
from about Babylon. It was 
the sixth foundation of the New 
Jerusalem, and the first jewel 
in the high-priest's breast-plate, 
Ex. xxviii. 17. xxxix.10. Ezek. 
Xxviii. 13. 

SARDONYX. See Onyx, 
Rev. xxi. 20. 

SAREPTA, a city of Sidon, 
between that place and Tyre ; 
Elijah was preserved therewith 
the cruse of oil and barrel of 
meal, and there he raised the 
widow's son to life, 1 Kings xvii. 
Luke iv. 2. 6. 

SARGON. SeeEsar-haddon. 



SAV 

SARON, a vale between Ly- 
dia and the sea. 

SATAN, a name of the devil, 
importing him an implacable 
enemy to the honour of God, and 
the true interests of men. See 
Angel, Devil. 

Peter is called Satan, bo- 
cause, in reproving Christ's in- 
tention to suffer,he acted Satan's 
work, and by his direction, Matt, 
xvi. 23. 

SATYR, an animal represent- 
ed by the ancients as half a man 
j and half a goat. It was per- 
haps the horned owl, or a kind 
of ape, many of which haunted, 
and danced about the ruins of 
Babylon, Isa. xiii. 21. xxxiv. 14. 

SAVE; (1.) To protect or 
deliver from temporal danger 
and distress, Matt. xiv. ,°0. So 
Othniel and others, whom God 
used as instruments in deliver- 
ing the Hebrews from their op- 
pression and misery, are called 
saviours, Judg. iii. 9. Neh. ix. 
27. Judas Maccabeus, and hia 
brethren and successors, who 
delivered the Jews from the 
slavery and idolatrous imposi- 
tions of the Syro-Grecians, and 
subdued the Edomites, were the 
saviours on mount Zion, who 
judged the mount of Esau, Oba- 
diah 21. (2.) To deliver from the 
guilt and power of sin ; render 
men holy and happy, Matth. i. 
21 ; especially in the heavenly 
state of perfect blessedness, 
Matth. x. 22. God saves men 
by delivering them from distress, 
temporal, spiritual, or eternal, 
John xii. 27. 1 Tim. i. 9. He 
was the Saviour of Israel in 
the desert, delivering them from 
perils and troubles unnumbered, 
Is. lxiii. 8. He is the Saviour of 
all men, who delivers them from 
manifold dangers and trouble, 
and gives them multitudes of 
favours ; but especially of them 
that believe, whom, through the 
bestowal of his Son and Spirit, 
he rescues from sin and misery,to 
everlasting holiness and happi- 
451 



SAV 

ness,l Tim. iv. 10. He saves wen 
by his name, and judges them by 
his strength, when, to the honour 
of his power, and other perfec- 
tions, he delivers them from dis- 
tress, temporal or spiritual, Psa. 
liv. 1. Jesus Christ is the only and 
all-sufficient Saviour: as a Sure- 
ty, he undertook for, and hath 
paid all our debt ofobedience and 
satisfaction to the broken cove- 
nant of works, as a Mediator 
and Redeemer, he, by his blood 
and Spirit, makes and maintains 
peace between God and us sin- 
ful offenders ; and by price and 
power, he rescues us from the 
slavery of the broken law, and 
of sin, Satan, the world, and 
death ; as a Priest, he gave him- 
self a sacrifice of infinite value 
to atone for the guilty, and he 
makes perpetual intercession 
with God in our behalf; as a 
Prophet, he delivers from igno- 
rance, and gives the true know- 
ledge of every thing important ; 
as a King, he powerfully rescues 
us from sin and Satan, and 
brings us to himself; he rules, 
directs, and draws us by his 
word and Spirit; he defends us 
from, and restrains and conquers 
our enemies, and, in fine, trans- 
ports us to his mansions of bliss, 
1 Tim. i. 15. Heb. vii. 25. Isa. 
xliii. 11. 2 Pet. i. 1. 11. He is 
the Saviour of the world; is 
equally suited to the case of sin- 
ful men on earth, and is in the 
gospel-promise given and exhi- 
bited to them, whether they be 
Jews or Gt-ntiles, 1 John iv. 14. 
John iv. 42. hi. 15,16. We are 
saved by the grace of God, as it 
is the original cause of our sal- 
vation, and all the means there- 
of, Ephes. ii. 8. We are saved 
by God's word, as it exhibits 
and offers salvation to us ; and 
by it the Holy Ghost applies sal- 
vation to our souls, James i. 21. 
Saved by faith, as it discerns 
and receives Christ and his sal- 
vation, Luke vii. 50. Saved by 
laptism, as thereby salvation is 



SAV 

sealed, and applied to such as 
believe, 1 Pet. iii. 21. Saved 
by ministers and Christians, as 
they publish the doctrines and 
offers of salvation, and warn, 
beseech, and excite men to re- 
ceive it, Romans xi. 14. 1 Cor. 
vii. 16. Jude 23. 1 Tim. iv. 16. 
Men are saved as by fire, when 
delivered from the greatest haz- 
ard of ruin, and when almost all 
their works are rejected, 1 Cor. 
iii. 15. The righteous are 
scarcely saved; with great dif- 
ficulty the Jewish Christians es- 
caped ruin from the Romans, 
along with their country ; and 
with no small fear and hazard 
the righteous escape the ven- 
geance of hell, 1 Peter iv. 18. 
Women are saved in child-bear- 
ing : amidst great danger, they 
are ordinarily preserved to the 
birth of their children ; and 
though their sex introduced sin, 
many of them are saved eternal- 
ly through the incarnation and 
obedience of Christ, 1 Tim. ii. 15. 
Salvation, is, (1.) A deliver- 
ance from outward dangers and 
enemies, Exod. xiv. 13. 1 Sam. 
xiv. 45. (2.) Deliverance from 
a state of sin and misery, into 
a state of union with Christ, 
wherein we are justified by his 
blood, adopted into his family, 
sanctified by his Spirit, and com- 
forted by his presence ; — a de- 
liverance from spiritual danger 
and distress, to a comfortable 
and quiet condition, Rom. i. 16. 
(3.) Eternal happiness, wherein 
men shall be freed from sin and 
sorrow, and shall enjoy the most 
perfect and lasting fellowship 
with God, 1 Pet. i. 9. Heb. i. 14. 
God is called salvation, and the 
God of salvation; he delivers 
from distress, and bestows com- 
fort, temporal, spiritual, or eter- 
nal, Psalm xx vii. 1. lxviii. 20. 
Christ is called salvation, as he 
is the purchaser, bestower, and 
great master of our everlasting 
freedom from evil, and enjoy- 
ment of happiness, Luke ii. 30. 
452 



SAU 
Isa. xlix. 6. Salvation is as- 
cribed to God and Christ, as 
they contrive, purchase, prepare, 
and bestow it, Rev. vii. 10. xix. 
L The gospel is called salva- 
tion, and the word, gospel, or 
bringer of salvation ; thereby 
salvation is published, offered, 
and applied to us, Heb. ii. 3. 
Acts xiii. 26. Eph. i. 13. Titus 
ii. 11. Salvation is of the Jews ; 
Christ, the Saviour, sprung of 
them ; the gospel proceeded from 
them to the Gentiles, John iv. 
22. The long-suffering of God 
to the Jews and others, is sal- 
vation; is calculated to pro- 
mote the everlasting happiness 
of some, 2 Pet. iii. 15. Saloa- 
tion and strength came to the 
church, when, by means of Con- 
stantine, she was delivered from 
Heathen persecution, and her 
constitution established by the 
civil law, Rev. xii. 10. That 
turns to one's salvation, which 
tends to promote his spiritual 
and eternal happiness, Phil. i. 19. 
Men work out their salvation 
when they receive Jesus the 
Saviour, and walking in him, 
prepare for the future blessed- 
ness of the heavenly state, Phil, 
ii. 12. Confession and repen- 
tance are to salvation, as they 
are means of our preparation 
for further giace and glory, 
Rom. x. 12. 2 Cor. vii. 10. 

SAUL, the son of Kish, of 
the tribe of Benjamin, was a 
youugman of extraordinary sta- 
ture, and a man of courage and 
abilities. He was the first per- 
son anointed to be king over Is- 
rael ; which occurred at Ramah, 
where he and his servant, were ; 
searching after the lost asses of i 
his father, and had turned in to j 
Ramah to consult the seer, as j 
the prophet was then called, 
respecting the beasts which they 
were unable to find. When 
Samuel bad anointed Saul, he 
gave him a number of signs ; or 
predicted a number of contin- j 
gent events, which should oc- j 



SAU 

cur on his way home, that he 
might be confirmed in the cer- 
tainty of what Samuel told him 
respecting the kingdom. The 
people having assembled to 
choose a king, the matter was 
determined by lot, and eventual- 
ly Saul was selected ; but he hav- 
ing concealed himself, through 
modesty, among the siuff, could 
not, for some time, be found ; 
but, when he appeared, the peo- 
ple were struck with his majes- 
tic stature, being, by the head 
and shoulders, taller than all the 
people. But, except that a few 
young men followed him, and 
clave unto him, he assumed no 
royal state ; but continued his ag- 
ricultural pursuits, until the peo- 
ple of Jabesh-Gilead, who were 
besieged by the Ammonites, and 
offered no better terms than the 
loss of their right eyes even if 
they surrendered, sent messen- 
gers to Saul to come speedily to 
their deliverance, for they had 
promised to open their gates, 
and come out to their enemies, 
if help was not obtained in seven 
days. Saul displayed uncom- 
mon energy, and in four or five 
days, collected an army of 
30,000 from Judah, and 300,000 
from the other tribes ; and cross- 
ing the Jordan, and marching 
all night, about the break of 
day, attacked the Ammonites, 
unexpectedly to them, and cut 
them to pieces before the walls 
of Jabesh-Gilead. By this ex- 
traordinary despatch, courage, 
and success, he gained univer- 
sally the confidence of the peo- 
ple, and was now more solemn- 
ly inaugurated as king than he 
had been before, and began to 
assume something of the dignity 
which is proper to a king ; at- 
taching to himself a guard of 
3000 men, 1000 of whom he 
placed under Jonathan his son. 
During Saul's whole reign, he 
carried on wars with the Philis- 
tines, and, for the most part, 
with success. But having for 
453 



SAU 
feite'd the favour of God by his 
disobedience in the case of the 
Amalekites, he was abandoned 
to the vexation of an evil spirit, 
which caused him great agita- 
tion and melancholy, until a 
remedy was found in the sweet 
music of David, the son of Jes- 
se. These fits came on him 
from time to time: and David 
played on the harp, and he was 
relieved. A new war with the 
Philistines having commenced, 
when the armies were encamped 
near together, the Israelites were 
put in great terror and conster- 
nation, by Goliah, a remarkable 
giant, who defied the whole ar- 
my of Saul, and no man was 
found willing to contend with 
him, until David undertook to 
kill him ; which he did with a 
sling and stone, and cut off the 
giant's head with his own sword, 
and entitled himself to be the 
son-in-law of the king; but 
Saul's sullen soul was seized 
with envy, especially when, on 
account of David's extraordina- 
ry success against the Philis- 
tines, the daughters of Israel, in 
their songs, celebrated Saul as 
having slain his thousands, but 
David his ten thousands. His 
malignant temper towards Da- 
vid could neither be repressed 
nor concealed, and without the 
least cause or provocation, he 
determined to take away Da- 
vid's life ; but he escaped from 
him. For years he was pursued 
by this vindictive man, with un- 
ceasing persecution ; but still 
the Lord delivered David out 
of his hand ; and although often 
he had Saul in his power, he 
Would never lay hands upon 
him, nor suffer one of his fol- 
lowers to injure him. Saul 
would sometimes be overcome 
with the magnanimity of David, 
and would confess, with weep- 
ing, his own faults ; but he soon 
relapsed into his old course, un- 
til, at last, he was called off from 
this cruel pursuit of one of his 



SOE 
most faithful servants, who was 
married to his own daughter, by 
another invasion of the Philis- 
tines. God now refused to an- 
swer Saul by urim and thum- 
mim, or by dreams, or in any 
other way. His old friend Sam- 
uel was dead ; but he now re- 
sorted to a witch, at Endor, to 
raise hira from the dead. Sam- 
uel appeared, by what power is 
not agreed, and awfully reprov- 
ed him, and forewarned him of 
his death the next day ; which, 
accordingly, took place, on 
Mount Gilboah. 

SCALL, a dry whitish scab, 
somewhat like the leprosy, Lev. 
xiii. 30. 

SCARLET, a deep, bright, 
and shining red colour. I doubt 
if our translators have every 
where rightly used this word. I 
suppose, that tolahh ought in- 
deed to be rendered scarlet, but 
that shani, or double-dije, as 1 
well as carmil, ought to be ren- 
dered crimson : but as these co- 
lours are near of kin to one an- 
other, there is the less matter of 
mistaking the one for the other- 
Scarlet was much worn by great 
men, 2 Sam. i. 24. 

The scarlet dye was obtained 
from a worm found on a low 
shrubby tree, of the oak kind, 
Gen. xxxviii. 28. Exod. xxv. 4. 
xxviii. 8. 

SCEVA is said to have been 
the chief of one of the classes 
of the Jewish priests: he had 
seven sons, who, in a vagabond 
manner, travelled abroad, pre- 
tending to exorcise or cast de- 
vils out of men. At Ephesus 
they attempted to cast out one, 
and adjured him by Jesus 
whom Paul preached, to leave 
the possessed person. The do- 
vil told them, that he knew both 
Jesus and Paul, but paid no 
regard to them ; he immediately 
handled them so roughly, by 
means of the possessed person 
as his instrument, that he oblig- 
ed them to flee out of the house 
454 



SCO 
naked and sore wounded, Acts 
xix. 14—16. 

SCHOOL. No doubt but the 
most ancient patriarchs instruct- 
ed their children in the know- 
ledge of God, and other import- 
ant subjects ; but for many ages 
we find no mention of public 
schools for instruction. In 
Samuel's time we find a school 
at Najoth, and not long after 
others at Bethel and Jericho 
and to these, it seems, devout 
persons repaired for instruction 
on the Sabbath, and at new- 
moon festivals, to hear for in 
etruction ; 1 Sam. xix. 18—24. 
2 Kincrs ii. 3. 5. iv. 23. 

SCIENCE, knowledge of hu- 
man learning, Dan. i. 4. Science, 
falsely so called, is vain philoso- 
phy and sinful arts, ] Tim. vi. 20. 

SCOFF, to mock in a proud 
and reviling manner. The Chal- 
deans scoffed at kings and prin- 
ces, when they made such as 
they had conquered the objects 
of their cruel mockings, Hab. i. 
10. 

To SCORN, to mock, laugh 
at, Job xvi. 20. A scorn, is an 
object of mockery and disdainful 
reproach, Ps. xliv.13. Ascorner, 
is one who is given to laugh at 
persons and things of import- 
ance ; who mocks at sin, and 
the judgments of God on account 
of it; and scoffs at religion, and 
the professors and teachers of it ; 
and derides and hates whole- 
some reproof and advice, Psal. 
i. 3. Prov. ix. 3. xiii. 1. 

SCORPION, a small animal, 
whose bladder is full of danger- 
ous poison. It is of a sooty 
colour. Its head is very close to 
its breast. It has two eyes in the 
middle of its head, and two at 
the extremity thereof, between 
which come out two arms, each 
of which is divided into other 
two, like the claws of a lobster : 
nay, some have six or eight eyes. 
Its body is shaped like an egg. 
It has eight feet proceeding from 
[t& breast, each of which is 



SCR 

divided into six hairy branches, 
with a claw at the end. The 
belly is divided into seven rings. 
The tail proceeds from the last, 
and is like a string of seven 
beads; out of the largest, which 
is at the end, proceed one or 
two hollow stings, wherewith it 
squirts its venom into the part 
stinged. It is very crafty, and is 
ever striking its tail, that it may 
lose no opportunity of doing 
mischief. 

The poison of this animal is 
in its tail, at the end of which, 
is a small, curved, sharp-pointed 
sting; the curve being down- 
wards, it turns its tail upwards, 
when it strikes any thing, Rev. 
ix. 3, 4, 5. 10. Eastern scorpions 
are of the size and shape of an 
egg, which illustrates, beauti- 
fully, the words of Jesus, Luke 
xi. 11, 12. In 1 Kings xii. 11, 
when Rehoboam threatens to 
correct the people with scorpions 
instead of whips, some learned 
men think, that sharp venomous 
thorns are intended ; and doubt- 
less some severe mode of casti- 
gation was referred to, under the 
name 'scorpions.' The Chaldee 
renders it ' whips,' which will 
not correspond with the other 
part of the verse, unless we un- 
derstand a whip of a more ter^ 
rific kind, than those commonly 
used. 

SCOURGE, a kind of whip 
t)f cords, leather thongs, or 
wands. The Jews were pro- 
hibited to give above forty stripes 
at once ; but if the crime was 
reckoned great, the lashes were 
the more severe, Deut. xxv. 1-^ 
3. 2 Cor. xi. 24. 

SCRIBE ; (1.) A writer that 
registered the affairs of a king. 
As few could anciently write, 
this office was very honourable, 
much the same as that of our 
Secretary of State. (2.) The 
commissary or muster-master of 
an army, that enrols, calls over 
their names, and reviews them, 
2 Chr. xxvi. 11. 2 Kings xxv, J9. 
455 



SEB 
(3.) One that is both a writer and 
doctor of the law. It seems that 
they transcribed the books of 
Scripture, and so became well 
versant in it. Such scribes seem 
to have existed as early as the 
days of Deborah, Judg. v. 14. It 
eeems many of them were of the 
tribe of Levi, 1 Chron. xxiii. 4. 
xxiv. 6. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 13. 

SCRIP, a bag or pouch, 1 
Sam. xvii. 40. 

SCRIPTURE, the inspired 
word of God. See Bible. 

SCURVY, is a disease very 
frequent in northern countries, 
especially in moist places ex- 
posed to the north. Charleton 
will have it to arise from saline 
particles taken into the body by 
breathing, receipt of provision, 
or living in nasty places; or 
formed by deep chagrin. Q,uincy 
will have it to arise from the 
unequal fluidity of the blood; 
the fibrous part being too thick, 
and the serous part too thin. It 
contains, or is the source of dis- 
eases almost unnumbered; and 
as it arises from very contrary 
causes at once, it is often ex- 
tremely difficult of cure. 

SCYTHIANS, a savage peo- 
ple that Hwelt about the east and 
north of the Euxine and Caspian 
Seas, r^ee Gosr. 

SEARED, burnt off, or burnt 
nard, as ilesh is with a hot iron. 
Men have their conscience sear- 
ed, when it is so stupified with 
the load of unpardoned guilt, and 
power of inward corruption, that 
it sticks at nothing, however 
horrid and abominable, and so 
is as bad as no conscience at all, 
1 Tim. iv. 2. 

SERA. See Sheba. 

SEBAT. or Shcbet, the fifth 
month of the Jewish civil, and 
eleventh of their sacred year: it 
consisted of 30 days, and the be- 
ginning of it answered to part 
of our January, Zech. i. 7. On 
the 10th of it, the Jews fast for 
the death of the elders that out- 
lived Joshua. On the 23d they 



SEC 

fast in commemoration of the 
resolution taken to punish the 
inhabitants of Gibeah, Judg. xx. 

SECT,a party distinguished by 
some particular tenets. Among 
the Jews, in the time of our Sa- 
viour, we find the Pharisees, 
Sadducees, Essenes, and Herodi- 
ans. For the two former, see 
Pharisees and Sadducees. 

The Essenes, or Asdanim, ap- 
pear to have been little else than 
a party of rigid Pharisees, that 
lived somewhat in the manner 
of the Romish monks, and had 
their rise about 200 years before 
Christ. As they lived in solitary 
places, and came seldom to the 
temple or public assemblies, they 
are never mentioned in the New 
Testament. They believed the 
immortality of the soul, and the 
existence of angels, and a state 
of future rewards and punish- 
ments ; but scarcely, that there 
would be any resurrection of the 
dead. They believed every thing 
to be ordered by an eternal 
fatality, or chain of causes. 
They disallowed of oaths, and 
their word they reckoned every 
whit as binding. They observed 
the Sabbath so strictly, as not to 
move a vessel, and scarce to 
ease nature. Some of them quite 
disallowed of marriage, and the 
rest made but little use of the mar- 
riage-bed. They fasted much, 
lived on very little and simple 
provision. They despised riche9 
and finery of apparel, and wore 
out their clothes before they 
changed them. They lived quiet- 
ly, without noise; and some 
were given to mere contempla- 
tion, while others cultivated the 
field for their support. They 
were kind to strangers, but ad- 
mitted none into their society 
till they had given proof of their 
temperance and chastity. They 
expelled criminals from it, but 
not in the presence of fewer than 
a hundred. When ten of them 
sat together, none spake but 
with the leave of the other nine. 
456 



SEC 

They chose rather to suffer tor- 
ture^ than to speak evil of their 
legislators, Moses, &c. and pun- 
ished with death such as did. 
They inquired much into the 
cures of diseases, and by means 
of their temperance, many of 
them lived to a great age. 

The substance of the account 
which Josephus gives of the 
Essenes is as follows, They 
consisted entirely of males, to 
the number of about 4000 ; ab- 
staining from marriage, dis- 
couraging commerce, and em- 
ploying themselves chiefly in 
agriculture. They had, every 
where, a community of goods, 
which was intrusted to stewards, 
in whom they had confidence, 
and by whom their resources 
were applied, in procuring ne- 
cessaries. Early in the morning. 



SEC 

hatchet, a girdle, and a white 
garment, and for the first year 
were not permitted to eat at the 
common table.' 

That the Herodians had a set 
of principles, a leaven of their 
own, and tempted our Saviour 
concerning the lawfulness of 
paying tribute to Heathen go- 
vernors, is plain, Mark viii. 15. 
xii. 13; but what were their dis- 
tinguished tenets, is not agreed. 
Calmet and others will have 
them to have been much the 
same with the Pharisees; only 
that they held it unlawful to give 
tribute to the Roman emperor, 
which would make them the 
same with the Galileans or Zea- 
lots. But why should persons of 
this 6tamp be denominated from 
any of the Herods, who are 
known to have been pliant crin- 



they cfTered up prayers to God, gers to the Romans'? Others will 
then they betook themselves to ; have them to have been flat- 
such labours as required their terers of Herod the Great, as if 
attention, until 11 o'clock, when he had been the Messiah; and 
they bathed, put on white rai- they say, he burnt all the °enea- 
ment, and came together in the logical memoirs of the family of 
common hall to dinner; which David, that there might be no 
consisted of bread and a single : proof against his being a branch 
dish of meat, of which all par- of it. We rather, with Prideaux, 
took, after a blessing had been suppose, that they, along with 
asked. When the meat was theHerods,pleaded'thelawfulness 
ended and thanks returned, they of the Romish government over 
resumed their ordinary dress, the Jews: and that in conse- 
and returned to their respective , quence thereof, it was lawful to 
occupations. Their strict regard comply with many of the cus- 
to truth was remarkable; they jtoms of the Heathenish Romans: 
were also distinguished for their and if so, they were the reverse 



fidelity; and were scrupulously 
riffid in the observance of the 
Sabbath. They held that fate 
governed all things; that the 
soul was immortal; and that 
there were rewards and punish- 
ments in the future world. They 
gained proselytes in two ways, 
first by getting other people to 
give up their children to be edu- 
cated in their society; and se- 
condly, by persuading adults to 
join their society and submit to 
their rules ; but for these last, a 
long noviciate was prescribed. 
The new members, received a 
U 39 



of the Zealots or Galileans. 

Whether the Karaites, or ad- 
herents to Scripture, were form- 
ed into a sect, before the birth 
of our Saviour, and about the 
time of king Jannscus, or rather 
more lately, we know not. They 
look on the canonical books of 
the Old Testament to be the 
only rule of their faith: they ex- 
pound Scripture by Scripture, 
and count the traditions of the 
elders of no more than human 
authority, and reckon the affair 
of the oral law a mere fable: 
they read the Scriptures in their 
457 



SEL 

synagogues in the originals, as 
every translation is imperfect: 
they likewise pray in Hebrew, 
with great fervency, and with 
their face towards Jerusalem : 
they believe the perfections and 
providence of God, and allow a 
portion of his grace to be neces- 
sary to determine men's will to 
good ; they expect a temporal 
Messiah, and attribute the delay 
of his coming to the slowness of 
Saturn's motion, or to the sin of 
their nation: they condemn phy- 
lacteries, and all kinds of pic- 
tures or statues used in religion: 
their practice is much the same 
as that of the Essenes, but less 
austere and rigid ; and they have 
a profound respect for their 
teachers, who, for the most part, 
give their instructions gratis. 
There are but a few thousands 
of this sect about Poland, Ger- 
many, &c. and they are hated 
by the Traditionist Jews, as if 
almost internals. 

The Christians were called the 
sect of the Nazarenes, and were 
every where spoken against, 
Acts xxiv. 5. xxviii. 22. 

SEIR; (l.)The father of the 
ancient Horites, Gen. xxxvi.20. 
(2.) A noted mountain on the 
south and south-west of the 
Dead Sea, in the land of Edom 
but whether it had its name from 
Seir the Horite, who peopled 
that country ; or if it was called 
Seir, or hairy, because it was 
-covered with shaggy bushes, 
even as another mountain was 
called Halak, because without 
bushes, we know not. (3.) A 
small hill near Kirjathjearim, 
Josh. xv. 10. 

SEIRATH, where Ehud stop- 
ped after the slaughter of Eglon, 
M r as probably near Gilgal, or 
Bethel, Judg. iii. 26. 

SEL A, the capital of the 
Edomites, called also Joktheel. 
It was no doubt so called from 
its rocky situation ; and if it 
was the Petra of the Arabs, it 
was situated in a plain, sur 



SEN 

rounded with terrible rocks, 
Amaziah took it, and cruelly 
murdered a great part of the 
people found in it, 2 Kings xiv. 
7. Whether it was this, then 
possessed by the Moabites, or 
another place of the same name 
in the country of Moab, that the 
king of Moab is directed to send 
tribute from, to the Hebrews, 
and sacrifices to their God, is 
uncertain, Isa. xvi. 1. The rock 
whence Saul was called off from 
pursuing David to withstand 
the Philistines, was called Selah- 
hamalekoth, the rock of separa- 
tions, 1 Sam. xxiii. 28. 

SEL AH, a word used in trie 
song of Habakkuk, and often in 
the Psalms of David. Whether 
it be a name of God, and import 
an address to him ; or whether 
it signify the same thing as 
amen; or denote a lifting up of 
the voice, or change of the tune, 
or a great pause in the music, 
as at a point worthy of the deep- 
est attention, is not agreed. It 
is plain the omission of it no 
way interrupts the sense, Hah. 
iii. 3. 9. 13. 

SELEUCIA. There were 
many cities of this name in Asia ; 
but the Scripture mentions only 
that of Syria, near the river 
Orontes, which was built by Se~ 
leucus Nicator, the first Syro- 
Grecian monarch. Here Paul 
and Barnabas embarked for Cy- 
prus, Acts xiv. 4. 

SENAAH, or Hasscnaah, a 
city or person, whose inhabitants, 
or posterity, to the number or 
3630, returned from Babylon, 
and were very active in rebuild- 
ing the wall of Jerusalem, Ezra 
ii. 35. Neh. iii. 3. 

SENATE. See Sanhedrim. 

SENNACHERIB. See As- 
syria. 

SENSE; (1.) Our various 
means of perception, by seeing, 
hearing, tasting, smelling, feel- 
ing, are our bodily senses; in 
allusion to which, the powers 
of our soul, whereby we discern 
458 



SEX 
good and evil, are called senses, 
Heb. v. 14. (2.) Sense signifies 
the meaning of a sentence or 
discourse, Nehem. viii. 8. The 
Papists attribute a five-fold 
sense to the scripture ; (1.) A 
grammatical, which is what is 
naturally exhibited by the ex- 
press words : but it is plain this 
must not be always rested in ; 
otherwise we must believe God 
to be corporeal, having eyes, 
ears, feet, and yet to be a spirit. 
(2.) Literal, or historical, where- 
in a narrative is taken according 
to the express terms of the text, 
as that Abraham had a son call- 
ed Ishmael by Hagar. (3.) The 
allegorical, whereby the terms 
and events of a history are ta- 
ken to signify something spirit- 
ual, as Hagar to signify the Jew- 
ish church, Sarah the Christian, 
and Ishmael legalites, and Isaac 
true believers. (4.) The ana- 
logical, whereby we understand 
terms and things relating to this 
world, as relating also to the 
world to come ; as the Sabbath 
to the heavenly rest, Canaan 
to heaven. (5.) Topological, 
whereby we understand a text 
as hinting some instruction of 
moral duty ; as the not muz- 
zling the mouth of the ox, to im- 
port, that ministers should have 
due subsistence from their hear- 
ers. Thus the word Jerusalem, 
according to them, grammati- 
cally signifies the vision of 
peace; historically, the chief 
city of Judah : allegorically, the 
church militant ; analogically, 
the church triumphant; and 
tropologically, a faithful soul. 
But to attempt finding all these 
senses in every passage of scrip- 
ture, is to suppose the oracles 
of God a perplexed chaos. It is 
true, the same text may be im- 
proved to manifold uses ; for 
every word of God is profitable 
for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
rection, for instruction in righ- 
teousness ; but the simplicity of 
divine truth, and the necessary 



SEP 

lintelligibleness of scripture, re- 
quire the real sense of every pas- 
sage to be, not manifold, but 
one, and which we may cail lit- 
eral : not indeed, as if the terms 
used to express it, if distorted 
from their connection with other 
passages, could bear no other; 
but that it is that which was in 
such and such words intended 
by the Holy Ghost. Nay, in so 
far as the analogy of faith, and 
the context will admit, we must 
stick to the natural signification 
of the very words of scripture. 
The sense, however, is often 
complex ; the same phrase re- 
lating to more objects than one. 
Nothing typical is rightly under- 
stood, except we consider it as 
both descriptive of the type, and 
of the anti-type ; by means there- 
of, in the metaphoric passages, 
the material images are not at 
all the sense, but are to be un- 
derstood merely as a means of 
pointing to the true objects in- 
tended. 

SEPHAH, a mount in the 
east of Arabia, or perhaps the 
south-west parts of ChaJdea, 
Gen. x. 30. 

SEPHARVAIM, or Sephar- 
vites, a tribe of the Samaritans. 
Calmet thinks them the Saspires 
on the north of ^'edia : Gill will 
have them the inhabitants of 
Sippohrte, a city of Syro-Pheni- 
cia. The names of their gods, 
viz. Adrammelech and Anam- 
melech, and the nations with 

hom they are jointly mention- 
ed, incline me to think they had 
their original residence about 
Siphora, or Sippara, on the Eu- 
phrates, where the language was 
Chaldean mixed with Arabic, 
They had anciently kings of 
their own, and they burnt their 
children in sacrifice to their 
idols. They were partly cut oft 
by the Assyrians ; and the rest 
were transplanted to the coun 
try of the ten tribes, 2 Kings 
xix.13. xvii. 24. 31. 

SEPULCHRE. See Grave* 
459 



I 



SER 

SERAIAH; (1.) An high- 
driest of the Jews, son of Aza- 
iuh, and father of Jozadak the 
father of Joshua. He was taken 
prisoner at Jerusalem, and was 
at Ribiah murdered by Nebu- 
chadnezzar, along with 70 others 
of the principal men of Judah. 
Jer. lii. 24—27. (2.) The son 
of Neriab, and brother of Ba- 
rach. He is called Shar-menu- 
cha; but whether that means, 
that he was a prince quiet in his 
temper and courage ; or. that he 
was prince of a place called M'e- 
ouchah ; or was prince of the 
bed chamber; or was the king's 
almoner; or was the chief di- 
rector of the presents which he 
carried from Zedekiah to Ne- 
buchadnezzar, about seven years 
before the destruction of the city, 
I know not. Jeremiah sent 
along with him a copy of the 
prediction of Babylon, and 
charged him to bind a stone to 
it when he came to Babylon, 
and cast it into the Euphrates, 
saying, Thus shall Babylon sink, 
and shall not rise again, from 
the evil that the Lord will bring 
upon her, Jer. li. 59 — 02. 

SERAPHIM, or fiery ones. 
In his vision, Isaiah saw sera- 
phims standing above or near to 
the Lord's throne; each had six 
wings ; with twain they covered 
their face, with twain their feet, 
and with twain they did fly : 
they cried, Holy, holy, holy is 
Ihe Jjord God of hosts, the whole 
earth is full of his glory, till 
t ■ house shook with t!;e sound. 
When the prophet bewailed his 
guilt, one of them took a live 
coal from the altar, and laid it 
on his mouth, and told him, that 
bis iniquity was purged. 

SERJEANTS, oflicers who 
carried a bundle of rods before 
magistrates, for whipping male- 
factors, as they got orders, Acts 
xvi. 35, 36. 

SERGIUS. Acts xili. 17. 

SERPENT, is a general 
Dame for a variety of kinds 



SER 






of animals, that live in the 
sea and on the earth. Ac- 
cording to Ray, serpents have 
a long body covered with a 
kind of scales, breathe by lungs, 
and have only one ventricle 
in the heart; their vital warmth 
is small; they take in as much 
air at once, as can serve them 
for breath a considerable time. 
During the winter cold, they 
often lie torpid and half dead, 
needing no food, and perhaps 
no air ; but tbey revive in the 
spring. 

The Hebrew word, translated 
serpent, Gen. iii. 1. signifies ' to 
eye attentively;' it also is the 
word used for ' brass.' It i3 
much disputed what animal is 
intended by this word. Dr. Adam 
Clarke has endeavoured to prove 
that it was the 'ape' which se- 
duced our first parents, a most 
improbable opinion. Whatever 
it was, a curse fell upon it, which 
caused it to move with its belly 
on the ground, and to lick the 
dust. 

The fiery serpents, Num. xxi. 
6. Deut. viii. J5. Isa. xiv. 29. 
xxx. 0, were probably so called, 
from the burning sensation 
which their bite occasioned; but 
they might have been so denomi- 
nated from their colour. The 
original word also signifies ' a 
winged serpent,' and travellers 
assure us, there are many such 
in Arabia. 

The brasen serpent made by 
Moses, for the healing of those 
who were bitten by the fiery ser- 
pents,furnishos a most instructive 
illustration of the object and effi- 
cacy of the crucifixion of our 
divine Redeemer. It is thus used 
in John iii. 14. by our Saviour 
himself, in the conversation with 
Nicodemus, to explain the ne- 
cessity of his being " lifted 
up." 

SERVANT. The Hebrews 

had several kinds of serTants: 

(1.) Some were mere slaves for 

life, and were sold or disposed 

460 



SER SER 

of by their masters as they bondage, are servants, 2 Sam. 
thought fit. Such were the via. 6. God's servants are, (I.) 
strangers bought or taken in Christ, who, in obedience to hia 
war, Lev. xxv. 44, &c. (2.) He- will, assumed our nature, fuiriil- 
brew slaves or bond-servants, ed the law in our stead, and ad 
who could only at the first be ministers the blessings of the 
bound six years, and at the end covenant to us, Isa. xlii. 1. xlix. 
thereof were to be dismissed 3. (2.) Such as are employed in 
with presents from their master: a particular calling in church oi 
but their children born during s;ate; so Moses and Paul, &c. 
their servitude continued to be were his servants, Deut. xxxiv. 
their master's property; but if 5. Rom. i. 1. (3.) Distinguished 
they declined to go free, their instruments of his mercy or 
master, with an awl, bored their wrath; so Nebuchadnezzar and 
ear to the door-post, as a token Cyrus were his servants, Jer. 
that they could not afterwards xxv. 9. Isa. xlv. 1. (4.) The 
have their freedom, at least till saints, who are servants of obe- 
the year of jubilee. If a master dience, and to righteousness, as 
struck a bond-servant till he being delivered from the slavery 
died, he was only punished, not of sin and Satan, they obey, 
condemned to death. If an ox serve, and worship God in holi- 
gored to death a bond-servant, ness and righteousness, Rom. vi. 
the owner paid 30 shekels of ■ 16. 18, 19. 22. 
silver as his price, and the ox | Servant is also taken for a 
was stoned. If a master struck person of a servile* ignoble con- 
out the eye of a slave, he was to dirion and spirit, who is alto- 
give him his liberty as a com- gether unfit for places of dignity, 
pensation. Maids had no title Eccl. x. 7, I have seen servants 
to a release at the seventh year ; upon horses. The Apostle Paul 
but if a master had defiled, or he ! says, 1 Cor. ix. 19, I have made 
or his son had betrothed a maid- j myself servant unto all, that I 
slave, and not kept her as a \ might gain the more. I have 
wife, she was to have her liberty complied with their weaknesses 
as a compensation of the injury and infirmities, so far as they 
done her, Exod. xxi. 1 — 11. 20. : were not sinful : I have denied 
24. 26, 27. Deut. xv. 1—18. ! myself in my liberty, and deter- 
(3.) Hired servants, or hire-' mined myself to that part in my 
lings, whose term of service, it , actions, which I saw would 
seems, was ordinarily three full) most oblige, profit, and engage 
years; and so a servant of six j them to me so as to bring them 
years was worth a double hired , in love with the gospel. The 
servant, Job vii. 1. Isa. xvi. 14. servant of sin, John viii. 34. is 
Deut. xv. 18. As hirelings from \ one who is in spiritual bondage, 
among the heathen did not eat and under the power of sin and 
of the passover; so Hebrews of j corruption, 
other families, hired into the fa- j SERUG, or Saruch, the son 
mily of the priests, were not al- j of Reu or Ragau, and father of 
lowed to eat of the holy food: Nahor, the grandfather of A- 
but all servants were to have j bram, Gen. xi. 20 — 22. It is said, 
their wages as soon as due, Lev. j that he first after the flood set 
six. 13. (4.) Voluntary servants; i on foot the idolatrous worship 
so Joshua was the servant of j of creatures, and maintained 
Moses; Elisha of Elijah; and that such men's images as had 



the apostles of Christ. (5.) Sub- 
jects of a prince, especially if 
reduced to ft kind of slavery and 



39* 



been remarkably useful might 
be adored. This introduced the 
worship of dead men, and bv 



461 



SEV 

consequence all kinds of idola- 
try and polytheism. 

SETH, or Sheth; (1.) The son 
of Adam, born A. M. 131, and 
father of Enos ; he lived 912 
years. For a long time his pos- 
terity followed the true worship 
and service of God; but at last, 
mingling with the wicked pos- 
terity of Cain, they brought the 
flood upon themselves, Gen. iv. 
85, 26. v. 3—8. vi. 1—4. (2.) A 
noted person or place in the land 
trf Moab, Num. xxiv. 17. 

SEVEN. As from the begin- 
ning this was the number of days 
in the week, it has always had a 
kind of emphasis annexed to it, 
and is by some called a number 
of perfection. God added seven 
days to his promised patience to- 
wards the old world : clean beasts 
were taken into the ark by se- 
vens; the years of plenty and fa- 
mine in Egjajt and their em- 
blems were marked by sevens, 
Gen. vii. xli. With the Jews, 
not only was there a seventh- 1 
day Sabbath, but every seventh | 
year was a Sabbath of rest, and 
every seven times seventh year 
was a jubilee. Their great feasts 
of unleavened bread, and of ta- 
bernacles, were observed for se- 
ven days ; the number of ani- 
mal* in sundry of their oblations 
were limited to seven. The 
golden candlestick had seven 
branches : seven priests with se- 
ven trumpets surrounded the 
wall of Jericho seven days, and 
seven times seven on the se- 
venth. In John's New Testa- 
ment revelations, we find seven 
churches, seven candlesticks, 
seven Spirits, seven stars, seven 
eeals, seven trumpets, seven ! 
thunders, seven vials, seven ; 
plagues, and seven - angels, to j 
pour them out on the seven- 
headed monster Antichrist. Se- 
ven often signifies a great many, 
a complete number, Matth. xii. 
45. Prov. xxvi. 16. 25. Isaiah iv. 
I. \ Sam. ii. 5. Jer. xv. 7. Job 
v. 19. Seven-fold, is frequently, ! 



SHA 

completely, Lev. xxvi. 24. Psal- 
lxxix. 12. Gen. iv. 15. 24. PsaJ. 
xii. 6; and seventy times seven f 
or seventy times seven times t 
import very often, Matth. xvii, 
21, '22. Thus Christ's seven 
horns, may denote his great and 
perfect power ; his seven eyes, 
his perfect knowledge, Rev. v. 
6 ; his seven lamps and seven 
pipes, his fulness of revelation 
and gracious influence, Zech. iv. 
2 ; his seven pillars, the fulness 
of fundamental truths and pro- 
mises, Prov. ix. 1. The Holy 
Ghost is called seven spirits, se- 
ven lamps of fire, to denote his 
perfect knowledge and diversi- 
fied gifts and operations, Eev. L 
4. iv. 5. So seven eyes on Christ, 
denote many, Zech. hi. 9 ; se- 
ven thunders, many troubles; 
and seven stars, many ministers, 
Rev. x. 3. i. 16. 

SHAALBON, or Selbon, a 
place on the east of Jordan, and 
gave name to the canton Selbo- 
nitis. Here Eliahba, one of 
David's mighties, was born, 2 
Sam. xxiii. 32. 

SHADRACH, MESHACH, 
and ABED-NEGO, were origi- 
nally of the princes of Judah. 
and when very young, were car- 
ried captive to Babylon, and 
there educated for the king's 
service in all the lawful wisdom 
of the Chaldeans. Having by 
prayer assisted Daniel in the re- 
lation and interpretation of the 
king's dream, they were mad} 
governors in the province of Ba- 
bylon, D;tn. i — iii. See Daniel 
and Nebuchadnezzar. 

SHAHARAIM, a descendant 
of Benjamin, who, it seems, ei- 
ther sojourned in or governed 
the country of Moab. By his 
wives, Hushim and Hodesh, he 
had a very numerous posterity, 
who distinguished themselves in 
the building and peopling of Lod 
or Lydda, Ono, and Aijalon; 
from the last of which they 
drove the Philistines of Gath, 
and after the captivity dwelt 
462 



pl^ny a 



SHA 

Hy at Jerusalem, I Chr. viii. 
S-28. 

SHALEM, Shalim; see Sa- 
lem; not Jerusalem, Gen. xxxiii. 
18. 1 Sam. ix. 4. 

SHALLUM, or Shillem; (1.) 
A son of Naphtali, and father of 
the Shiilemites, 1 Chron. vii. 13. 
Numb. xxvi. 49. (2.) The son 
of Jabesh, a king of Israel, who 
murdered king Zachariah, and 
almost all the family of Jehu, 
and after a month was murder- 
ed by Menahem, 2 Kings xv. 
10—12. See Jehoehaz. 

S HALM AN, or Skalmancser, 
king of Assyria, and probably 
the same as Eneraessar, we sup- 
pose to have been the son. as 
well as the successor of Tiglath- 
pileser. He began his reign 
about A. M. 3276, and reigned 
12 or 14 years. He subdued the 
kingdom of Israel, and obliged 
Hoshea, their king, to pay tri- 
bute. Informed, about three 
years after, that Hoshea had 
concerted measures with the 
king of Egypt to render himself 
free, he marched a powerful 
army into the land of Israel, took 
and ravaged the fenced cities, 
and murdered the inhabitants in 
the most inhuman manner. Af- 
ter three years' siege, he took 
Samaria the capital, and Ho- 
shea, and transported most of 
the people to Media, and other 
eastern parts of his empire; but 
if we may credit the history of 
Tobit, he was not unfavourable 
to the captives, 2 Kings xvii. 1 — 
10. Hosea x. 14. Invited by the 
men of Gath, he commenced a 
war against the Tyrians, and 
after besieging their capital five 
years,, died without taking it, 
and was succeeded by Senna- 
cherib. See Assyria. 

SHAMBLES, the flesh-mar- 
ket, 1 Cor. x. 25. 

SHAME; (1.) That affection 
which proceeds from an inward 
apprehension of guilt, dishon- 
esty, or filtbiness. In the state 
€>f innocency, there was no 



SHA 
shame, nor any occasion for it, 
Gen. ii. 25. (2.) Trouble and 
perplexity of mind, on account 
of guilt and disappointment, Ea- 
ra ix. 6. Rom. vi. 21. v. 5. (3.) 
Derision, contempt, harassment, 
Ezek. xxxvi. 6. (4.) What ia 
shameful ; as an idol, whose 
worship was abominable, and 
tends to bring its practisers to 
shame, Hos. iv. 10. 

Shamefacedness, is an agree- 
able modesty, whereby one be- 
haves in a grave and decent 
manner, ready to blush at the 
smallest approach to any thing 
obscene, 1 Tim. ii. 9. 

SHAMGAR, the son of An- 
ath, and third judge of Israel. 
The Philistines having invaded 
his country, he slew 600 of them 
with an ox-£T>ad, Judg. iii. 31. 

SHAMMAH, the son of Agee 
the Hararite, the third of David's 
mighties. Along with Eleazar 
the son of Dodo, he routed the 
Philistines on a field of lentiles, 
and killed prodigious numbers 
of them. They two breaking 
through the host of the Philis- 
tines, together with Jashobeam, 
brought David water from the 
well of Bethlehem, 2 Sam. xxiii. 
11 — 17. Two others of David's 
worthies were called Shammah, 
the one a Harodite, the other a 
Hararite, 2 Sam. xxiii. 25. 33. 

SHAPHAN. See Josiah. 

SHARON, Saroji; the name 
of several delightful spots in Ca- 
naan ; the first lay between Ce- 
sarea and Joppa, on the west of 
the promised land, Acts ix. 35. 
A second lay between Tabor 
and the sea of Tiberias ; this 
was perhaps but a continuation 
of the other. A third lay on the 
east of Jordan, 1 Chron. v. 16. 
Sharon was noted for its excel- 
lent roses, and pasture for flocks, 
Song ii. 1. It is made an em- 
blem of a fruitful country, Isa, 
xxxiii. 9. 

SHAVEH, denotes a valley 

or dale, such as that belonging 

to the kings of Salem, and that 

463 



SHE 

of Kirjathaim, Genesis xiv. 5. 
17. 

SHAUSHA, or Seriah, one 
of David's scribes, 1 Chr. xvii. 
15. 2 Sam. viii. 17. 

SHEAF, a bundle of corn. 
To take the sheaf from the hun- 
gry, is to deprive the poor of 
their just and necessary provi- 
sion, Job xxiv. 10. See Feast 
of unleavened bread. 

SHEARD; (1.) A piece of a 
broken potter's vessel, Exodus 
xxiii. 34. (2.) A small remnant, 
Isa. xxx. 14. 

SHEAR, to cut off hair, 1 
Cor. ix. 6; but particularly to 
take off the wool of sheep. In 
China, they shear their sheep 
thrice a-year. The Jews used' 
to shear them in June or July, 
and had houses for that purpose, 
and a feast on occasion thereof 
2 Kings x. 12. 1 Sam. xxv. 4 — 
11. xiii. 23, 24. 

SHEB A, or Seba, (1.) The son 
of Cash, who also gave name to 
a country in Arabia, or Abyssi- 
nia, Gen. x. 7. Psalm lxxii. 10. 
Isa. xliii. 3. (2.) Shebah the son 
of Raamah, and grandson of 
Cush,*Gen. x. 7. (3.) The son 
of Joktan, Gen. x. 28. (4.) The 
son of Jokshan, and grandson 
of Abraham, Gen. xxv. 3. All 
these seem to have taken up 
their residence in Arabia, and 
perhaps most of them in the 
south part of it. One or more of 
these Shebas gave name to a 
country, whose queen came to 
visit Solomon, and brought, him 
large presents of gold, spices, 
and precious stones ; but where 
this Sheba was situated, whe- 
ther in Arabia the Happy, or in 
Abyssinia, is not agreed. It is 
certain that both of th.^m lie 
southward of Canaan : and as 
Arabia was bounded with the 
ocean, and Abyssinia was then 
the southmost known country, 
both may be called the uttermost 
ends of the earth. Spices, gold, 
and precious stones, were pro- 
duced, or might easily be had in 



heir Ian - 



SHE 
both. In Abyssinia, their 1 
guage, and their ancient, nay, 
their present religion, are not a 
little similar to the Jewish; and 
they pretend to give us an ac- 
count of a queen of their's, who 
visited Solomon, and had by him 
a son whose posterity continued 
on their throne 1930 years, if 
they do not so still, 1 Kings x. 
Matth. xii. 42. Luke xi. 31. 
The inhabitants of Sheba traded 
with the Tyrians in spices, pre- 
cious stones, and gold, Ezekiel 
xxvii. 22. I suppose there were 
one or more Shebas in Arabia, 
and another in Abyssinia ; but 
it is more certain, that the men 
of Sheba and Seba were in the 
primitive ages of Christianity, 
and shall in the Millennium, be 
turned to the Lord, Psal. lxxii 
10. 15. Isa. Ix. 6. No doubt the 
Sabeans were the offspring of 
some of the above-mentioned 
Shebas or Seba. We find one 
tribe of them in Arabia the De- 
sert, near the land of Uz, who 
carried off Job's . cattle, Job i. 
15. and to whom the Jews sold 
the Tyrian slaves which they 
bought from Alexander's troops, 
Joel iii. 8. They were conquer- 
ed bv Cyrus, Isa. xlv. 14. 

SHEBA, the son of Bichri, 
who decoyed eleven of the He- 
brow tribes into a revolt from 
king David, immediately after 
the death of Absalom, but Joab 
following him at the heels with 
an army, his partisans were soon 
scattered, and the inhabitants of 
Abel-bethmaachah, whither he 
fled, cut off his head, and deli- 
vered it to Joab, who thereon 
raised his siege of the place, 2 
Sam. xx. 

SHEBA, the name of a well 
or city, is the same as Beershe- 
ba, Gen. xxvi. 33. Josh xix. 2, 
where the text should be read 
Beersheba or Sheba, and then 
we have just thirteen cities, as 
it is said, verse 6. 

SHEBARLM, a place near Ai, 
Josh. vii. 5. 

464 



SHE 

SHEBAM. See Sibmah. 

SHEBNAH, a treasurer and 
secretary to king Hezekiah. He 
was one of those who, along 
with Eliakim, were sent to hear 
Sennacherib's proposals. 

BHEOHEM, Sychem, or Sy- 
char, a son of Hamor the Ca- 
naanite, and prince of Shechem, 
Sychem, or Sychar. See Jacob. 
The city called by his name 
stood on mount Ephraim, about 
ten miles north from Shiloh, and 
thirty, or rather, according to 
Reland, thirty-rive north of Je- 
rusalem. Xear this place Jacob 
bought a piece of ground, and 
had it afterwards to recover by 
force from the Canaanitcs. This 
he bequeathed to Joseph, who 
was long after buried in it, Gen. 
xxxiii. 19. xlix. 22. Acts vii. 16. 
Josh. xxiv. 32. It fell to the 
tribe of Ephraim, and was given 
to the Levites, and was a city 
of refuge; and here Joshua, just 
before his death, convened the 
Hebrews to give them a solemn 
charge, Josh. xx. 7. xxiv. The 
inhabitants hereof, along with 
the family of Millo, set up Abi- 
melech the bastard of Gideon for 
king ; but in about three years 
after, he rewarded them with 
the murder of the inhabitants 
and the total ruin of their city, 
Judges ix. It was, however, re- 
built; and here Rehoboam was 
rejected, and Jeroboam was 
made king of the ten tribes. He 
further repaired it, and, it seems, 
made it his capital for a time, 1 
Kings xii. 1 — 25. Long after, 
the Samaritans made it their ca- 
pital, and on account of their 
drunkenness, it was called Sv- 
char. About t A. M. 3870, Hir- 
canus king of the Jews took, and 
pillaged and razed it. It was re- 
built by Vespasian about 40 
years after Christ's death, and 
called Flavia and Xeapolis, or 
the new city. At present it is 
called Naplouse, and is the ca- 
pital of. a small government un- 
der the Turks ; and here the re- 



SHE 

maining Samaritans chiefly re- 
side. Xear to this place was 
Jacob's Well, where our Savi- 
our converted the woman of 
Samaria, and over which there 
was erected a church, that 
was standing about 900 years 
ago, John iv. Mr. 31aundreU, 
who visited this place 100 years 
ago, has left us the following 
description of it: 'It has two 
streets running parallel under 
mount Gerizzim : some of the 
ancient sect of Samaritans still 
reside in the town, who have a 
small temple in the hill above.' 
Dr. Clarke describes it ' as being 
at present a considerable town, 
abounding in all the necessaries 
of life.' He also represents its 
ite as one of the finest in the 
Holy Land — appearing embo- 
somed in the most fragrant and 
delightful bowers, half conceal- 
ed by rich gardens, and groves 
of stately trees. Here may be 
seen the sepulchre of Joseph, 
Eleazar, and Joshua, as impe- 
rishable as the rock out of which 
they were hewn. Few places 
are better suited to enkindle en- 
thusiasm by association with 
early and interesting facts.' — 
' While here,' says the same 
distinguished traveller, 'along 
the valley, we beheld a compa- 
ny of Ishmaelites, coming from 
GUead, as in the days of Reu- 
ben and Judah, with their ca- 
mels, bearing spicery, balm, and 
myrrh.' Mr. Buchanan's de- 
scription agrees with that alrea- 
dy given. The population i3 
computed to be 11,000, nearly 
all Mohammedans : not a single 
Jew to be found in the place. 
Jacob's Well is still remaining 
in the vicinity, and, as of old, 
affords refreshment to weary 
travellers. 

SHECHINAH. This word 
is not read in the Bible, but is 
much in use among the Jew3 
for that visible glory which rest- 
ed in the most holy place, o*er 
the ark and between fh* *lie*«- 
465 



SHE 
bim. The word signifies * in- j 
dwelling ;' for this was the to- l 
ken of God's having taken up 
his ahode in the sanctuary. — | 
From this, oracles were uttered ! 
in answer to inquiries from the I 
high-priest with his urim and \ 
thummim. The shechinah, ac- 1 
cording to the Rabbins, first re- j 
sided in the tabernacle erected j 
by Moses ; next it entered Solo- ! 
mon's temple on the day of its ! 
dedication, where it remained j 
until its destruction by the Chal- 
deans ; but was never present in 
the second temple. 

SHEEP, a most cleanly, pa- 
tient, harmless, useful, and ex- 
posed kind of brutes. Anciently 
the great wealth, even of kings 
and princes, lay in sheep, goats, 
&c. 2 Kings iii. 4. And it still 
doth, among the Turks, Arabs, 
and others. Chardin says, that 
he saw a clan of Turks near 
Aleppo, which had 400,000 ca- 
mels, horses, asses, oxen, and 
cows, and 3,000,000 of sheep and 
goats, with them. Their two 
once powerful families had 
their names from the white 
or black colour of their prodi- 
gious flocks of sheep. It seems 
that when the original family 
divided their flock, one had 
taken all the white, and the 
other all the black sheep, even 
as Jacob took the brown among 
the sheep for his share of wages. 
In some countries, their tails are 
very larsre, and all covered with 
fat. All the sheep offered in the 
ancient sacrifices represented 
Christ. He and his people are 
likened to sheep and lambs, to 
mark their innocence, patience, 
harmlessnees, usefulness, and 
exposure to manifold troubles 
and enemies, Isa. liii. 7. John 
x. 1 — 20. xxi. 15 — 17. Christ is 
God's Lamb, whom he provided, 
and the sacrifice of whom fully 
satisfied his offended justice, 
John i.29. 

SHEKEL, a weight among 



SHE 

the Hebrews : when of gold, it 
weighed about half an ounce 
avoirdupois, and a shekel of sil- 
ver was equal in value to a half- 
dollar. 

SHEM, or Sem, the second 
son of Noah, born A. M. 1558* 
To reward his filial duty, he had 
his father's signal blessing,which 
imported, that in his posterity 
the church of God should long 
remain, and Canaan should be 
his servant ; but at last the pos- 
terity of Japheth should dwell in 
his tents. By his sons, Elam, 
Ashur, Arphaxad, Lad, and 
Aram, he peopled most of the 
south part of Asia, and the isles 
adjacent. In Shem's posterity, 
especially the Hebrew nation, 
the church almost wholly con- 
tinued for about 2000 years be- 
fore Christ ; since which, multi- 
tudes of the posterity of Japheth 
are entered into it. See Canaan, 
and Japheth. Perhaps Shem was 
the Pluto or Typhon of the Hea- 
then ; and from him the city 
Zama, near the head of the Ti- 
gris, seems to have had its name. 

SHEMAIAH. SeeRchoboam, 
Jeremiah, Nchemiah. There are 
about 18 of this name in Scrip- 
ture. 

SHEMINITH, a musical in- 
strument of eight strings ; but 
others think it was a certain 
musical air, Psal. vi. xii. title, 1 
Chron. xxv. 21. 

SHEPHAM, a city on the 
south of Syria, perhaps the same 
as Anamea, Num. xxxiv. 10, 11. 

SHEPHERD, a keeper of 
sheep. This was the occupation, 
formerly, of the richest and most 
illustrious men, Gen. xiii. 2. 5. 
xiv. 4. Flocks were attended by 
the servants, and often by the 
sons and daughters of then 
owners. A shepherd was ex 
posed to all changes of weathei 
and seasons, by night and by 
day, Gen. xxxi. 40. Luke ii. 8. 
Sheep were easily managed, 
though in flocks of many thou- 
466 



SHI 
sands, for they knew the voice 
of the shepherd ; and it was 
common to give every sheep a 
particular name, as is done to 
domestic animals. They would 
follow him in any direction, in 
perfect order, and under disci- 
plinelike an army, John x. 3 — 5. 
The shepherd was to protect his 
Bheep and furnish them with 
pasture and water, (Ps. xxxiii. 
1 — 4.) From his flock the shep- 
herd was supplied with almost 
all the comforts of his life. Ex- 
cept a little grain and a few 
poles, he needed nothing for 
food, or for raiment, or for 
dwelling, which they could not 
furnish. His table was crowned, 
as often as he chose, with flesh 
of the best kind ; which, how- 
ever, in those warm countries, 
was not often used, except on 
great festivals, or to entertain 
strangers ; while, every day, 
abundance of milk and cheese 
gave relish to his simple meal. 
See farther, as to the office 
of shepherds — their mode of life 
— wells of water, &c. Nevin's 
Bib. Anliq. vol. 1. p. 79. As 
to the use of pastor, see Jer. 
xxiii. 1, 2. xii.10. God is called 
a shepherd, Ps. xxiii. 1. Christ is 
called a shepherd, John x. 11 — 14. 
IPet. ii. 25. Ministers are call- 
ed shepherds or pastors, Jer. iii. 
15. Eph. iv. 1L Ezek. xxxiv. 2. 
Jer. 1. 6. Zech. x. 3. 

SHESHACH, a name given 
to Ba'ovlon, Jer. xxv. 26. Ii. 41. 

SHESHBAZZAR. See Ze- 
rubbabel. 

SHETHAR-BOZXAI. See 
Samaritans. 

SHIBBOLETH. See Judges 
Xii. 6. 

SHIELD. See Buckler. 

SHIGGAION,or Shiggionoth, 
cither denotes a musical instru- 
ment, or a tune whose notes 
were exceedingly diversified, and 
perhaps also, that these songs 
varied in their matter from one 
-opposite to another ; as from 
deep sorrow to exultation and 



SHI 

triumph, Psalm vii. title. Hah. 
iii. 1. 

SHIHON, or Seon, a city of 
the tribe of Issachar, near the 
foot of Mount Tabor ; andwhieh 
was of note about A. D. 330. 

SHILOAH, or Siloam, is said 
to have been the same as the 
Gihon, and to have had its spring 
on the west of the city. It is 
said to have had two pools ; the 
pool of Siloam, near the south- 
east of the temple, and the pool 
of Shelah or Siloah, somewhere 
to the westward, Neh. iii. 15» 
Sometimes the stream of Shi- 
loah is said to be on the south 
1 of the city, and yet in the TaV- 
; mud mention is made of Shiioab 
[ in the midst of the city. I am 
i apt to think that the water that 
j came from fountains near the 
: same place for ordinary, ran 
' partly through the city eastward, 
and partly along the south side 
i of it, and met near the pool of 
i Siloam, where our Saviour heal- 
! ed the blind man, John ix. The 
family of David in their weak 
; condition, and Jesus in his hu- 
I miliation, and his Spirit and 
i grace, are likened to the soft- 
flowing waters of Shiloah, Isa. 
viii. 6. Psal. xlv. 4. 
| SFiILOH;(l.) A name of the 
h. Some, by a mistake 
of the last letter, render it sent. 
Some render it his son ; others, 
ho to whom it. viz. the kingdom, 
belongs. Gousset explains it of 
the Messiah, as a icearied suf- 
ferer. But as the word comes 
from Shalah, which signifies 
quietness, Job iii. 26, and pros- 
perity, Ps. cxxii. 6, 7, it is most 
properly rendered, The prosper- 
ous Author of Salvation and 
rest: and the whole text might 
run thus, The power of govern- 
ment shall not depart from Ju- 
dah, nor a judge from among 
his descendants, till the pros- 
perous Saviour come, and to 
him the gathering and obedience 
of the Gentiles be. Gen. xlix. 10. 
The accomplishment of this pre- 

467 



SHI 

diction is evident. Nothing is 
more plain, than that the off- 
spring of Judah preserved their 
distinct existence as a tribe, to- 
gether with a power of govern- 
ment and judging of causes, till 
Jesus came in the flesh. The 
tribe of Judah were most numer- 
ous when they came out of 
Egypt; they led the van in the 
wilderness ; they were divinely 
ordered to make the first attack 
on the remaining Canaanites, 
Judg. i. 1, 2; and against the 
Benjamites atGibeah, Judg. xx. 
18. Othniel, the first of the 
judges, was of this tribe, Judg. 
oi. 9. Long the family of David, 
who -belonged to this tribe, had 
the royal power. Even under 
the Chaldeans and Persians, Je- 
hoiakin, Zerubbabel, and Nehe- 
miah, all of this tribe, held a su- 
periority, 2 Kings xxv. Ezra i — 
vi. Neh. i — xiii. For about 160 
years before Christ, the Macca- 
bean priests, and the family of 
Herod, ruled over the Jews, botli 
of which were in a manner in- 
corporated with the tribe of Ju- 
dah : and besides, the sanhedrim 
of Jewish eiders had much power 
in their hand. Not long after our 
Saviour's incarnation, Judea 
was reduced to a Roman pro- 
vince. Not long had the Gentiles 
begun to gather to, and obey 
him, when the Jewish church 
and state were quite overturned, 
and the distinction of tribes for 
ever finished, the genealogies 
being lost. It is true, they pre- 
tend since to have had heads of 
their captivity ! but where is 
their evidence? or where is the 
nation wherein they have au- 
thority from their tyrannic mas- 
ters to judge and determine in 
any important point? If they 
cannot produce tokens of power 
for nearly 1800 years past, the 
Messiah must certainly be come, 
and Jesus of Nazareth be the 
person. 

2. Shiloh, a famous city of the 
tribe of Ephraira about ten miles 



SHI 

south of Shechem, and 25 north 
of Jerusalem. Here Joshua di- 
vided the west Canaan to the 
nine tribes and a half; and here 
he fixed the tabernacle of God; 
and here it continued about 310 
years, if not 350. After the Phi- 
listines carried oft* the ark, it 
was never returned to Shiloh; 
and the place gradually dwindled 
away, till its ruinous condition 
became a proverb, and a pattern 
of desolation, Josh, xviii. Psal. 
Ixxviii. GO. Jer. vii. 12. 14. xxvi. 
6. 9. The inhabitants of it are 
perhaps called Shilonites, 1 Chr. 
ix. 5. At least Ahijah the pro- 
phet was one, 1 Kings xiv. 2. So 
many of their daughters, as they 
danced in their vineyards, were 
seized by the remaining 200 men 
of the Benjamites, Judg. xxi. 

SHIMEI, the son of Gera, a 
Benjamite, and a kinsman of 
Saul. When David, in a most 
mournful condition, fled from 
Jerusalem for fear of Absalom, 
Shimei met him at Bahurim, 
and bitterly cursed him as a 
murderer and wicked monster, 
and threw stones at him. David 
would not suffer him to be killed 
for his insolence. After Absa- 
lom's death, Shimei, with 1000 
men of his tribe, came with the 
first, particularly of the three 
tribes of the camp of Ephraim, 
to welcome David home to his 
capital. He confessed his crime, 
and begged forgiveness. Not- 
withstanding of Abishai's plead- 
ing, David gave Shimei his oath, 
that he would spare his life, and 
never put him to death : 2 Sam. 
xvi. 5—11. xix. 16—23. But 
as it was dangerous to let such 
an affront of royal majesty go 
unpunished, David, on hi9 death- 
bed, charged Solomon to resent 
it as he thought proper. In full 
consistency with his father's 
oath, Solomon ordered Shimei, 
under pain of death, not to go 
without the limits of Jerusalem. 
Shimei was content with the re- 
striction. About three years af- 
463 



SHI 

ter, some of his slaves fled off, 
and took shelter with Achish 
king of Gath. Informed hereof, 
Shiinei went after them, and 
brought them back to Jerusa- 
lem. Solomon having heard of 
it, called Shiinei before him, and 
after convicting him of his wick- 
edness, ordered Benaiah to des- 
patch him with his sword, 1 
Kings ii. 36 — 46. 

SHLYAR, the name of a place 
or country, where thAiescend 
ants of Noah commenced build- 
ing a tower, and whence they 
were scattered ove'r the face of 
the earth; but its precise situa- 
tion is much disputed. Some 
confine the country of Shinar to 
lower Mesopotamia,while others 
extend it over the whole region 
included between the Tigris and 
Euphrates. The scriptures clear- 
ly determine where this land was 
situated, but do not enable us to 
fix its boundaries, Gen. x. xi. It 
is said 'that Nebuchadnezzar 
carried away the sacred vessels 
of Jerusalem, and put them in 
the temple of Shinar, that is at 
Babvlon,' Dan. i. 2. 

SHIPHRA and PUAH were 
two noted midwives in the land 
of Goshen ; but whether they 
were Hebrews or Egyptians, we 



SHI 



rope, were also, in their turns, 
famous by sea; particularly 
those of Miletus, Rhodes, Athens, 
Sicily, and the Alexandrians in 
Egypt. After the Saracens had 
ruined the Grecian sea-trade, 
the Venetians, Pisans, and Ge- 
noese, in Italy, became famous 
in that way. About 250 years 
ago, the Spaniards and Portu- 
guese, by pushing their African, 
Indian, and American discove- 
ries, engrossed much of the sea- 
trade: but at present the Eng- 
lish and Americans have the 
greatest trade by sea. 

SHISHAK, king of Egypt, 
and, we suppose, brother-in-law 
to king Solomon. Under his 
reign, Jeroboam, who had sought 
to arouse the Jewish people 
against Solomon, fled into 
Egypt. A few year3 after, in 
the fifth year of Rehoboam, Shi- 
shak invaded Judea with an im 
mense army, took possession of 
Jerusalem, pillaged the templs 
of the Lord, and the treasures ot 
the king. 1 Kings xiv. 25, 26. 
2 Chron. xii. 9. 

The scripture account of this 
invasion is confirmed in the most 
satisfactory manner, by the re- 
cent discoveries of Champollion 
in Egypt. Upon one of the col- 
know not. To prevent the in-Jlonades of the palace of Karnac, 
crease of the Israelites, Pharaoh 1 at Thebes, is a representation 



sent for them, and charged them 
to sMrb in the birth all the He- 
brew male children. They ne- 
glected to obev his orders. 

SHIPS. Probably Noah's ark 
gave the first origin to shipping. 
The tribes of Zebulun and Dan 
appear to have early begun a 



of Shishak dragging at the feet 
of the Egyptian gods more than 
thirty vanquished nations, among 
which is written, at full length, 
IOVDAHMALEK, the king- 
dom of the Jews, or of Judah. 

Other inscriptions give a par- 
ticular list of the " fenced ci- 



sea-trade, Gen. xlix. 13. Judges, ties' 1 '' mentioned in 1 Chr. xii. 4. 
v. 17. Solomon, and after him as having been taken in this ex- 
Jehoshaphat, set on foot a con- , pedition, and exhibit, also, va- 



siderable trade by shipping, 1 
Kings x. xxii. The Trojans 
were early powerful at sea ; but 
the Tynans and Sidonians for 
many ages were much more so. 
Nor was their colony at Car- 
thage inferior in shipping. The 
Greeks, both in Asia and Eu- 
40 



rious effigies, commemorative of 
the victory over the Jews, and 
even the name of the conquered 
Rehoboam is still preserved in 
Egyptian sculpture, after the 
lapse of 2700 years. There has 
scarcely been any event more 
remarkable in the present age, 
469 



SHI 

than the discover)' of a method to 
read the Egyptian hieroglyphics, 
and we look with great confi- 
dence to the confirmation which 
sacred history will gather from 
records which have thus been 
hitherto mysteriously locked up 
for ages, but are now furnishing 
an evidence of its authenticity, 
little short of miraculous. 

SHITTIM-WOOD, a kind 
of timber very valuable, and 
much used by Moses in the for- 
mation of the tabernacle and its 
furniture. Jerome represents it 
as similar to the white thorn. It 
is most like to have been the 
black acacia, which is said to be 
the only tree that grows in the 
Arabian desert. Its wood is 
smooth, beautiful, tough, hard, 
and almost incorruptible. As 
used in the tabernacle, it might 
denote the excellency and dura- 
bleness of Christ's manhood, 
and the strength and beauty of 
his true saints. 

Others suppose that the wood 
called by this name, was the 
finest kind of cedar, because this 
was best suited for such precious 
articles as were needed for the 
furniture of the tabernacle; and 
especially as all the other mate 
rials were of the most costly 
kind. If it be inquired how this 
wood could have been procured 
in the wilderness, it will be suf- 
ficient to answer, that it could 
as easily have been obtained for 
all the purposes of the taberna 
cle, as the finest gold, and gems, 
and purple, and fine twined lin- 
en, &c. Exod. xxv. xxvi. xxvii 
xxx. 5. xxxv. 7. 24. xxxvi. 20. 
31. 36. xxxvii. 1. 4. 10. 15. -25. 
28. xxviii. 1. 6. Deut. x. 3. Isa. 
xli. 19. 

Mr. Bruce speaks of this tree 
as the tree of deserts, and tells 
ns that its leaves are good for 
camels; and Dr. Shaw says that 
it is much the largest and most 
common tree in the deserts of 
Arabia. Its flowers have a fra- 
grant smell, Is. xli. 19. 



SHO 

SHOBACH, or Shophach^ 
See Hadadezer. 2 Samuel 
x. 16. 

SHOCK, sheaves of corn set 
up in the field for winnowing. 
One comes to his grave as a 
shock of corn in his season, 
when, being well prepared for 
death, he dies in a good old age, 
Job v. 26. 

SHOE. Among the Hebrews, 

ives went barefooted: others 
generalljpiad their feet and legs 

vered^when they went abroad ; 
and their women of quality had 
these parts cbvered with mate- 
rials very rich and beautiful, 
Song vii. 1. Ezek. xvi. 10; but 
it seems their shoes were ordi- 
narily of no great value, and so 
a pair of shoes denotes a very 
inconsiderable bribe, Amos ii. 6. 
Probably their soldiers often 
wore shoes of iron and brass ; 
and to this day, many of the 
eastern people wear iron plates 
on the heels and the fore-sole of 
their shoes; but Asher's shoes 
being of iron and brass may de- 
note the abundance of the me- 
tals in their territory, and their 
strength to conquer and crush 
their enemies, Deut. xxxiii. 25. 
The Hebrews' eating of the first 
passover with their shoes on, 
loins girded, and staff in their , 
hand, imported that they were 
immediately after to begin their 
journey, Exodus xii. 11. Put- 
ting- off shoes, imported reve- 
rence to the presence of God, 
Exod. iii. 6. Josh v. 5. Want 
of shoes, imported mourning, 
debasement, and slavery, 2 Sam. 
xv. 30. Ezek. xxiv. 17. Isa. xx. 
2. 4. The plucking off a shoe 
and giving it to another, im- 
ported resignation of right to 
him, Ruth iv. 7. To bear or 
unloose one's shoes, imports do- 
ing him the meanest offices, 
Matt. iii. 11. Luke iii. 16. Da- 
vid cast his shoe over Edom, 
when he took possession of the 
country, an.) used the people ass 
slaves, Psal. Ix. 8. cviii. 9. 
470 



SHU 

SHOP HAN, or Zaphon, a 
city of the Gadites, a little east- 
ward of the sea of Tiberias, 
Numb, xxxii. 35. Josh. xiii. 27. 

SHRED, to cut in piecee, and 
cast into a pot, 1 Kings iv. 39. 

SHRINES, either small forms 
of the temple of Ephesus, with 
Diana's image in them ; or me- 
dals, with the figure of the tem- 
ple impressed thereon, Acts xix. 
24. 

SHUL AMITE, a name given 
to the church, to denote that she 
pertained to Jerusalem ; or ra- 
ther was reconciled to God, 
peaceable in disposition, and 
made perfect through Jesus's 
comeliness put upon her, Song 
vi. 13. 

The family of the SHUMA- 
TH1TES, were so called, either 
from one Shumath their chief, or 
from Shema, a city of Judah, 1 
Chron. ii. 53. 

SHUNEM, a city of Issachar, 
about five miles south of Tabor, 
Josh. xix. 18. Here, in a great 
plain, the Philistines' army en- 
camped, while Saul's lay at Gil- 
boa, 1 Sam. xxviii.4. Abishag, 
David's concubine, was a native 
of it, 1 Kings i. 3. Here Elisha 
was kindly entertained, and pro- 
cured a child to his kind hostess, 
and afterwards restored him to 
life, 2 Kings iv. See Elisha; 
Jehoram. 

SHUR, or Sur, a city of Ara- 
bia, on the north-east side of the 
Red Sea, and which gave name 
to the adjacent part of the desert, 
which consisted of about the 
fourth part of the wilderness of 
Eiham, Gen. xvi. 7. Exod. xv. 
22. It appears to have been 
the west border of the Amale- 
kites, 1 Sam. xv. 7. xxvii. 8; 
and here theSuratte of Ptolemy 
stood. 

SHUSHAN, or Susa, on the 
bank of the river Ulai, and the 
capital of Susiana or Shusistan 
in Persia. It seems to have had 
its name from the plenty of lilies 
growing about it. It is said to 



SID 

have been built by Memnon, a 
little before the Trojan war. It 
was the winter residence of the 
Persian kings from the time of 
Cyrus, as a high ridge of moun- 
tains sheltered it from the north- 
east wind ; but in summer the 
heat was excessive and intolera- 
ble. Here Daniel had his vision 
of the ram and he-goat, Dan. viii. 

SHUTTLE, an instrument 
used by weavers, for interming- 
ling their woof with the warp. 
A? it very quickly moves from 
one side of the web to the other, 
our days are represented as 
swifter than a weaver's shuttle, 
to denote the shortness of life, 
and quick motion of time, Job 
vii. 6. 

SIBMAH, Shebmah, or She- 
bam, a city about half a mile 
from Heshbon. The very best 
vines grew about it, Isa. xvi. 8, 
It was originally the property 
of the Moabites : but Sihon hav- 
ing taken it from them, it fell tx 
the Reubenites after his over- 
throw, Numb, xxxii. 38. Joshua 
xiii. 19. During the decline of 
the kingdom of Israel, the Moab- 
ites seized on it. It was des- 
troyed or pillaged by the Assy- 
rians, Isaiah xvi. 8 ; and after- 
wards by the Chaldeans, Jer 
xlviii. 32. 

SIBR AIM, a city on the north- 
east of Canaan, between Ha- 
math and Damascus, Ezekiel 
xlvii. 16. 

SICHEM, Sychar. See She 
chem. ' 

SIDON, a very ancient and 
celebrated city of Phenicia, sup- 
posed to have been founded by 
Sidon, the son of Canaan; and", 
if so, must be one o? the oldest 
cities in the world. The inhabi- 
tants of Sidon appear to have 
been skilled in hewing timber ; 
that is, in preparing and fitting 
it for building ; and, therefore, 
they were employed by Solomon 
to prepare the timber for tha 
building of the temple. They 
are said to have been theinven- 
471 



SID 

tors of the manufacture of glass ; 
and Homer often speaks of them 
as excelling in many useful arts. 
They must also be reckoned 
among the first who carried on 
commerce in ships; at least to 
any great distance from the 
coast. By means of their va- 
rious arts and extensive com- 
merce, they became very rich, 
and, as a natural consequence, 
very luxurious ; and luxury ne- 
ver fails to produce a general 
corruption of manners. 

Although Tyre was 'the 
daughter of Sidon,' yet, after a- 
while, she became her mistress ; 
as we find, that, in the days of 
Solomon, the Sidonians were 
subject to Hiram, king of Tyre. 
Sidon was taken by Nebuchad- 
nezzar, at the same time that 
Tyre was destroyed ; but he 
permitted the Sidonians to retain 
their own kings. In the wars 
between the Egyptians and Per- ! 
sians, Sidon was besieged by ! 
Darius Ochus ; the inhabitants, j 
in despair, burnt their ships and 
their city, when so great a quan- j 
tity of the precious metals was 
melted down, that the ashes of 
the city were sold for a_gTeat 
sum. The city was, however, 
soon rebuilt; for 18 years after- 
wards it submitted to Alexander. ! 
In the perpetual wars waged 
between Syria and Egypt, this 
city suffered much, on account ' 
of its situation between the two ' 
countries, and on the very route 
of the armies of the belligerents. ' 
After the subversion of the Gre- | 
cian empire, Sidon fell under 
the power of the Romans: and, 
finally, of the Turks, and sultans 
of Egypt, who destroyed both it 
and Tyre, about Ji. D. 1289, to 
prevent their affording shelter to 
Christians, in their invasions of 
Palestine. 

In sacred scripture, it is called 
' Great Sidon, 1 on account of 
its immense wealth. Its situa- 
tion was on the Mediterranean, 
about 25 miles north of Tyre. 



SIH 

It was included in the territory 
which fell to the lot of the tribe 
of Asher, but they were never 
able to drive out the inhabitants, 
Judg. i. 31. This city was of 
some consequence in the time of 
our Saviour, and many of its in- 
habitants seem to have attended 
on his ministry, when he passed 
along by their coasts, Mark iii. 
8. Paul also visited this place, 
in his journey to Rome, Acts 
xxvii. 3. At present, the name 
of the place is Saide; and it is 
a trading town of some note, 
and the chief mart for Damascus 
and the southern part of Syria ; 
but the port is almost choked 
with sand. At a distance, the 
town looks well, but when you 
approach it, you find it badly 
built, and dirty. It contains 
many ruins, and a few remains 
of the ancient city. The num- 
ber of inhabitants, according to 
Mr. Connor, is 15,000, of whom 
2000 are Maronite Christians, 
and 400 Jews, who have a syna- 
gogue here. 

SIEGE, the surrounding of a 
city or castle with an army, in 
order to starve or force the in- 
habitants to a surrender. The 
scriptures mention the sieges of 
Samaria, Nineveh, Babylon, Je- 
rusalem, and Tyre, as most no- 
ted. The other famed sieges of 
antiquity, are those of Troy, 

! Ashdod, Tyre, Alexandria, and 
Numantium. The more noted 
sieges of modern times are those 

\ of Constantinople, Ostend, and 

j Graves; but more especially 
that of Candia, in Crete. The 
sui rounding judgments of God, 

' reducing men to great hardships, 
are called a siege, Isa. xxix. 3. 
SIGNET. See Ring. 
SIHON, king of the Amorites, 
on the east of Jordan. About 
Ji.M. 2540, he invaded the king- 
dom of Moab, and seized a con- 
siderable part of it. About A. 
M. 2552, he refused a passage 
to the Hebrews through his 
country. Moses therefore at- 
472 



SiL 



SIM 



mekeu him in war, took his! was silk known in Europe; and, 



country from him, and gave it 
to the" tribe of Reuben, Numb, 
xxi. xxxii. Beut. ii. 26 — 37. 
Josh. xiii. Psal. cxxxvi. 19. 21. 

SIHOR, Shihor. See Nile. 

Sihor, or Shihor- Lib nath, a 
place not far from North Car- 
mel, and in the west border of 
the Asherites, Josh. xix. 26 ; but 
whether it was a city, or the ri- 
ver of crocodiles, or the white 
promontory between Ecdippa 
and Tyre, I know not. 

SILAS, Sijlvanus, or Ter- 
tius. It is thought that he and 
Carpus were John's two mes- 
sengers to Jesus, Matth. xi. 2, 3. 
He was a chief man among the 
primitive preachers, and a pret- 
ty close attendant of Paul. He 
was sent along with him from 
Antioch to the synod at Jerusa- 
lem; and he and Judas were 
sent by the synod along with 
Paul and Barnabas, to bear 
their decrees to the churches, 
x\cts xv. 22. He went with 
Paul to Lycaonia, Phrygia, Gal- 
atia, Macedonia, and at Philip- 
pi was his fellow-prisoner, Acts 
xv. 16. He and Timothy re- 
mained at Berea, instructing the 
disciples, after Paul was obliged 
to flee. Nor does it appear 
they came up to him till he 
came to Corinth, and there Silas 
fervently preached the gospel, 
Acts xvii. 15. xviii. 5. 2 Cor. i. 19. 

SILK. Perhaps the ancient 
Hebrews knew nothing of silk ; 
for their shesh and mcslii, which 
is so rendered, may signify cot- 
ton or fine linen. Genesis xli. 
42. Proverbs xxxi. 22. Ezek. 
xvi. 10. 13. A certain kind of 
worm spins the silk out of its 
bowels; and it is only twisted 
and woven by us. There are 
gome very curious mills for wind- 
ing and twisting it. The Seres, 
perhaps the same as the Chi- 
nese, were the first improvers 
of it. Thence the art was intro- 
duced into Persia. Nor, till af- 
ter the conquests of Alexander, 



u2 



40* 



even then, it was valued at its* 
weight in gold. Tiberius the 
emperor prohibited his male sub- 
jects to wear any of it; and 
about 200 years after, Aurelian 
obstinately refused his empress 
a gown of it, as too costly and 
luxurious for her high station. 
Till about Ji. D. 555, the art ot 
manufacturing it was kept a 
close secret in the east. At last, 
Justinian the emperor got some 
of the worms to Constantinople. 
They succeeded so well, that 
very soon silken manufactures 
were established there, and at 
Athens, Thebes, and Corinth. 
At present, silk is very common, 
in Asia and Europe ; and the 
managing of the worms is becom- 
ing an object of attention in the 
United States. 

SILLA, a place near the 
house of Millo in Jerusalem. 
Some think it was a part or su- 
burb of the city; but I am apt 
to think it was a terrace, or rais- 
ed way between the two hills on 
which the city was built, 2 Kings 
xii. 30. 

SILO AM. See Shiloah. 

SILVANUS. See Silas. 

SILVER. We read nothing 
of it before the flood as in use ; 
but in Abraham's time traffic 
was carried on with it, though 
it was not coined till long after ; 
see Money. Its ore is conside- 
rably impure, and it must be 
often purged to render it fine, 
Psal. xii. 7. It is found mingled 
with -lead, tin, &c. The fine sil- 
ver of the ancients was found in 
the mires of Tarshish, Jer. x. 9. 
Great quantities of it were used 
in the building of the Jewish 
temple by Solomon, 1 Chr. xxix. 
4. It is put for all temporal 
wealth, Hos. ix. 6. 

SIMEON, the second son of 
Jacob, was born about A. M. 
2247. When he was about 18 
years of age, he and Levi his 
younger brother, contrary to 
treaty, murdered the people of 



473 



SIM 

Shechem, while they were at 
the sorest, by their circumcision, 
Gen. xxxiv. After Joseph had 
kept all his brethren in prison 
for three days, he liberated the 
rest, but retained Simeon, per 
haps because he was of a most 
violent temper, or because he 
had been most inhuman to him, 
Gen. x!ii. 17—24. On his death 
bed, Jacob cursed not the per- 
sons, but the rage and murder of 
Simeon and Levi, in the case of 
the Shechemites ; and prophe- 
sied, that their combination in 
sin should issue in their perpe- 
tual dispersion among the rest 
of the Hebrew tribes, Gen. xlix. 
5, 6. The sons of Simeon were 
Jemuel, or Nemuel, Jamin, O- 
had, Jachin, Zoar, or Zerah, and 
Shaul. Oliad seems to have died 
childless ; but by the rest he had 
a numerous issue. When this 
tribe came out of Egypt, they 
amounted to 50,300 men, capa- 
ble of war, under the command 
of Shelumiel the son of Zuri- 
shaddi, and marched the fifth in 
order of the tribes. Shaphat the 
son of Hori was their spy to 
view the promised land, and 
Shemuel the son of Ammihud 
was their agent to divide it, Gen. 
xlvi. 10. Exod. vi. 15. Numb. 
xxvi. 12—14. ii. 12, 13. xiii. 5. 
xxxiv. 20. It seems they had 
been signally guilty in the affair 
of Peor, as well as Zimri their 
chief prince ; and that the 24,000 
cutoff in that affair were mostly 
of this tribe: for, at the reckon- 
ing immediately after, it was 
decreased to 22.200, Num. xxv. 
xxvi. 14, 15. This their recent 
wickedness was perhaps the rea- 
son why Moses did not express- 
ly bless them along with the 
other tribes, Deut. xxxiii. They 
got their portion out of the inhe- 
ritance of Judah ; and they, and 
the tribe of Judah, assisted one 
another in clearing their lot of 
the Canaanites, Josh. xix. 1 — 8. 
Judges i. 1 — 20. The Simeon- 
ites never made any distinguish- 



SIM 

ed figure. We scarce find a 
noted person among them : but 
it is said, that the narrow limits 
of their inheritance obliged ma- 
ny of them to become scribes, 
and disperse themselves among 
the other tribes. At David's co- 
ronation to be king of Israel, 
7100 of them were present, 1 
Chron. xii. 25. They revolted 
to Jeroboam with the other nine 
tribes ; but many of them after- 
wards submitted to Asa king of 
Judah, 2 Chr. xi. xv. 9. When 
Canaan was ravaged by the As- 
syrians, it seems a body of the 
Simeonites retired southward, 
and seized on the country of the 
Amalekites, about the west end 
of Mount Seir, 1 Chron. iv. 39— 
43. Josiah purged their coun- 
try from idols, 2 Chr. xxxiv. 6. 

Simeon, an old man at Jeru- 
salem, who earnestly waited for 
the incarnation of the Messiah. 
God, by his Spirit, assured him, 
that he should not die till he had 
seen it. Moved by a supernatu- 
ral impulse, he came to the tem- 
ple just as Mary and Joseph 
presented their divine Babe. He 
clasped him in his arms, and 
blessed God for his coming : he 
declared his desire of readi- 
ness to die, as he had seen the 
divine Saviour, the light to light- 
en the Gentiles, and the glory of 
Tsrael : he blessed Joseph and 
Mary, and told them, that their 
child was set up as an occasion 
of the ruin, and as the author of 
the salvation of many Israelites, 
and as a sign to be every where 
spoken against: he assured Ma- 
ry, that her heart should be 
pierced with grief at the sight of 
the maltreatment and death of 
her Son ; and that strange dis- 
coveries should by the gospel be 
made of men's hearts, Luke ii, 
25 — 35. It has been said, that 
this Simeon was the son of the 
famed Hillel,and teacher of Ga- 
maliel. 

SIMON, the Cyrenian, and 
father of Alexander and Rufus. 
474 



SIM 

He is thought by some to be the 
same as Niger, the teacher at 
Antioch, Acts xiii. 1. We know 
not whether he was a Jew or a 
Gentile; but it is certain, that 
the Jews who led Jesus to be 
crucified, finding him ready to 
sink under his cross, and meet- 
ing with Simon as he came in 
from the country, compelled him 
to assist in bearing the one end 
of it, Matt, xxvii. 32. 

Simon Zelotes, or the Ca- 
naanite, one of Christ's apostles. 
The signification of Zelotes is 
zealous, or full of zeal. Perhaps 
he had been one of those Gali- 
leans, or furious bigots, who ob- 
stinately refused to pay tribute to 
the Romans. Perhaps his name 
Canaanite, signifies no more 
than that he was such a zealot, 
or that he was of Cana in Galilee, 
Luke vi. 15. Matt. x. 4. It is 
said, that he preached the gos- 
pel in Egypt, Cyrenaica, Lybia, 
and Mauritania, if not also in 
Britain. Others will have him 
to have been murdered at Lu- 
nir in Persia, along with Jude. 

Simon, the brother or cousin 
of our Saviour, and the son of 
Cleophas. He is said to have 
resided at Jerusalem, after the 
death of his brother James the 
Less ; and that when Trajan 
made strict inquiry for all those 
of the family of David, he was 
for some days terribly tortured, 
and then crucified, A. D. 107, 
after he had for above 40 years 
governed the church at Jerusa- 
lem ; but as most of that time 
that city lay in mere rubbish, it is 
scarcely probable he lived there 
at that time. 

Si?non, the Pharisee, who, 
having invited our Saviour to 
an entertainment, though he 
scarce showed him due civility 
when he came, yet took offence 
at his allowing the penitent wo- 
man to wash and anoint his 
feet; but Jesus, by the parable 
of the two debtors, convinced 
l)im of his mistake, Luke vii. 



SIN 
3G— 50. Whether it was he 
whom Jesus healed of a leprosy, 
and in whose house at Bethany 
Jesus supped a lew days before 
his death, and had his head 
anointed by Mary the sister of 
Lazarus, 1 know not, Mark 
xxvi. 6. John xii. 3 — 5. 

Simon Magus, or the Sorcer- 
er. By his enchantments he ac- 
quired himself a great fame in 
his country of Samaria, as some 
very extraordinary person. He 
was so affected with the doc- 
trine and miracles of the apos- 
tles Peter and John, that he pro- 
fessed himself a Christian, and 
was baptized. Observing how 
they conferred the singular in- 
fluence of the Holy Ghost, by 
the laying on of hands, he of- 
fered them money for a share of 
their powers. Peter bid his 
money perish with him, because 
he had thought to purchase the 
free gift of God with money; 
and told him, he had need to ask 
the forgiveness of such wicked 
thoughts, as they plainly mark- 
ed him to be still in an unrege- 
nerate state. Struck with ter- 
ror at this reply, Simon begged 
they would intercede with God 
for him, that the evils threatened 
him might be averted, Acts viii. 
5 — 24. It seems, that afterwards 
he did what he could to oppose 
the gospel and the preachers 
thereof. 

SIN, or Sinim ; (1.) A strong 
city in the land of Egypt, per- 
haps the same with Pelusium, 
now called Damietta, near the 
north-east border. It was ra- 
vaged by the Chaldeans, and 
has been often since pillaged, 
Ezekiel xxx. 15. From hence 
some Jews returned to Canaan, 
and many of the inhabitants em- 
braced the Christian faith, Isa. 
xlix. 12. Whether the Sinites t 
who descended of Canaan, dwelt 
near Lebanon, where Strabo 
mentions a casile called Sinnse, 
or whether they dwelt at Tripoli 
in Phenicia, or lived about Sin, 
475 



SIN 
in the north-east of Egypt, we 
cannot determine, Gen. x. 17. 
(2.) The wilderness of Sin, on 
the east side of the western gulf 
of the Red Sea, and to the north- 
west of Sinai, Exod. xvi. 1. 

SIN, or that conduct whereby 
we miss the mark of God's law 
and our own happiness, is called 
iniquity or unrighteousness , as 
it implies a withholding of what 
is due to God or men. It is call- 
ed wickedness and ungodliness, 
as it implies an obstinate oppo- 
sition to the nature, worship, 
and service of God. It is called 
trespass and transgression, as 
it is a contrariety to the pre- 
cepts of the divine law. Sin, 
iniquity, or wickedness, denotes, 
(1.) What in general is contrary 
to the law of God, 1 John iii. 5. 
Matth. vii. 23. Ezekiel iii. 19. 
(2.) Original sin, whereby our 
whole nature is defiled, and ren- 
dered contrary to the nature and 
law of God, Psalm li. 5 ; and 
hence the inward part is said to 
be very wickedness; the heart is 
filled with enmity against God, 
and malice against men, Psalm 
v. 9. This corruption of nature 
is the sin that dwells in us, Rom. 
vii. 17. 20. and works in us all 
manner of concupiscence, Rom. 
vii. 8; wars in us, Rom. vii. 23 ; 
reigns in and over us, Rom. vi. 
11, 12. 14; and deceives and 
slays us, Rom. vii. 11. It is call- 
ed lust, James i. 15; the flesh, 
Rom. viii. 1 ; the body of sin, 
Rom. vi. 6 : the body of death, 
Rom. vii. 24; the laio of the 
members, Rom. vii. 23; the law 
of sin and death, Rom. viii. 2. 
(3.) Actual sin, or a particular 
kind of it, James i. 15. Psal. vii. 
3. Actual sin, is that which, 
proceeding from our inward cor- 
ruption, is daily committed in 
eur thoughts, words, and deeds ; 
and is formed according to the 
particular lusts that reign, or are 
in our heart, whether of the flesh 
or mind, Titus iii. 3. Eph. ii. 3 ; 
and it is called the iniquity of 



SIN 
the heels, or conversation, Peal- 
xlix. 5. Actual sins are either 
secret, or open and scandalous, 
Psal. xix. 13. Tim. v. 22. They 
are either of infirmity, done 
through ignorance, inattention, 
and hurry of temptation ; ox pre- 
sumptuous, done boldly, and 
against light and conviction, 
Psal. xix. 13. Unbelief, or the 
rejection of Christ and his truths 
when revealed and offered, is 
the worst of actual sins, and in 
comparison of which, other sins 
are, as it were, no sins, John ix. 
41. xv. 22 ; and this carried on 
to the highest degree of pre- 
sumption and malice, is called 
blasphemy against the Holy 
Ghost, as it rejects and tramples 
on all his evidence and convic- 
tions ; and is called the sin unto 
death, because being never par- 
doned, it inevitably 7 ruins men, 
1 John v. 16. (4.) The wicked 
men who commit sin, Job v. 16; 
hence the Jews seem to be call- 
ed wickedness, Zech. v. 8: and 
evil angels are called spiritual 
wickedness in high places, as 
with great power and vigour 
they work wickedness, Eph. vL 
11. (5.) The punishment of ini- 
quity, Gen. iv. 7. xix. 15. Lev. 
v. 1 ; so God lays up men's ini- 
quity for their children, when 
he delays the temporal punish- 
ment of it, till it be executed on 
their children, Job xxi. 19. In 
allusion hereto, sin is taken for 
the offering which makes atone- 
ment for sin, and what we ren- 
der sin-offering, is often the 
same in the Hebrew, as what we 
render sin, Lev. iv. 3. 25. 29; 
and the priests are said to eat 
sin, i. e. with pleasure feast on 
sin-offerings, Hosea iv. 8. God 
for sin, i. e. by the sin-offering 
of his Son, condemned sin in the 
flesh, Rom. viii. 3. Christ is said 
to be made sin, that we might 
be made the righteousness of 
God in him, t. e. he had our sins 
charged to his account; was 
condemned by the curse of the 

476 



SIN 
law, to make an atonement 
for them, to the satisfaction of 
his Father's justice, in order that 
we, having his finished righte- 
ousness placed to our account, 
might, in a state of union with 
him, be legally sustained as per- 
fectly righteous before Goci, 2 
Cor.'v. 21. Psalm xi. 12. 1 Pet. 
ii. 24. Isa. liii. 6. He died unto 
tin, i. e. to make full satisfac- 
tion for it, Rom. vi. 10 ; and all 
saints are dead to it, freed from 
the reign and curse of it, Rom. 
vi. H. 

SIXAI, Sina, or Horeb, a fa- 
mous mountain of Arabia the 
Rocky, stands on the south cor- 
ner of the -bosom of the Red 
Sea, between the gulf of Colzum 
on the west, and the Elanitic 
gulf on the east. Sinai is not a 
single isolated mountain, but a 
ridge of great extent, rising into 
many peaks, which have differ- 
ent names. Burkhardt says, it 
is 30 or 40 miles in diameter, and 
that the highest part of it is now 
called Djebel Mousn, ' the moun- 
tain of Moses.' To this, and 
another peak called Catharine, 
the name Sinai more properly 
belongs. This mountain is also 
callecf Horeb in Scripture ; but 
although sometimes each of these 
names is applied to the whol 
ridge, yet it is a mistake to sup- 
pose, that when they designate 
a particular part of the moun 
tain, that the same peak is in- 
tended. By a careful attention 
to the journeying of the Israel 
ites it will be seen, that Horeb 
is properly that part of the moun- 
tain which they first approached, 
when marching from the Red 
Sea ; and that Sinai proper, 
was probably 30 or 40 miles far- 
ther onward, Exodus xix. 1, 2. 
xvii. Deut. v. The monks who 
inhabit this mountain show a 
granite rock 12 feet in height, 
and irregular, but approaching 
a cubical shape, lying by the 
side of the road, from which 
they pretend, that Moses brought 



SIR 

the water, by striking it with his 
rod. And on its surface, there 
are about 20 apertures, from 
which the water is said to have 
burst; Burkhardt, however, is 
of opinion, that most of these 
are artificial ; and that the chan- 
nels which seem to have been 
worn by the running of the wa 
ter, have been chiselled out 
He admits, however, that some 
of these apertures are natural: 
but it is a matter of no conse- 
quence, whether or not this is 
the identical rock, on which that 
notable miracle was wrought. 

The height of Sinai has never 
been measured, but from its top 
being covered with snow, all the 
year, in the burning climate of 
Arabia, it may be inferred, that 
it cannot be less than 10.000 
feet. The convent stands about 
halfway up this mountain, and 
is a strong substantial edifice, 
and enjoys a temperate climate, 
all the year round, while in the 
plains below, the mercury in 
Fahrenheit stands at 102^, or 
104°. The monks live in a very 
simple and temperate manner, 
on this delightful spot; expe- 
aence few diseases, and often 
arrive at extreme old age. When 
travellers visit this convent, they 
are elevated by a pully : so in- 
accessible is the place. 

SINEWS, are as the cord3 
whereby the body of animals is 
bound together, and which are 
the great means of feeling. They 
shrink, when they become short 
or benumbed, Gen. xxxii. 32. 
Sinews may be taken for power, 
strength, Ezekiel xxxvi. 6. 8. 
Men's neck is as an iron sinew, 
when they are obstinate in their 
sinful courses, Isa. xlviii. 4. 
SIRTON. See Herman. 
SIRNAME, a name added to 
a man's principal one, denoting 
his family, &c. Men sirname 
themselves by the name of Is- 
rael, when being Gentiles and 
sinners, they join themselves *.o 
Jesus and his church, Isa. xliv 5. 



SLA 

SISERA, general of the Ca- 
naanites, under king Jabin II. 
After his army was quite routed 
by Deborah and Barak, and 
multitudes of them drowned in 
the river Kishon, Sisera, to avoid 
discovery, fled away on foot to- 
wards Harosheth. As he passed 
the tent of Heber the Kenite, 
who was then at peace with his 
Master, Jael, his wife, invited 
aim into her house to hide him- 
self. After she had given him 
Home milk to refresh him,helaid 
himself down to sleep, and de- 
sired her to watch in the door, 
and to deny him, if any body 
asked for him. He had ssarce 
fallen into a deep sleep, when 
Jael seizing the favourable op- 
portunity to destroy this mur- 
derous idolater and devoted Ca- 
naanite, drove a nail through 
his temples, and fastened his 
head to the ground, that he died. 
Barak pursuing him, had him 
showed to him in this condition. 

SIVAN, the third month of 
the Jewish sacred year, and 
ninth of their civil, answering to 
part of our May and June, and 
consisting of 30 days. On the 6th 
day was the feast of Pentecost. 
On the 15th and 36th, is a feast 
to commemorate the victory of 
the Maccabees over the Hea- 
thens of Bethshan. On the 23d, 
a fast to bevail Jeroboam's 
stopping of the first-fruits from 
being brought to Jerusalem. 
There are in it some other su- 
perstitious festivals of small 
note, Esth. viii. 7. 

SKY, the visible appearance 
of the heavens; it is likened to a 
molten looking-glass, because 
of its bluish and transparent co- 
lour. 

SLANDER, a charging one 
falsely with faults ; or rehearsing 
his real faults with a bad end, 
and without a proper call. It is 
most ordinarily done, when the 
persons charged are absent, and 
proceeds from hatred of their 
person, or envy of their excel- 



SYM 

lency. The name slanderer is 
the same in Greek as that of a 
devil, 1 Tim. iii. 11. Gr. Yet 
what multitudes of men seem 
ambitious of the character! 
Meals, and civil fellowship, are 
seasoned with slander, as if 
men had got their tongues for 
no other end but to speak evil 
of their neighbour. 

SLIME, or bitumen, is a kind 
of clayey pitch, got out of the 
earth. The rivers carried down 
a great deal of it in ancient 
times; and it is said that the 
Euphrates carried it to the very 
walls of Babylon. The tower of 
Babel was built with it, instead 
of mortar; and Diodorus tells 
us, that the people thereabouts 
not only built their walls of it, 
but dried and burnt it, instead 
of coals. 

SLING, an instrument of 
cords for throwing stones with 
great violence. The invention 
hereof is ascribed to the Phe/)i- 
cians, or their' colonies in Ma- 
jorca and Minorca, anciently 
called the Baleares, or masters 
of the sling. It is certain, that 
not long after the death of Jo- 
shua, the Hebrews, particularly 
some of the Benjamites, were so 
expert slingers, that they could 
hit their mark almost to a hair- 
breadth, Judg. xx. 16; and some 
of them in the time of David 
could sling with both hands, 1 
Chron. xii. 2. 

SMYRNA, a city of Lesser 
Asia, on the east shore of the 
Mediterranean Sea, about 46 
miles north of Ephesus. It was 
built by the Eolians, and de- 
stroyed by the Ionians, but 
quickly after rebuilt; and was a 
famous city as early as the time 
of Homer. About A. M. 3400 
the Lydians destroyed it: but 
Antigonus, one of Alexander's 
successors, rebuilt it, near 300 
years after. About the time of 
our Saviour's birth, it was one 
of the most wealthy and popu- 
lous cities in Lesser Asia: nor, 
478 



SNA 
except Ephesus, was any more 
honoured and favoured by the 
Romans ; nor did the inhabitants 
of any other show equal regard 
to Rome. Besides a variety of 
sieges, Smyrna has suffered six 
dreadful earthquakes, which de- 
stroyed the most part of it : but 
its delightful situation, and con- 
veniency for sea-trade, occa- 
sioned its being always rebuilt. 
A Christian church was planted 
here very early; and whatever 
persecution they suffered from 
Jews or Gentiles, they maintain- 
ed the Christian faith with such 
exactness, that in the divine 
epistle sent them by John, there 
is not a sentence of reproof, but 
of praise and direction, Rev. ii. 
8, 9, 10; and ever since, Chris- 
tianity has continued in this 
place. About A. D. 1676, this 
city was repaired by Achmetthe 
Turkish vizier. It is still a popu- 
lous and commercial city. Its 
inhabitants, at this time, are 
estimated to exceed 100,000, of 
whom 26,000 are Greek Chris- 
tians, 5000 Romanists, and a few 
Protestants ; the remainder are 
Mahommedans, except a few 
Jews and Armenians. Ameri- 
cans as well as Europeans have 
trading-houses in this place. 

SNAIL. In the English ver- 
sion of the Bible, there are two 
words translated by this term, 
Lev. xi. 30. Psal. lviii. 8: now it 
is exceedingly probable, that 
while the animal which we call 
a snail is intended in the latter, 
some other animal, and there is 
good reason to think, some spe- 
cies of lizard, is meant in the 
former. 

SNARE, trap, gin, grin; a 
device for catching fishes, fowls, 
&c. Job xl.24. Amosi'ii.5. Prov. 
vii. 23 ; and in metaphoric lan- 
guage, signifies whatever tends 
to entangle one to his hurt. Je- 
sus Christ is a gin and snare, 
and stumbling-block and rock 
of offence to men, when, on ac- 
count of his appearances, so op- 



SOA 

posite to our sinful corruption, 
he is rejected, and so our guilt 
and ruin increased, Isa. viii. 14 
God rains snares on men, when, 
by his providence, he involves 
them in perplexing straits, that 
they cannot get out: and their 
own conduct plunges them 
deeper and deeper into misery, 
Psal. xi. 6. Ezek. xii. 13. 

SNOW is formed of vapours 
frozen in the air. It is soft, and 
sometimes, especially in the east, 
broad as locks of wool, Ps. cxlvii. 
16. It. is most pure and white; 
and its whiteness and purity are 
made an emblem of freedom from 
£uilt and corruption, Isa. i. 18. 
Psal. Ii. 7. The word is used to 
denote the season when snow 
falls, 2 Sam. xxiii. £0. And the 
inappropriateness of snow to 
summer, and of rain to the time 
of harvest, furnishes the wise 
man with an illustration of the 
inappropriateness of honour to a 
wicked man, Prov. xxvi. 1. 

SNUFFERS, a kind of tongs 
for snuffing ofbuminglamps, and 
making them burn more brightly; 
anrl the svuff-dishes were small 
dishes for holding what wa3 
snuffed off, that it might not pol- 
lute the floor of the sanctuary. 
| SO, a king of Egypt, who en- 
1 gaged to assist Hosea against 
Shalmanezer king of Assyria, 
but, it seems, did it not, at least 
not effectually, 2 Kings xvii. 4. 
Probably this So was the same 
as Sabachon the Ethiopian, who 
burnt to death Bocchoris the 
| former king of Egypt, and after 
| retaining the government of the 
I country for 50 years, was suc- 
ceeded by Sevechus or Sethon, 
who, it seems, was priest of Vul- 
I can, and whose prayers the 
! Egyptians pretended to Herodo- 
j tus brought ruin on the Assyrian 
| host. 

I SOAP, a kind of paste made 
of ashes and tallow ; or of 
j these and lime ; and much used 
for washing and whitening of 
I cloth, and sometimes in medi- 
479 



SOD 

eSne. Perhaps the Jewish borith 
was only the herb soap-wort or 
alum. Jesus Christ is likened 
to fuller's soap, as by his word, 
his Spirit, and blood, he reforms 
the world, and cleanses the souls 
of men, Mai. iii. 2. Dr. Gor- 
ham mentions a peculiar salt 
brought from the East Indies, 
which is used as soap in some 
of the arts. 

SOCHO, or SJwchoh, the name 
of two cities belonging to the 
tribe of Judah ; one in the val- 
ley, and another in the hill- 
country, westward of Jerusalem, 
Josh. xv. 35. 48. Near to one of 
them, David killed Goliath, and 
occasioned the rout of the Phi- 
listines, 1 Sam. xvii. 1. Shochoh 
was one of the fifteen cities 
which Rehoboam repaired and 
fortified, 2 Chron. xi. 7. 

SOCKET, a kind of foot in 
which erect pillars are fixed by 
hollow mortises. A vast num- 
ber of sockets were made for the 
erection of the tabernacle ; of 
which 100 were of silver, a talent 
to each, Exod. xxxviii. 27. The 
five sockets of the entrance of 
the sanctuary, and the 60 which 
supported the pillars around the 
court, were of brass, Exod. xxvi. 
37. xxvii; the weight of these 
sockets tended to make the pil- 
lars stand firm. 

SODOM, Gomorrah, Admah, 
Zeboim, and Zoar, were five of 
the ancient cities of the Canaan- 
ites, which stood to the south- 
east of the mouth of the brook 
Kidron, or thereabouts. In the 
days of Abraham they had each 
a king, viz. Bera, of Sodom ; Bir- 
shah, of Gomorrah; Shinab, of 
Admah ; Shemeber, of Zeboim; 
and one, whose name i3 not 
mentioned, of Bela or Zoar. 
Chedorlaomer reduced them all 
to be his tributaries. After 12 
years' servitude they rebelled ; 
but, on the 14th, were attacked, 
and had been almost totally 
ruined, had not God, by Abra- 
ham, routed the conquerors. 



SOL 

These cities, called the cities 
of the plain, were all, except 
Zoar, destroyed by a shower of 
fire and brimstone, and the place 
where they stood is supposed to 
make part of the Dead Sea, or 
Sea of Sodom. It is said, that 
the ruins were long visible, un- 
der the water; but nothing of 
this kind can now be discerned. 
Strabo speaks of these cities, as 
occupying a space of seven 
miles in circuit. 

SOLOMON, the son of king 
David by Bathsheba, born about 
A. M. 2971. He was called So- 
lomon, to signify his peaceful 
temper and reign, and Jedidiah, 
which signifies amiable or well 
beloved. His father, knowing 
that he was to build the tem- 
ple, made great preparations for 
it, and trained him up with 
great care. As his brother 
Adonijah thought to usurp the 
throne, David, by the instiga- 
tion of Bathsheba and Nathan, 
caused Solomon to be anointed 
king while himself yet lived, 
which was done with great 
solemnity. After his father had 
directed him, concerning the 
temple, concerning Joab and 
Shimei, and solemnly charged 
him to walk in the way of the 
Lord, and blessed him, he died, 
Prov. iv. 1 Kings i. ii. 1 Chron. 
xxii. xxviii. xxix. Solomon, 
who, about two years before, 
had married Naamah the Am- 
monitess, and had Rehoboam 
by her, was now about 18 years 
of age, when he entered on the 
sole government of the kingdom. 
Having put Adonijah, Joab, and 
Shimei to death, and confined 
Abiathar the high-priest, for 
their respective crimes, he mar- 
ried the daughter of Pharaoh 
king of Egypt, who seems to 
have become a Jewish proselyte, 
for Solomon appears not to have 
fallen into the idolatry of her 
country- To procure divine as- 
sistance, and success in his go- 
vernment, he and his nobles 
480 



SOL 
offered 1000 burnt-offerings at 
Gibeon, where the tabernacle 
then was. That night the Lord 
appeared to him, and offered to 
grant him whatever he should 
ask. He requested wisdom to 
qualify him for the government 
of so great a people. His request 
pleased the Lord, and he granted 
him such wisdom, honour, and 
wealth, as none before or after 
him ever possessed. Rising from 
his sleep, he came to Jerusalem, 
and offered a great number of 
sacrifices before the ark; and 
then made a feast for his family. 
Solomon's kingdom, which ex- 
tended from the north-east bor- 
der of Egypt to the Euphrates, 
if not a little beyond, was alto- 
gether peaceful and affluent. He 
divided it into cantons, under 
the direction of proper gover- 
nors, who, each in his month, 
provided for the subsistence of 
the royal family, which might 
amount to 30,000, or 40,000, 
nay, the Jews say 60,000 per- 
sons. His horses and chariots, 
which were many, were pro- 
perly disposed of. Himself ex- 
ceeded all men in wisdom and 
knowledge. He collected or 
framed 3000 proverbs, and 1005 
songs. He sensibly explained the 
nature of vegetables and animals 
of every kind then known. His 
fame made all the kings around, 
who were generally either his 
tributaries or allies, send to in- 
quire of his wisdom. By his 
trade with Egypt, he introduced 
plenty of fine horses, and a 
manufacture of linen; and by 
his trade with Ophir and other 
places, he rendered gold and 
silver as common in Jerusalem 
as the stones of the street, and 
cedar-trees as plentiful as syca- 
mores. The fleet which he sent 
once in three years from Elath 
on the Red Sea, and managed 
by Tyrian mariners, brought 
bim from Ophir near 2,000,OOOZ. 
sterling, 1 Kings iv. ix. 28. x. 
M.26— 28. 2Chron.i. ix. 27. 
X 41 



SOL 

When Hiram king of Tyre 
heard that Solomon succeeded 
his father, he sent him a solemn 
embassy, to congratulate his ac- 
cession to the throne. Solomon 
returned him another, requesting 
his assistance to build a magnifi- 
cent temple for the Lord, as his 
people were more skilful in cut- 
ting timber and stone. Hiram re- 
turned him word, that he would 
cause his subjects to cut cedars 
in Lebanon, and bring them to 
Joppa in floats. To reward 
which, Solomon gave Hiram, for 
the maintenance of his family 
and workmen, 20,000 measures 
of wheat, and as much of barley, 
and 20,000 baths of oil, which 
last are also called 20 measures : 
or there were 20 measures ad- 
ded to them for some other use. 
In the 4th year of his reign, Ji. 
M. 2993, the temple began to be 
built, and was finished in seven 
years. Besides the servants of 
Hiram, there were 153,600 Ca- 
naanites employed in this work ; 
70,000 of whom were bearers of 
burdens, and 80,000 diggers and 
cutters of stone ; and 3500 were 
overseers ; and 300 more were a 
reserve to supply the places of 
such officers as fell sick. Ail the 
materials were prepared at a 
distance, that there was nothing 
to do on the spot but to join 
them together. Hiram, an excel- 
lent artist from Tyre, had the 
charge of the found ery. In the 
seventh month, A. M. 3001, it 
was finished, and dedicated with 
great solemnity, Solomon, and 
the elders of Israel, and almost 
all the people, being present. Af- 
ter carrying in the ark, and soma 
presents which David had left 
for . it, and fixing its various 
utensils and ornaments in their 
proper places, the temple was 
filled with the cloud of the di- 
vine glory, which obliged the 
priests for a while to discontinue 
their ministrations. After pros- 
trating himself, Solomon stood 
up on a high scaffold, where hi* 
481 



SOL 

throne was placed, and turning 
his face to the temple, did, in a 
roost solemn manner, beg that 
God would accept, and bless the 
house for his service, and hear 
the various prayers which the 
Jews should make towards it in 
their various afflictions; and 
that he would fulfil the promises 
made to David and his seed. 
He then turned himself to the 
people, and blessed them. As a 
token of acceptance, a fire from 
heaven consumed the sacrifices 
on the altar, and the glory of the 
Lord again filled the temple. 
Awed herewith, the people fell 
upon their faces and worshipped 
God. At this time Solomon sacri- 
ficed 22,000 oxen, and 120,000 
sheep, for peace-offerings ; and 
as the altar of burnt-orfering was 
too small for the fat of all these, 
the middle of the court was con- 
secrated to be an occasional 
altar. Soon after, perhaps the 
night following, God appeared 
to Solomon, and assured him 
that he had accepted his prayers, 
and would grant his requests ; 
but would bring ruin on David's 
family, and on Israel, and on the 
temple, if they rebelled against 
his commandments. After four- 
teen days spent in this dedica- 
tion, and in the feast of taber- 
nacles that followed it, Solomon 
gave the people a solemn dismis- 
sion ; and they returned home, 
rejoicing, and praying for bless- 
ings to their king, 1 Kings vi. 
vii. viii. ix. 2 Chron. iii. iv. v. 
vi. vii. 

After Solomon had finished 
the temple, he built a magnifi- 
cent palare for himself, another 
for his Egyptian queen, and a 
third called the forest of Leba- 
non, where he sometimes, if not 
chiefly resided. These were all 
finished in about 22 years. To 
reward Hiram for his kind as- 
sistance, Solomon made him a 
present of 20 cities in the land 
of Galilee, which it seems he or 
his father took from the Ca- 



SOL 

naanites ; but as the cities and 
soil did not please Hiram, it 
seems he restored them to Solo- 
mon, who repaired them, and 
gave them to the Hebrews, and 
no doubt repaid Hiram his 120 
talents of gold, and his friendly 
assistance, some other way. He 
also seized on Hamath-zobah, 

d built Tadmor, and other 
cities in these parts. He also re- 
paired the two Beth-horons, and 
Baal-ath, and Gezer. In carry- 
ing on these structures, Solomon 
allowed none of the Hebrews to 
work as slaves ; but caused the 
remains of the Canaanites to be 
his drudges. It seems, however, 
that his taxes on the Hebrews, 
raised in order to carry on these 
works, provoked them against 
him. It appears, that his annual 
revenue was about 666 talents 
of gold, besides what he had in 
presents from hi*? allies and tribu- 
tary kings, and what he had 
from merchants. It is said, that 
Hiram king of Tyre and Solo* 
mon maintained a correspond- 
ence, puzzling one another with 
hard questions. It is far more 
certain, that the queen of Sheb&, 
hearing of his fame, came from 
the utmost parts of the south, to 
hear and see his wisdom ; and 
having heard his answers to her 
puzzling questions, having seen 
the beauty and worship of the 
temple, and the magnificence 
and order of his court, table, and 
attendants, she fainted with sur- 
prise, and confessed, that it fa* 
exceeded all she had heard- 
Loaded with presents, she re- 
turned to her country, 1 Kings x. 

Hitherto every thing in Solo- 
mon's character appears grand 
and admirable ; but his abomi- 
nable conduct in the after part 
of his life, has marked him with 
lasting disgrace. He had 700 
wives, and 300 concubines,mosU 
ly Heathenish idolaters. In corny 
pliance with these, he forsook 
the Lord, and worshipped, and 
built temples to their idols, Ash 



SON 
taroth, Moloch, Chemosh, and 
others. The Lord appeared to 
him, and told him, that as he 
had so wickedly broken his cove- 
nant, he would rend off ten of 
the Hebrew tribes from their 
eubjection to his seed. Alarm- 
ed herewith, Solomon repented 
of his sin ; and it is like, about 
this time wrote his Ecclesiastes, 
wherein he declares all things 
vanity and vexation of spirit. 
His temporal punishment was 
not turned away. Ere he died, 
Hadad the Edomite, Rezon the 
Syrian, and Jeroboam the son 
of Nebal, began to give him un- 
easiness. After a reign of 40 
years he died, and was succeed- 
ed by Rehoboam. The history 
of his reign was written by Na- 
than, Ahijah, and Iddo. If he 
wrote any more besides his Song 
of Songs, Proverbs, and Eccle- 
siastes, it was uninspired, and is 
now lost, 1 Kings xi. 

SONG, or hymn ; (1.) A ditty, 
or poem, to be sung either in 
joy and thanksgiving, as of Mo- 
ses at the Red Sea ; of Deborah, 
Hannah, David, Hezekiah, Ha- 
bakkuk, Mary, Zacharias, Sim- 
eon, &c. Exod. xv. Judg. v. 1 
Sam. ii. 2 Sam. xxii. Isaiah 
xxxviii. Hab. iii. Luke i. ii ; 
or of lamentation, as of David 
over the death of Saul and Jon- 
athan, and of Abner, 2 Sam. i. 
iii. 33; and of Jeremiah, on the 
death of Josiah, and on the de- 
struction of Jerusalem, 2Chron. 
xxxv. 25. Lam. i. — v; or of 
predictory warning, as of Moses 
before his death, Deut. xxxii. 
(2.) The subject-matter on which 
a song is composed: thus God 
is the song of his people ; his 
excellences and favours are the 
subject-matter of it, Exod. xv. 2. 
Job and David were the song 
of their enemies ; i. e. were the 
object of their mockery and de- 
rision, Job xxx. 9. Psa. Ixix. 12. 
JVeio songs are such as aie new- 
ly made, or for new mercies, and 
are ever sweet and delightful, 



SOU 

Ps. xxxiii. 3. xl. 3. Spiritual 
songs, are those whose subject- 
matter is spiritual and divine, in 
opposition to empty, false, ful* 
some, and lascivious songs, call* 
ed the song of fools, Eph. v. 19k. 
Col. iii. 16. Eccl. vii. 5. They 
are called the Lord's song, or 
the song of the Lamb, because 
God and his Christ are the sur> 
ject-matter of them, and to hia 
honour they are sung, Psalm, 
xlii. 8. cxxxvii. 3. Rev. xv. 3. 
The Jews had songs sung al- 
most the whole night of their 
more solemn feasts, especially 
on the first night of the passo- 
ver, Isa. xxx. 29. 

SOOTHSAYER, Sorcerer, 
Sorcery, all import a wicked 
and foolish pretension to super- 
natural power. 

SOREK, a brook that runs 
westward through the country 
of the Danites and Philistines, 
Judg. xvi. 4. I am apt to think 
it had its name from the choice 
vines or yellowish grapes which 
grew on the banks of it, Geix. 
xlix. 11. Isaiah v. 12. Jer. ii. 
21. Heh. 

SOSIPATER, a kinsman of 
Paul, who sent his salutation t& 
the Roman church, Rom. xvi. 2L 
Probably he is the same as So- 
pater of Berea, who attended 
Paul part of his May from Co* 
rinth to Jerusalem, Acts xx. 4. 

SOSTHENES, the chief ru- 
ler of the Jewish synagogue al 
Corinth. When Gallio refused 
to hear the Jews' accusation 
against Paul, the Heathen 
Greeks severely beat Sosthenea 
before the tribunal, Acts xix. 
12—19. Whether this Sosthe- 
nes was afterwards converted, 
and is called a brother by Paul, 
we know not, 1 Cor. i. 1. 

SOUL, signifies, (1.) That 
spiritual, reasonable, and im- 
mortal substance in men, which 
distinguishes them from beasts, 
and is the source of our thoughts 
and reasonings, Matth. x. 28; 
and so men's glory may signify 
483 



sou 

their soul, Ps. Ivii. 8. Gen. xlix. 
6. (2.) A whole human person, 
of which the soul is the princi- 
pal part, Gen. xiv. 21. xii. 5. 
(3.) Human life, which is begun 
by the infusion of the soul, and 
ceases by the departure of it, 
Psal. xxxiii. 19. vii. 5. 1 Thess. 
ii. 8. (4.) Affection, desire: so 
Jonathan's soul was knit to the 
soul of David, 1 Sam. xviii. 1. 
When soul and spirit are join- 
ed, soul may denote the will 
and affections, and spirit may 
denote the understanding and 
conscience, 1 Thess. v. 23. Heb. 
iv. 12. (5.) Appetite, stomach, 
Prov. xxvii. 7. Job xxxiii. 20. 
Isa. xxix. 8. (6.) The Jews 
called dead bodies souls, be- 
cause they were once their resi- 
dence, Num. ix. 16. vi. 6. Heb. 
God's sold is himself, his nature, 
will, or delight, Jer. vi. 8. v. 9. 
Isaiah i. 14. Heb. x. 38. 

SOUTH, a place or country 
lying southward from some other 
place. Thus Sheba, Egypt, and 
Arabia, were the south in res- 
pect of Canaan, Matth. xii. 42. 
Dan. viii. 9. xi. 5, &c. Numb. 
xiii. 29. Obad. 19. The south 
part of Judea, or Canaan, is 
called the south, Ezekiel xx. 46. 
Gen. xiii. 1. 3. The south coun- 
try into which Zechariah's griz- 
zled horses went, may be Africa, 
Lesser Asia, Syria, Palestine, 
Egypt, &c. which lie south of 
Italy, Zech. vi. 6. Though in 
most part of Daniel xi. the kings 
of the south and north are the 
Syro-Grecian kings of Egypt 
and Syria ; yet in verse 40, the 
kings of the south and north 
pushing at Anti-christ, may be 
the Saracens and sultans of 
Egypt, and the northern Turks : 
or, that the northern Ottomans 
having become masters of Egypt, 
and other southern countries, 
shall harass the Papists. But 
the church is represented as on 
the south side of a mountain, to 
denote her quiet, comfortable, 
and flourishing state, Ezek. xl. 2. 



SPA 

SOW, to scatter seed in the 
earth, that it may grow up and 
yield increase, Gen. xxvi. 12. 
God sows people, when he scat- 
ters them abroad, or makes them 
to dwell and increase in a place, 
Zech. x. 9. Christ sows seea\ 
when he publishes the truths of 
his word, and bestows the in- 
fluences of his grace, in order 
that churches may be formed, 
and men may bring forth good 
works unto eternal life, Matth. 
xiii. 18, 19. 

Seed, is, (1.) That grain whicfc 
being sown, produces corn, &c 
Gen. xlvii. 19. And the Jews 
were not to sow their fields with 
mingled seed, to teach us thai 
God's truth and men's invcn* 
tions should not be mingled to- 
gether, Lev. xix. 19. (2.) Chil- 
dren or posterity, Rom. i. 3. Ps. 
cxii. 1. Gen. iv. 25. vii. 6, 3L 
Abraham had a three-fold seed, 
(1.) A natural seed, comprehend- 
ing all his natural descendants, 
Rom. ix. 7. (2.) A spiritual 
seed, comprehending all, both 
Jews and Gentiles, which pos*- 
sess like precious faith in Christ, 
Rom. iv. 16. (3.) A supernatu- 
ral seed, viz. Christ, descended 
from him according to the flesh. 
Gal. i ii. 16. 

SPAIN, a large country in the 
west end of Europe. It ancient- 
ly comprehended both Spain and 
Portugal, and is surrounded by 
the sea on every side, except to* 
wards the east, where it bordera 
on Gaul or France. The Span- 
iards suppose Tubal the son of 
Japheth, to have come hither: 
about 143 years after the flood, 
and to have brought the true re* 
ligion of the patriarchs along 
with him. But we suppose it 
was peopled by the Celtian de- 
scendants of Gomer, who might 
be almost a thousand years af> 
ter the flood before they settled 
here. The country was afr 
terwards invaded by the Egyf> 
tians, Phenicians, and Car 
thaginians; who, no doubt, 
484 



SPE 

brought with them many of 
their customs. 

SPAN, a measure of three 
hand-breadths, or near eleven 
inches, Exod. xxviii. 16. God's 
spanning or measuring out the 
heavens, imports the insigni- 
ficance of all created objects 
compared to their Creator. 

SPARROW, a well-known 
bird, with a black throat and 
brown temples: it seems they 
were ordinary food among the 
Jews, and were sold two for a 
farthing, or five for two far- 
things, Matth. x. 29. Luke xii. 6. 
The Hebrew Tzippor signifies 
any clean bird. To mark his 
afflicted and sorrowful condi- 
tion, David likens himself to a 
sparrow alone upon the house- 
top, Psalm Ixxxiv. 3. 

When David says, Psa. cii. 7. 
*I watch, and am as a sparrow 
alone on the house-top,' he can 
scarcely be supposed to refer to 
the little bird now called by this 
name, which is not a solitary 
night-bird, but is cheerful and 
gregarious. The Hebrew word, 
though commonly translated 
'sparrow,' yet, according to the 
Jewish commentators, is a gene- 
ric term, and may signify any 
bird whatever. Bochart concurs 
in this opinion. 

The passage in Psalm Ixxxiv. 
4. may be thus paraphrased, 
4 Even the sparrow findeth her 
house, and the dove her nest, 
where she hath hid her young: 
so would I find thine altars, O 
Jehovah of hosts, my king and 
my God.' 

SPEAR, or halberd, ichich 
was a spear with an axe at- 
tached to it, was anciently a 
common weapon of attack. 
Kings and generals used them 
perhaps in place of colours, 
1 Sam. xxvi. 7. Josh. viii. 26. 
Sometimes spear is put for all 
kinds of offensive armour, Nah. 
iii. 3. God's spear is his de- 
structive judgments, or his flam- 
ing thunderbolts, Hab. iii. 11. 

41 : 



SPI 

SPEED; to wish one God 
speed, is to wish that God would 
succeed him in his work, 2 John 
10. 

SPICE, spicery, any kind of 
aromatic drug, having hot and 
pungent qualities, as ginger, pep- 
per, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, 
cassia, frankincense, calamus, 
myrrh, &c. With spices the 
ancients seasoned their flesh, 
Ezek. xxiv. 10 ; gave their wines 
what flavour they pleased, Song 
viii. 2; perfumed their women, 
and their beds, and clothes, 
Esth. ii. 12. Prov. vii. 17. Psal. 
xlv. 8; and seasoned and em- 
balmed their dead bodies, Mark 
xvi. 1. 2 Chron. xvi. 14. Jer. 
xx'xiv. 5. Gen. xxxvii. 25. xlii. 
11. 

SPIDER, a well-known in- 
sect, of which there are about 
24 kinds. Some are all over 
hairy; others are smooth; and 
some are of extraordinary size. 
Many of the spiders are ex- 
tremely venomous, and their 
bite, though very small, is dan- 
gerous, and sometimes speedily 
mortal. The tarantula of Italy, 
&c. bath eight eyes, and a most 
dange-rous bite, Job viii. 14. 
Isa. lix. 5. 

SPIKENARD, a very pre- 
cious aromatic plant obtained 
from India, and of which a 
fragrant ointment was made, 
and preserved in alabaster boxes, 
which, when opened, perfumed 
the whole house with an exqui- 
site odour. From Horace we 
learn that a small box of this 
unguent was considered equal 
to a large vessel of wine ; and 
from the New-Testament, that 
what was poured by Mary on 
our Saviour's head, might have 
been sold for 300 denarii; and is 
said to have been very costly, 
Mark xiv. 3. There was also a 
nard in Syria, but it was not so 
precious as that brought from 
India, Cant. iv. 13, 14; i. 12. 
where the two plants are meant 

SPINDLE, an instrument fo? 
* 485 



SPI 

spinning with,which is still used. 
Anciently the wives and daugh- 
ters of great men earnestly ap- 
plied themselves to spinning, 
Exod. xxxv. 25. Prov. xxxi. 19. 

SPIRIT, a name given to 
such substances as are not gross, 
as to wind, John iii. 8. Gr. ; or 
the most subtile and volatile 
parts of a body, whereby its 
functions, if alive, are perform- 
ed. Animal bodies have a two- 
fold spirit, a vital in the blood, 
and an animal in the nerves. 
Such spirits have beasts, which 
go down to the earth with them 
at death, Eccl. iii. 21. Among 
divines, spirit or ghost ordina- 
rily signifies an immaterial, im- 
mortal, and thinking substance ; 
hence God is called a Spirit, 
John iv. 24. Christ's divine na- 
ture is called a Spirit, Spirit of 
holiness, and eternal Spirit, 1 
Pet. iii. 18. Rom. i. 4. Heb. ix. 
14; and Christ is called a quick- 
ening Spirit, as he quickens his 
people, and gives them spiritual 
life, 1 Cor. xv. 45. But the third 
person in the Godhead is parti- 
cularly called the Holy Spirit, 
or Holy Ghost, to express the 
mode of relation to the Father 
and Son ; and because he, by 
spiritual methods, works spirit- 
ual qualities and affections in 
us, 1 Pet. i. 2. 

Spiritual, that which belongs 
to spirits. The church is a spi- 
ritual house ; her members are 
renewed in the spirit of their 
minds ; Jesus is her foundation, 
and his word, Spirit, and grace, 
connect them with him, and with 
one another, ] Pet. ii.5. Prophets 
and other church-officers are 
spiritual men; their offices lies 
in spiritual exercises, Hosea ix. 
7. Christians are spiritual; they 
have the Spirit of God, and are 
chiefly concerned about spiritual 
and eternal things, Gal. vi. 1 
Such as are much under the in 
fluence of God's Spirit, and of 
their own nature, are spiritual, 
1 Cor. iii. 1. God's law is spi- 



STA 

ritual; it is a transcript of the 
divine nature ; it is given by the 
Holy Ghost, and extends its au- 
thority to every power and act 
of the soul, and chiefly requires 
duties of a spiritual nature, Rom 
vii. 14. 

The SPRINKLING of the 
blood, oil, and water of separa 
tion, under the law, figured God's 
cleansing of sinners from their 
sin, by the careful, close, and 
extensive sprinkling or applica- 
tion of Jesus' word, blood, and 
Spirit, to their soul, Lev x'iv. 7. 
16. Heb. ix. 13. Isa. Iii. 15. Ezek. 
xxxvi. 25. 1 Pet. i. 2. Heb. x. 22. 
xii. 24. 

STACTE, the gum that dis- 
tils from the myrrh-tree. But 
perhaps the Hebrew neteyh 
might be a kind of liquid that 
was extracted by bruising of the 
myrrh. Some take it also to- 
signify balm. It is certain stacte 
was very valuable and fragrant, 
and was an ingredient in the 
Jews' gacred perfume, Exodus 
xxx. 33. 

STARS. These luminous 
points in the heavens, we have 
reason to believe, are immense 
bodies, like the sun, which shine 
by their own light. Their distance 
is so great, that telescopes of the 
greatest magnifying power, have 
not the least effect on their ap- 
parent magnitude, which proves 
that they are at an inconceiva- 
ble distance from us. Their 
number is also great beyond 
calculation. It has been found 
no very difficult task to number 
those stars which are distinctly 
visible; but those which emit 
only an indistinct light, and those 
more numerous which are seen 
by the aid of powerful telescopes, 
set all arithmetic at defiance. 
That white arch which encircles 
the heavens, commonly called 
' the milky way,' is produced by 
the confused light of innumera- 
ble stars; and other bright spots 
or nebula in the heavens, are 
found to belong to other fields 
486 



STA 

of stars, only a small part of 
which are exhibited to our view. 
There is no reason to think, that 
the stars are not subject to the 
laws of gravitation, as well as 
the sun, moon, and planets: and 
if so, there must be some grand 
centre of the universe, around 
which all systems revolve. How 
august the idea! The visible 
stars have, by the ancients, been 
grouped into constellations, and 
by a lively imagination, a re- 
semblance has been conceived 
between the figures formed by 
those groups and certain ani- 
mals, or other visible objects. 
Besides the fixed stars, which 
always retain the same relative 
position to one another, there are 
a few wandering stars, which 
appear sometimes to go forward, 
6ometimes are retrograde, and 
then stationary ; and hence, 
therefore, received the name 
of Planets. These, astronomy 
teaches us, all belong to the so- 
lar system, revolving round the 
sun, like our globe, in regular 
periods : some within the orbit 
of the earth, and others without 
it. By the help of glasses, we 
can discover, that several of 
these planets are accompanied 
by moons, which revolve around 
them as our moon around the 
earth; and in the same manner, 
accompany them round the sun ; 
and around one of the most re- 
mote of the planets, there is seen 
a luminous ring, ofgreat breadth, 
which encompasses the planet, 
but is many thousands of miles 
from its surface. To the solar 
system, also, comets belong, 
which are stars that revolve in 
very elliptical orbits ; sometimes 
approaching very near to the 
fiun, so as to appear almost to 
touch his disc, and then flying 
off to such an amazing distance, 
that for many years they are 
never seen. These are com- 
monly attended with a hairy 
tail, stretching in a direction op- 
posite to the sun, from which 



STE 

circumstance their name is de- 
rived. Besides these bodies which 
are in the higher heavens, there 
are often seen shooting stars, and 
luminous orbs, flying through the 
heavens ; and sometimes leaving 
a uminous trace behind them, 
and exploding with a sensible 
noise: from which, also, stones 
of a peculiar kind are discharged. 
But these are meteors, confined 
to our atmosphere, and have no 
permanent existence, any more 
than the ignis fatuus which 
rises from the bog. 

Xo part of the visible creation 
exhibits the glory of the Creator 
more illustriously than the sta»- 
ry heavens. ' The heavens de- 
clare the glory of God, and the 
firmament showeth his handy 
work,' Psalm xix. 1. When we 
seriously contemplate the moon 
and stars, the work of the fir> 
gers of God, we cannot but be 
astonished that he should conde- 
scend to pay any attention to 
men, Psalm viii. However nu- 
merous the stars, the Creator 
intimately knoweth them all, 
'He telleth the number of the 
I stars, and calleth them all by 
their names,' Psalm cxlvii. 4. 
The star of Bethlehem, which 
; appeared to the Magi, to direct 
'■ them to the birth-place of the 
Messiah, was not a natural, but 
| a miraculous phenomenon ; and 
i when it had answered its pur- 
; pose vanished. It is a fact, how- 
1 ever, that of the fixed stars some 
; have entirely disappeared ; white 
i others not marked in any ca- 
talogue, have become visible, 
J where they could not have ex- 
isted before without being no- 
ticed. 

J STEEL, a valuable metal 
consisting of iron combined with 
carbon. It is chiefly used for 
I edge-tools and other cutting in- 
struments, and is susceptible of 
| a fine polish. Its hardness is 
greater than that of iron ; and its 
I most valuable property is, that it 
jean be made harder than any 
487 



STE 

other metal by suddenly cooling 
it when heated to redness ; or, 
if heated to a lower temperature 
and suddenly cooled, it is the 
most elastic of all the metals. 

Natural steel is made from 
pig iron— cemented steel is form- 
ed of bars of iron cemented to- 
gether by a process of heat, and 
which, when completed, gives a 
blistered appearance to the me- 
tal. Shear steel or German steel, 
is so called because it w r as a 
kind used in the manufacture 
of shears to shear sheep. Steel 
bows are mentioned, Ps. xviii. 
34. The word steel occurs in Job 
xx. 24. 2 Sam. xxii. 35. Jer. 
xv. ]2. 

STEM, or stalk, that part of 
a plant which, rising out of the 
ground, supports the leaves, 
flowers, and fruit. The stem 
of Jesse is the royal family of 
David his son, Isa. xi. 1. 

STEPHANAS, or Stephen; 
(1.) One of the first converts to 
Christianity at Corinth. He and 
his family were baptized by Paul, 
1 Cor. ii. Hi. He, Fortunatus, 
and Achaicus, came to Paul at 
Ephesus, probably with a letter, 
in answer to which Paul wrote 
his first epistle, and sent it by 
these persons, 3 Cor. xvi. 17. 
(2.) Stephen the deacon. That 
he was one of our Saviour's se- 
venty disciples, or that he was 
brought up at the feet of Gama- 
liel, is without proof. He ap- 
pears to have been a principal 
man of the Hellenist Jews. Af- 
ter he was made a deacon, be- 
ing filled witli the Holy Ghost, 
he wrought many miracles. — 
Some of the Libertine, Cyre- 
nian, and Alexandrian Jews, 
fell into a dispute with him ; but 
not being able to withstand his 
nervous reasonings, they su- 
borned witnesses falsely to de- 
pose, that he had blasphemed 
Moses and God. They hurried 
him before the sanhedrim, and 
charged him with reproaching 
the temple and the law; and 



STI 

with affirming, that Jesus would 
destroy the temple, and abolish 
the observance of Moses' laws. 
Instead of being damped, Ste- 
phen, with a countenance bold 
and shining as an angel, re- 
hearsed Avhat God had done for 
the Jewish nation in former 
times, and how they had rebel- 
led against him ; and he rebuked 
them for their murder of Jesu3 
and his prophets. Filled with 
rage, those present gnashed their 
teeth at him as if they would 
have torn him to pieces there- 
with. Lifting up his eyes to hea- 
ven, he told them, he saw Jesus 
sitting on the right hand of God. 
As if shocked with blasphemy, 
they stopped their ears, and with 
terrible outcries dragged him out 
of the city, and stoned him to 
death. Stephen expired, beg- 
ging forgiveness of God to his 
murderers ; and, with great de- 
monstration of grief, was buried 
by his Christian friends, Acts vi. 
vii. viii. 2. 

STEWARD, an officer in 
great families, who has the man- 
agement of the affairs of the 
family, and of the other servants, 
Gen, xv. 2. xliii. 19. Ministers 
are stewards of the mysteries 
of God : they are appointed to 
preach the truths of God, and 
dispense the seals of the new 
covenant; together with the go- 
vernment and discipline of the 
church, to their people, as is for 
the glory of God, and their edi- 
fication, 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. 

STING, that part of some 
animals which they use as their 
offensive weapon, and thereby 
wound and distil venom into the 
flesh of their enemy. Some of 
these stings are bearded, and so 
their wound is the more painful ; 
and if the insect that stings be 
too quickly hurried ofT, the sting 
is left in the wound. Sin is the 
stijig- of death, as it renders 
death troublesome and danger- 
ous to men : but to such as are 
in Christ this sting is taken away 
488 



STO 
by his death for sin; and they 
depart in peace to be with the 
iord, 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56. 

STOCK; (1.) That part of a 
tree which bears the branches, 
Job xiv. 8. (2.) Kindred that 
grow from one root, Lev. xxv. 
47. Acts xiii. 23. (3.) An idol, 
so called, because framed of the 
stock of a tree : or because up- 
right, and as stupid and lifeless 
as one, Jer. ii. 27. x. 8. Hos. iv. 
12. The stocks were a kind of 
instrument for torturing malefac- 
tors ; in which one sits in the 
most uneasy manner, hanging as 
it were by the legs, Acts xvi. 
24. Jer. xx. 2. To them terri- 
ble and tormenting distress is 
compared, Job xiii. 27. Pro v. 
vii. 22. 

STOICKS, were a sect of 
Heathen philosophers, who took 
their rise from one Zeno, a Cy- 
prian, who being shipwrecked 
Dear Tyre, commenced a philo- 
sopher. It is said, he borrowed 
a great deal of his opinions from 
the Jewish scriptures ; but it is 
certain that Socrates and Plato 
had taught much of them be- 
fore. From his teaching his 
scholars in the Stoa, or porch at 
Athens, they came to be called 
Stoicks or porchers. They ge- 
nerally taught, that God, as a 
kind of soul, actuates all things ; 
that all men have naturally in- 
ward seeds of knowledge ; that 
it is wisdom alone that renders 
men happy ; and that pains, po- 
verty, and the like, are but fan- 
cied evils ; and that a wise man 
ought not to be affected with 
either joy or grief: and in their 
practice, they affected much 
stiffness, patience, austerity, and 
insensibility ; but some of them 
held different opinions. The 
Stoicks were for many ages in 
vogue, especially at Athens, 
where some of them encounter- 
ed Paul, Acts xvii. 18. 

STORK, a fowl Its beak 
and legs are long and red. Its 
plumage or feathers are white, 



STR 

except that the tip of its wings, 
and some part of its head and 
thighs are black. Storks are 
about the size of a goose ; but 
when they stand erect they are 
about three or four feet high. 

STRAXGER, is, (1.) One 
who is in a foreign land, at a 
distance from the place of his 
nativity, Gen. xxiii. 4. (2.) One 
who is not a Jew, Exod. xx. 10. 
Isa. xiv. 1. (3.) One not of 
Aaron's family, Numb. iii. 10k. 
xvi. 40. (4.) One that is not of 
the royal stock and family, Matt. 
xvii. 25, 26. (5.) Unknown; 
disregarded, Psal. lxix. 8. (6.) 
Not our own property: thus 
whorish women are called stran- 
gers and strange women, Prov. 
v. 10. 20. (7.) Captive ; perse- 
cuted, Obad. 12. Heb. xiii. "2. 
(8.) The saints are strangers on 
earth; they are born from above; 
have their possession and con- 
versation in heaven, and do but 
travel through this world to their 
home ; and are disliked, and of- 
ten ill-used by the men of it, 
Psal. xxxix. 12. Heb. xi. 13. (9.) 
Heathens, and profane and wick- 
ed persons are called strangers; 
they are strangers to themselves, 
to God, to Christ, and to the new 
covenants,and to fellowship with 
God; and they hate and abhor 
the people of God, Eph. ii. 12. 
Joel iii. 17. Psalm liv. 3. (10.) 
False teachers are called stran~ 
gers, as they have no right to 
the office they assume ; nor do 
Christ, or his people, as directed 
of him, own them, or cultivate 
intimacv with them, John x. 5, 

STRENGTH; (1.) Ability, 
natural or spiritual, Job xxxix. 
19. Psalm xx. 6. Rev. iii. 8. Q2l) 
The cause of strength and abi- 
lity, Neh.viii. 10;"so God and 
Christ are called the strength of 
the saints, Exod. xv. 2. Psalm 
xcix. 4. Phil. iv. 13. God is the 
strength of Christ; he assists 
and supports him in his media- 
tory work, Psal. xxviii. 8. Christ 
is God's strength, as, in his work 



SUM 

of mediation, God's strength is 
displayed, and his powerful in- 
fluences conveyed to our hearts, 
1 Chr. xvi. 4. Isa. xxvii. 5. The 
ark is called God's strength, as 
it was the symbol or badge of 
the presence of God with Israel, 
as their supporter, defender, am 
the cause of their strength, Psal. 
lxxviii. 61. compared with Psal. 
Cxxxii. 3. The inhabitants of Je- 
rusalem shall be their strength 
in the Lord ; i. e. through his 
assistance, they support and de- 
fend them, and procure victory, 
Zech. xii. 5. 

STUFF ; (1.) Household-fur- 
niture, Gen. xxxi. 37. (2.) Corn; 
provision, 1 Sam. x. 22. 

SUCCOTH; (1.) A place in 
Egypt, where the Hebrews first 
set up their tents or succoth, 
Exod. xii. 37. (2.) A city on the 
east of Jordan, and south of the 
sea of Galilee, built where Ja- 
cob set up his tents or succoth, 
as he came from Padan-aram, 
Gen. xxxiii. 17. It belonged to 
the Gadites, Josh. xiii. 27. The 
dders thereof were torn to pieces 
with thorns by Gideon, because 
they refused a refreshment to fa' 
wearied troops, Judges viii. It 
eeems there was a valley near it, 
where perhaps Hiram cast the 
large utensils for the temple, 
Psal. lx. 6. 1 Kings vii. 40. 

SUMMER, the warm season 
of the year, wherein all things 
appear delightful and flourish- 
ing, Gen. viii. 22. In countries 
north of the equinoctial line, it 
begins about the 11th of June, 
and ends about the lllh of Sep- 
tember ; on the south of the 
equinoctial, it begins about the 
11th of December, and ends 
about the 11th of March. For 
when the sun is nearer to us, he 
is farthest from them. In ano- 
ther reckoning, May, June, July, 
are our summer months ; and 
November, December, and Ja- 
nuary are their's. Seasons of 
prosperity, and of opportunities 
of salvation, are called summer, 



SUN 

as they are most useful and 
agreeable, Proverbs x. 5. Zeehk 
xiv. 8. 

SUN, the grand luminary 
which forms the centre of our 
system, and revolves round his 
own axis, is a million times as 
large as the earth, and is the 
source of light and heat, by 
means of which this world is 
rendered habitable by living 
creatures. Whether the light is 
actually thrown off from the 
body of the sun, or whether it is 
a subtile ether universally dif- 
fused through the universe, is 
not agreed. Late discoveries, 
however, greatly favour the lat- 
ter opinion, which is now adopt- 
ed by the greater number of phi- 
losophers. The sun, therefore, 
only serves to produce vibrations 
in this ether, as a sonorous body 
does in the air, or whatever is 
the medium by which sound Is 
conveyed. The great astrono- 
mer Herschel was of opinion, 
that the sun was an opaque, ha- 
bitable globe, and that the light 
proceeded from a luminous at- 
mosphere, by which his body rs 
surrounded : he was, moreover, 
of opinion, that the spots on the 
body of the sun, were nothing 
else than openings through this 
atmosphere, through which the 
body of the sun could be seen. 
Sir Edward King, in his 'Mor- 
sels of Criticism,' will have the 
sun to be heaven, which he 
thinks is proved by the shining 
faces and garments of all who 
came immediately from heaven. 
The sun's motion round the 
earth, and his rising and setting 
are only apparent, not real mo- 
tions ; just as a ship, in sailing 
by a town or headland, gives to 
the passenger the idea, that these 
objects are in rapid motion; yet 
philosophers speak of the rising 
and setting of the sun, as others : 
no objection, therefore, can be 
made to the Holy Scriptures, be- 
cause they use popular lan- 
guage, accommodated to the 
490 






SUP 

appearance of things, rather than 
to their reality ; for this would to 
most be perfectly unintelligible. 

SUP, to take food, especially 
at night, Luke xviii. 8. Christ's 
supping with his people denotes 
their delightful fellowship with 
him, and receiving out of his 
fulness, to the spiritual comfort 
and strengthening of their souls, 
Rev. iii. 20. To sup up, is to 
waste, destroy, Isa. xlii. 14. 

Supper is an evening meal. 
The second sacramentof thegos- 
pel-church is called the Lord's 
Supper, because first observed 
in the evening of the day; and 
as his body and blood, or person 
and righteousness, and blessings, 
under the symbols of bread and 
wine, are therein represented, 
it is the duty and privilege of 
all his followers to partake 
agreeably to his command, 1 
Cor. xi. 24. 

SUPERFLUITY of naughti- 
ness, is much of wicked and cor- 
rupt affections, James i. 21. 

SUPERSCRIPTION; (1.) A 
€hort note on coined money, 
shewing by whose order it was 
coined, Matthew xxii. 20. (2.) 
A note on Christ's cross, bearing 
that he was King of the Jews. 
When the Romans condemned 
a man to be publicly executed, 
his crime for which he suffered 
used to be written in large let- 
ters on a table, and carried be- 
fore him ; and if he was cruci- 
fied, it was at least sometimes 
marked on the top of his cross, 
that all might read and avoid 
the like crime: but to manifest 
our Saviour's innocence, his 
cross was marked with no crime, 
but with an express assertion of 
his true Messiahship,Mark xv.26, 

SUPERSTITION, or will- 
worship, is an excess in religion, 
doing things therein not required 
by God, or abstaining from what 
he has not forbidden, Col. ii. 13. 
Festus the Roman reckoned the 
Jewish religion superstition, 
Acts xxv. 19. The Athenians 



SWA 

were very superstitious. Acts 
xvii. 22. 

SUR, the east gate of the Jew- 
ish temple, called the gate of the 
foundation, 2 Chron. xxiii. 5; 
and the higher gate, because of 
its beauty and height, 2 Kings 
xv. 23 ; and the new gate, as it 
was rebuilt by king Jotham, 
Jer. xxxvi. 10. 2 Chron. xxvii. 
3 ; and afterwards called beau- 
tiful, Acts iii. 2. 

SURELY, is without the least 
doubt of failure, Exodus iii. 7. 
xxii. 6. Where surely occurs 
in our Old Testament version, 
the Hebrews have very often a 
redoubled verb, which at once 
enhances the sense, and adds so- 
lemnity to the affirmation. Thou 
shalt surely die; Heb. in dying 
thou shalt die; i. e. thou shalt 
certainly die every kind of death 
in a most shameful and terrible 
manner, Gen. ii. 17. 

SURETY, one who under- 
takes to pay debt or perform 
service for another ; or to pro- 
cure his safety. Judah became 
surety to Jacob for the safety 
of Benjamin in his journey to 
Egypt,' Genesis xliii. 9. xliv. 32. 
Paul became surety to Phile- 
mon, to pay him what debt One- 
simus owed him, Philemon 18, 
19. Sureties used to strike hands 
with the creditor, to mark their 
obligation to see the debt paid 
or the service performed, Prov. 
vi. 1,2. 

SWALLOW, a well known 
bird, which migrates from our 
climate in autumn, and returns 
in the spring. Two different 
words are rendered, 'swallow,* 
in our translation of the Bible. 
The first is found Psalm lxxxiv. 
3. Prov. xxii. 2 ; the other in Isa 
xxxviii. 14. Jer. viii. 7: but the 
most learned critics are of opi- 
nion that the latter word should 
be rendered ' crane,' and that 
the word translated ' crane' in 
Jeremiah, ought to have been 
translated 'swallow.' 

SWAN, a fowl, white, and 
491 



SYC 

considerably comely in its body ; 
but its feet are broad and black- 
ish. It is very meek and gentle ; 
haunts rivers, but seldom dives 
into them, or flies much. The 
flesh of swans is blackish, and 
hard of digestion. They are 
said to sing sweetly when aged 
and near death. 

This word occurs twice in our 
English version, Leviticus ix. 18. 
Deut. xiv. 16, but it is extremely 
doubtful what species of bird is 
intended in either of these pas- 
sages ; or whether, in the first, 
any bird is meant; for in the 
30th verse of the same chapter, 
the same word is rendered 
4 mole.' Some think that the bat 
is the animal referred to here ; 
and Parkhurst is of opinion, that 
in the latter passage, the word 
should be rendered 'goose.' 

SWARM, a great multitude 
of insects, Judg. xiv. 8. 

SWEAR. See Oath. 

SWINE, well-known animals 
of a ravenous kind : they feed on 
carrion, husks, and such like vile 
provision: nay, some of them 
eat their own young, after they 
have brought them forth. They 
look towards, and dig in the 
earth, wallow in mires; and by 
excessive wallowing, or dancing, 
or carrying of straw to their sty, 
they presage bad weather; they 
are very lazy and sleepy, and no 
less mischievous to gardens andi 
fields. The Scythians, Arabs,' 
and Egyptians, had an aversion 
atswine. The Jewish law stated 
them to be unclean animals ; and 
the Jews so abhorred swine, that 
thev wou'd not name them. 

SWORD; (1.) A warlike in- 
strument, for defending one's 
self or attacking an enemy. (2.) 
War, and its attendant calami- 
ties, Lev. xxvi. 25. Jer. xlii. 16. 

SYCAMINE, is not the same 
as the sycamore tree. Learned 
critics are pretty much agreed, 
Chat it is the mulberry, Luke 
xvii. 6. 

SYCAMORE, a tree which 



SYN 
grows abundantly and to a large 
size, in Palestine. The grain of 
the wood is coarse, but the tim- 
ber is much used in building; 
yet it can bear no comparison 
with the cedar for beauty and 
solidity. The wood, however, is 
exceedingly durable, as is evi- 
dent from the coffins made of it, 
in which the Egyptian mum- 
mies are inclosed, and which 
after the lapse of 3000 years, are 
often still in good preservation. 
The fruit grows on short stems 
proceeding from the body of the 
tree, and seems to have no cer- 
tain season of maturity; for 
some trees have ripe fruit while 
on others it is perfectly green. 
|Tlie taste is lusciously sweet, 
and the fruit is much prized by 
the Egyptians. It grew also 
plentifully in Judea, in the times 
of David and Solomon, for they 
appointed officers to superintend 
the gathering of it. Pliny re- 
ports, that it will not ripen, un- 
less it be first scratched, 1 Kings 
x. 27. lChron.xxvii.20. 2Chr. 
i. 13. Psal. lxxviii. 47. 

SYENE, an ancient city of 
Egypt, near the north border of 
Ethiopia, on the east of the Nile, 
whose ruins are still seen near 
the present Assouan. Our ver- 
sion represents the tower of 
Syene at the greatest distance 
from Cush, or Ethiopia: but 
either Cush signifies Cushan in 
Arabia, or Syene is the same as 
Shi : or rather the words may 
be read, from Migdol to Syene, 
even to the border of Ethiopia, 
i. e. over the whole country of 
E^vpt, Ezek. xxix. 10. 

SYNAGOGUE, the place 
where the Jews met for their 
public worship on ordinary occa- 
sions, as we do in our churches. 
When synagogues, properly so 
called, had their rise, we are un- 
certain; hut the meetings at the 
doors of houses might in some 
measure supply the want of 
them. It is pretty plain, that be- 
fore the captivity, the law was 
492 



SYN 
not read in them every Sabbath, 
as it was afterwards; hence Je- 
hoshaphat's reforming teachers 
had to carry a copy of it alon; 
with them, 2 Chron. xvii. 9 ; and 
its contents were much unknown 
in the time of Josiah, 2 Kings 
xxii. 11. As most of the Jews, 
from the beginning of their set- 
tlement, attended the tabernacle 
ot temple only at the three so- 
lemn feasts, it is probable they 
had a kind of synagogues or 
schools, or proseuchae, or prayer 
places, in one of which last our 
Saviour prayed all night, Luke 
vi. 12. These differed from syna- 
gogues, as in them every one 
prayed by himself; they were in 
retired places, as by river sides. 
Acts xvi. 13. 16, and were un- 
covered, like groves; whereas 
synagogues were in elevated 
places, were covered with 
roof, and one prayed as the 
mouth of the rest. Perhaps it 
was the proseuchas that were the 
mohede (synagogues) or meet- 
ing-places, burnt up by the Chal- 
deans, Psal. lxxiv. 8. Soon after 
the captivity, the Jews had a 
great number of synagogues, 
which increased, till there were 
about 480 of them in Jerusalem. 
Every trading fraternity had 
their synagogues and companies 
of strangers, as Alexandrians, 
Cyrenians, and others, had 
their's, for public prayer, and for 
reading of the Scriptures. The 
scattered Jews, too, had their's 
about Babylon ; and almost 
every where in the eastern part 
of the Roman empire: and in the 
synagogues we find our Saviour 
and his apostles oft teaching the 
multitudes, till they were shut 
out. On the synagogue-days the 
people assembled thrice ; at the 
time of the morning and evening 
sacrifice, and in the dusk of the 
evening ; and thither the devout 
persons oft retired for their secret 
prayers ; and the Pharisees stood, 
that their neighbours might hear 
them the better, Matt. vi. 5. 

* 42 



SYR 
SYRACUSE, was a famorjf 

city on the south-east of Sicily, 
about 22 miles in circumference, 
which had a fine prospect both 
by sea and land, and was once 
the largest and richest city of 
the Greeks. It was built about 
A. M. 3269, and in a manner 
consisted of four cities united 
into one. For about 230 years it 
made little noise in the world: 
but in the next 280, it cut a sur- 
prising figure in war, in sea- 
trade, and in wealth, under its 
kings, Gelon, Dyonisius elder 
and younger, Dion, Agathocles, 
and Hiero. Here the famed ma- 
thematician Archimedes, with 
astonishing inventions, defended 
the place from the Romans ; but 
about A. M. 3800, it was taken, 
and he was slain. The Saracens 
seized on it, A. D. 675; but in 
1090, it was taken from them by 
Roger duke of Apulia. Here 
Paul tarried three days, as he 
went prisoner to Rome; and 
here Christianity was early 
planted, and still, at least in 
name, continues; but the city 
has lost its ancient splendour, 
Acts xxviii. 12. 

SYRIA, originally called 
Aram.) from Aram the son of 
Shem, is a country which makes 
a great figure in the history of 
the world, At different periods, 
Syria had very different bounda- 
ries: in its largest extent, it 
reached from the Mediterranean 
to the Euphrates, and from 
mount Taurus to Egypt and 
Arabia. The more important 
divisions were Syria Proper, 
Ccele-Syria, and Syria Palestina 
including Judea. The name of 
the Syrians is first mentioned in 
the history of David, who de- 
feated them in two great battles, 
2 Sam. viii — x. At this time, 
Zobah seems to have been their 
capital, and Hadadezer their 
king: but Rezin rebelled against 
him and set up an independent 
kingdom at Damascus, which 
now became the capital of the 
493 



SYR 

Syrian empire, 1 Kings xi. 23, 
24, 25. Isa. viii. About eighty 
years afler this period, we find 
Benhadad to be the king of 
Syria, the seat of whose power 
was also at Damascus. To him 
Asa king of Judah applied for 
assistance against Baasha, king 
of Israel ; and he was not back- 
ward to comply, for he invaded 
the land of Israel and destroyed 
many of their cities. About 40 
years after this, there reigned at 
Damascus another king of the 
same name; probably, the son 
or grandson of the former, who 
invaded the land of Israel in the 
time of Ahab, and besieged 
Samaria; but on this occasion 
the Syrians were defeated and 
driven back to their own coun- 
try ; but at the end of the year, 
they returned with a great army 
which pitched in the valley of 
Aphek ; for they had taken up 
the notion that their former de- 
feat was owing to the God of 
Israel being the God of the hills; 
they determined now therefore 
to fight no where else but on the 
plains. But again they were de- 
feated, with the loss of ] 00,000 
men ; and 27,000 more were slain 
in the city of Aphek, by the fall- 
ing of a wall. Benhadad was 
now obliged to surrender himself 
prisoner to Ahab, who spared 
his life, contrary to the will of 
God, signified by one of his pro- 
phets; for which disobedience 
he forfeited his own life, as he 
was informed by one of the sons 
of the prophets, 1 Kings xv — xx. 
About ]2 years after this, the 
Syrians again invaded the land 
of Israel and besieged Samaria, 
until the place was reduced to 
the utmost distress for food: but 
Elijah predicted an abundant 
supply within three days, which 
drew forth a taunting sarcasm 
from one of Ahab's chief lords, 
on whom he leaned. But the 
event answered to the predic- 
tion, for the Syrian host were 
filled with a sudden panic and 



SYR 

fled from their camp, in the ut- 
most haste and confusion, leav- 
ing all their provisions and riches 
behind them: but on this day of 
plenty, the aforementioned lord, 
who had ridiculed the prophecy, 
saw indeed the abundance but 
partook not of it, as Elijah had 
foretold ; for being appointed to 
keep the gate, he was crushed 
to death by the rushing of the 
famished multitude. Not long 
after this event, Elisha who had 
succeeded Elijah as prophet, 
went to Damascus, and Benha- 
dad being sick, sent Hazael his 
prime-minister, to consult the 
prophet respecting his recovery: 
the prophet informed him, that 
as far as related to his disease 
he might recover, but that in the 
event he would not; and then 
informed Hazael, that he would 
be king, and predicted what 
calamities he would bring on the 
people of Israel; which last sug- 
gestion Hazael rejected with 
horror; but all came to pass 
as Elisha predicted it should. 
Hazael suffocated his master by 
covering his face with a thick 
wet cloth, as he lay sick in his 
bed, and reigned in his stead, 2 
Kings viii. In the first year of 
Hazael, Jehoram king of Israel 
and Ahaziah king of Judan 
combined their forces, to recover 
Ramoth-Gilead from the Syr*- 
ans. Here Jehoram was wound 
ed, and while he was at JezreeJ 
getting his wounds healed, and 
Ahaziah with him, Jehu came 
suddenly and violently upon 
them, having been anointed king 
by divine direction, and slew 
both Jehoram and Ahaziah, 2 
Kings viii. ix. 2 Chron. xxii. 
Hazael's reign was long; for, 30 
years afterwards, he invaded 
Judah, and was only prevented 
from taking Jerusalem by a 
large sum of money, raised by 
Jehoash: but the next year 
Hazael returned, and invaded 
the land of Israel and devastated 
the country completely, in the 
494 



SYR 
reign of Jehoahaz ; but Jehoash 
his son defeated Hazael, and re- 
covered the cities which the 
Syrians had taken from his fa- 
ther. Hazael was succeeded by 
Benhadad, the third of that 
name mentioned in Scripture, 
who was also a severe scourge 
to the Israelites, during his whole 
reign: but Jeroboam the succes- 
sor of Jehoash was successful in 
his wars against the Syrians, 
and even took Damascus their 
capital; which, however, was 
soon recovered by Rezin, who 
in his turn invaded Judea and 
laid siege to Jerusalem, 2 Kings 
xiv. 28. About this time the 
Syrian power began to wane, 
being overshadowed by the in- 
creasing power of the Assyrians, 
2 Kings xvi ; for Tiglath-pilezer 
now overthrew the kingdom of 
Damascus, after it had stood 300 
years ; and subjected the coun- 
try to the kings of Assyria. But 
when the Babylonians overthrew 
the Assyrian empire, this coun- 
try became tributary to them; 
next, to the Persians; then to 
the Macedonians, when it was 
conquered by Alexander the | 
Great ; which, from the time of i 



SYR 

Rezin, makes a period of 400 
years. After the death of Alex- 
ander, Syria fell to the lot of 
Seleucus, and continued under 
the power of the Seleucidoe, un- 
til within 90 years before Christ, 
when Tigranes king of Armenia 
was chosen to be their king; but 
he being entirely defeated by 
Pompey the Great, Syria was 
reduced to the form of "a Roman 
province, and was placed under 
the authority of a Roman gover- 
nor, whose usual residence was 
at Antioch. This was the politi- 
cal condition of Syria, during the 
period of the transactions re- 
corded in the New Testament- 
and such continued to be its 
situation, until the 7th century 
of the Christian era, when the 
Saracens overrun the whole 
country, and it has remained in 
the possession of the Mahomr 
medans until this dav. 

SYRO-PHCENICIA, was 
either that part of Phoenicia bor- 
dering on Syria, or perhaps the 
whole of Phoenicia, which by 
conquest had been united U) 
Syria. The people were origi- 
nally Canaanites, Mark vii. 2& 
Matt. xv. 22—23. 



TAB 

TAANATH-SHILOH, was 
a place about ten mUes east- 
ward of Shechem, and where- 
abouts was the village Thenath, 
as 1'ate as A. D. 400. 

TABERNACLE, tent; (1.) 
A moveable lodging, formed of 
cloth or skins, spread over poles. 
Jabal, a son of Lamech the 
Cainite, was the inventor of such 
tents, as he might remove where 
he pleased to feed his cattle, 
Gen. iv. 20. In such lodgings 
did Noah, Abraham, and other 
patriarchs, and the Rechabites, 
dwell ; and to this day, the wild 
Arabs, Tartars, and others, live 
in a kind of tents. The tents of 
the Arabs are covered with 
black hair cloth, but those of the 



TAB 

now pacific Turks with white 
cloth. The great men among 
both have very magnificent tents^ 
and some Turks most splendid 
trains and equipage. (2.) A 
house or dwelling, 2 Chr. xxw 
22. Job xi. 14. The tents of 
Shem, are the countries or 
church-state of his descendants^ 
Gen. ix. 27. Tents of wicked' 
ness, are places where wicked 
men live, Psal. lxxxiv. 10. (3.) 
The dwellers in tents, Ps. lxxxiik 
6; and the tents of Judah, are. 
such Jews as dwell in unfortified 
cities, Zech.xii. 7. The church's 
tent was enlarged, and her cur- 
tains stretched out, her cords 
lengthened, and her stakes 
[strengthened, when the Gentiles 
495 






TAB 

were converted to Christ, and 
her gospel-state established, Isa 
liv. 2. (4.) That tent erected for 
the worship of God, called the 
tabernacle of testimony, be- 
cause it testified God's relation 
to and presence with the He 
brews, and in it were the laws 
of God deposited, Numb. ix. 15; 
or the covering of it, Exod. xl. 
19. God's tabernacle is with 
men on earth, when they enjoy 
his eminent fellowship and fa- 
vour, Rev. xxi. 3. The church 
and her true members are like 
the tents of Kedar ; their out- 
ward appearance is mean and 
despicable, and their condition 
in this world very unsettled, 
Song i. 5. Our bodies are a 
tabernacle, easily demolished, 
and removed to and fro, and 
vet, in saints are the curious 
dwelling of the Holy Ghost, 2 
Cor. v. 1. 

At Sinai, Moses erected a tent, 
and called it the tabernacle of 
the congregation, because the 
Hebrews repaired thither to wor- 
ship God, after the idolatry of 
the golden calf, Exod. xxxiii. 7 
— 10. Soon after, Moses receiv- 
ed a pattern of a tabernacle in 
the mount, with precise instruc- 
tions respecting the materials, 
workmanship, and furniture. 
The execution of this work was 
committed to Bezaleeland Aho- 
liab, whom the Lord had inspired 
with wisdom and skill for the 
very purpose. The court, or in- 
closure in which the tabernacle 
was placed, was 100 cubits long 
and 50 wide. This inclosure was 
formed by curtains suspended on 
56 pillars, set in large sockets of 
brass, and filleted with silver. 
The only entrance into this court 
was from the east, where was 
suspended a rich veil of blue, 
purple, and scarlet, suspended 
on four pillars, and was twenty 
cubits in breadth. Within this 
court was erected a brazen altar 
for burnt-offerings, and bloody I 
sacrifices of every kind; andl 



TAB 

here also meat and drink-offer- 
ings were presented, according 
to the law of the Lord. This 
altar was no more than five 
cubits square, for the conveni- 
ence of conveyance through the 
wilderness. Near the altar stood 
the laver, which was also of 
brass, and was made of the 
brazen mirrors which the wo- 
men of the congregation conse- 
crated for this purpose. Its use 
was for the purification of the 
priests when they officiated at 
the altar and in the sanctuary. 
Not far from the west end of the 
court w r as placed the tent or 
tabernacle, consisting, first, of 
forty-eight boards of Shittirn- 
wood, plated over with gold, 
each a cubit and a half broad, 
and inserted in 96 sockets of 
silver, and supported by 5 bars 
of the same wood, also covered 
with gold, and fastened to the 
boards by golden rings. This 
edifice was 30 cubits long, and 
20 in breadth. Upon the frame, 
described above, were suspended 
several coverings, consisting of 
curtains of different kinds. The 
innermost consisted of ten cur- 
tains of fine twined linen, and 
purple, and scarlet, and blue, 
embroidered with figures of 
cherubim of cunning work: over 
these were extended eleven cur- 
tains of goats-hair, i. e. of the 
cloth made of goats-hair. Then, 
an outward covering of ran> 
skins, dyed red, and blue. Some 
however are of opinion, that 
there were four sets of curtains ; 
that the red ram-skins consti- 
tuted the third ; and exterior to 
all, curtains of badger-skins ; and 
this accords with our English 
version ; but the best critics are 
agreed, that there is no sufficient 
authority for rendering the origi- 
nal word by ' badger ;' it is the 
name of a colour, not of an ani- 
mal. TheLXX, Jerome, AquLia^ 
Lymmachus, and Theodotian, 
render it hyacinth, which is a 
violet colour. The exterior 
496 



TAB 

covering is supposed to have 
been placed in a sloping direc- 
tion to turn off the ram. The 
tabernacle was divided into two 
compartments ; the holy, and 
most holy place. The entrance 
into the holy place was by a 
curtain of blue, and purple, and 
scarlet; and between the holy 
and most holy place, a separa- 
tion was made by another cur- 
tain of very precious materials 
and cunning workmanship. In 
the holy place there were three 
articles of furniture, the candle- 
stick, table of show-bread, and 
altar of incense. The candle- 
stick was made of a talent of 
pure gold, and was furnished 
with seven lamps, beautifully 
ornamented. This was placed 
on the south : on the north was 
the table of show-bread, made 
of Shittim-wood, and covered 
with gold: on this table, twelve 
loaves of bread were laid in or- 
der, every Sabbath morning. 
The golden altar, occupied the 
middle of the apartment, exactly 
before the veil. Within the 
sanctum sanctorum or most 
holy place, there was deposited 
nothing but the ark of the cove- 
nant, and its appurtenances. 
This was a chest of the same 
precious wood out of which 
other parts of the sacred furni- 
ture were made, covered com- 
pletely with gold, and furnished 
with rings and staves for con- 
venience of being carried. With- 
in the ark, were the two tables 
of the law, Aaron's rod, and the 
pot of manna: and in the side 
was deposited the autograph of 
the law. The lid was called the 
propitiatory, or mercy-seat, and 
was beaten at the end into two 
cherubims, with their faces to- 
wards the mercy-seat, and with 
their wings extended over the 
ark. Between these cherubim, 
and immediately over the mer 



TAB 

This was no other than the pil- 
lar of fire and cloud which en- 
tered the sanctuary and took up 
its residence there. It has been 
calculated, that the gold em 
ployed in the erection of the 
tabernacle, would be equal to 
175,0007. the silver to 37,720/. 
the brass to 188Z. so that the 
round sum was more than 
213,000Z. sterling. For the an- 
nual expenses of the tabernacle, 
beside the votive offerings which 
were extremely valuable, there 
was a tax of half a shekel on 
each individual above twenty 
years of age. 

TABITHA, or Dorcas, a 
Christian widow at Joppa, who 
much abounded in alms-deeds, 
and other good works. Dying of 
some ailment, she was washed, 
and laid on a table, in order to 
be coffined. Peter was sent for, 
and the attending widows were 
all in tears, and showed him the 
clothes which she had made for 
them, and reported to him her 
other generous deeds. Peter put- 
ting out the people, and praying 
over her, bid her arise. She im- 
mediately opened her eyes, and, 
he helping her a little, stood up. 
He then called in the Christian 
neighbours, and presented her to 
them alive and well, Acts ix. 
36—42. 

TABLET, an ornament, or 
perhaps a box for perfume, to 
refresh fainting spirits, Exod. 
xxxv. 22. 

TABOR, a mountain on the 
borders of Issachar and Naph- 
tali, on the entrance into the 
great plain of Jezreel; some- 
times called the mount of trans- 
figuration, because according 
to ancient and uncontradicted 
tradition, it was here that our 
blessed Lord was transfigured, 
in the presence of Peter, James^ 
and John. ' When his face did 
shine as the sun and his raiment 



cy-seat, was the shechina, or I was white as the light.' ' When 
visible glory, or sign of the pre Moses and Elias appeared unto 



sence, or indwelling of Jehovah. I them talking with him.' 
x 2 42* 497 



And 



TAB 

when a voice was heard pro- 
ceeding from a bright cloud 
which overshadowed him, ' This 
is my beloved Son in whom I 
am well pleased, hear ye him.' 

According to Mr. Bucking- 
ham, the figure of this mountain 
is that of a truncated cone: its 
height he estimates at no more 
than 1000 feet, but this is proba- 
bly too low ; from the time spent 
in ascending, it may be reckoned 
to be 1400 or 1500 feet above the 
level of the sea. In its composi- 
tion if. is entirely calcareous. Dr. 
Richardson describes Tabor, as 
a dark-looking insulated moun- 
tain, of a conical shape, rising 
like a tower above the surround- 
ing hills. On the summit is a 
plain about a mile in circumfer- 
ence, where are the remains of 
an ancient citadel ; but to what 
age it belongs is unknown. The 
prospect from this spot is one of 
the finest in all this country : to 
the south you have a series of 
biils and mountains reaching 
entirely to Jerusalem, which is 
distant 50 miles ; to the east the 
valley of Jordan, and the lake 
of Tiberias which seems as if 
inclosed in the crater of a vol- 
cano: to the north are the plains 
of Galilee which are backed by 
mountains, which form a part 
of Libanus, and which sweep 
round and terminate the view 
towards the sea. As this moun- 
tain is the highest land between 
the sea of Galilee and the Jor- 
dan, streams which rise on the 
opposite sides of it flow into 
both these waters. The distance 
of Tabor from Nazareth is only 
about two leagues to the south- 
east. 

In Judges iv. we read that 
Barak took a position in this 
mountain with 10,000 men: and 
the river Kishon, mentioned in 
the same place, rises in Tabor and 
runs westward to the great sea. 

TABRET, or timbrel, a kind 
of musical drum for expressing 
of gladness at feasts and danc- 



TAD 

ings, and in religious worship, 
Exod. xv. 20. 29. To be as a 
tabret, is to be greatly loved and 
delighted in, Job xvii. 6. To be 
adorned with tabrets, is to be 
filled with gladness, on account 
of prosperity and happiness, Jer. 
xxxi. 4. To taber on the breasts, 
is to beat them, as if a drum, for 
vexation and grief, Nah. ii. 7. 

TACHES, hooks, clasps, or 
latches of gold and brass, for 
fastening together the curtains 
of the tabernacle, Ex. xxvi. 6. 1L 

TACKLING, the ropes of a 
ship. 

TADMOR, now PALMY- 
RA, was built by Solomon*, 
about 60 miles east of Damas- 
cus, and above 20 west of the 
Euphrates, in a most delightful 
spot, surrounded with a wide 
sandy desert, and with moun- 
tains on the east, north, and 
west sides. Here lived the famed 
critic Longinus ; and here Ode- 
natus and Zenobia his queen, 
formed a small kingdom, and 
performed wondrous exploits ; 
but the Romans seized on it by 
force about A. D. 273. At pre- 
sent there are about 30 wretch- 
ed families in it, and plenty of 
magnificent ruins, sufficient to 
astonish every judicious behold- 
er, ] Kings ix. 18. 

The present condition of this 
place is peculiarly striking; — its 
desolate situation in the midst 
of a vast and arid plain ; — its 
high antiquity, and its almost 
countless remains of architectiu- 
ral splendour, claim for it the 
first attention among the famous 
monuments of past ages. At pre- 
sent, it may be said to consist of 
a forest of Corinthian pillars, 
erect and fallen. So numerous 
are they, that the spectator is at 
a loss to reduce them to any or- 
der, or to conceive for what pur- 
pose they were designed. 'In 
the space covered by these rut- 
ins,' says Volney, ' we some- 
times find a palace of which no- 
thing remains but the court and 
498 



TAL 

the walls ; sometimes, a temple 
•whose peristyle is half thrown 
flown ; and then a portico or 
gallery, or triumphal arch. Here 
stood groups of columns whose 
symmetry is destroyed by the 
tall of some of them ; — there we 
see them ranged in rows of such 
length, that like rows of trees 
they deceive the sight, and as- 
sume the appearance of solid 
wails. And if we cast our eyes 
on the ground, we behold no- 
thing but subverted shafts, some 
above others shattered to pieces, 
or d islocated in their joi nts. And 
whichever way we look, the 
earth is strewed with vast stones 
half-buried with broken entab- 
latures, mutilated friezes, disfi- 
gured relics, effaced sculptures, 
violated tombs, and altars de- 
filed bv dust.' 

TAHPANHES, Tehaphne- 
hes, or Hanes, a city of Egypt, 
and probably the Daphnae Pelu- 
siacre, about 16 miles south of 
Pelusium, and on the east of the 
Nile. Hither the rebellious Jews, 
under Johanan the son of Ka- 
reah, retired, and not long after, 
Nebuchadnezzar took it, and 
placed his throne at the entry of 
it, as Jeremiah had pointed out, 
by the hiding of stones, Jer. xliii. 
7 — 11. Ezek. xxx. 18. 

TALE; (l.)Sum; number, 
Exodus v. 8. (2.) Story, Luke 
xxiv. 11. Our life is like a tale 
that is told, very short and un- 
substantial, Psalm xc. 9. 

TALENT, a weight among 
the Jews, containing 3000 she- 
kels ; so, if a shekel of silver is 
reckoned at three shillings, a 
talent of it will amount to 450Z. 
sterling, and one of gold to 16 
times as much, viz. 7200Z. But 
we, supposing a shekel of silver 
to be considerably less, viz. 2s. 
3d. 3-8ths, compute the talent of 
silver at 342Z. 3s. 9d. and a ta- 
lent of gold at 5475Z. sterling, 
Exodus xxxviii. 24. 27. The 
weight of a Jewish talent for 
weighing silver was 113 pounds 



TAP 

10 ounces 1 pennyweight and 10 
grains 2-7ths ; but their talent 
used in weighing other things 
was perhaps a fifth part heavier, 
The Egyptian talent was 86 
pounds and almost 9 ounces, 
They had a talent at Antioch 
that weighed 390 pounds and 
about three and a half ounces* 
Whatever gifts or opportunities 
God gives to men for their use- 
fulness are called pounds and 
talents; and to some he gives 
these in greater, and to others in 
lesser proportion ; but all ought 
to improve what they receive, 
and must give account of theiT 
use thereof, Matth.xxv.15 — 29. 
Luke xix. 

TALITHA-KUMI, a Syrian 
expression, which signifies Jilaid 7 
arise, Mark v. 41. 

TALMAI. See Geshur. 

TAMAR. See Judah, Abs& 
lom } Amnion. Tamar, a city, i9 
probablvthe same as Eno-idi. 

TAMMUZ, or THAMCJ Z ; (1.) 
the 4th month of the Jews' sa- 
cred year, and 10th of their ci- 
vil. It consists of 29 days, and 
answers to part of que June and 
I July. On the 17th day of it, the 
i Jews fast for the sin and punish* 
! ment of making the golden calfL 
j During the captivity of Babylon, 
they in this month observed a 
fast, to bewail the destruction 
of Jerusalem, Jeremiah xxxix* 
2. Zech.viii.19. (2.)Ta,mmuz, an 
idol, called also Adonis, Osiris, 
Adonosiris, and perhaps Che- 
mosh, and Baal-peor. It is said, 
he was either Thamus, an an- 
cient king of Upper Egypt, ot 
was Adonis, the son of Cyniras, 
an Assyrian, who founded the 
city of Paphos in Cyprus, by hi3 
own daughter Myrrha. 

TANACH, or Taanach, a 
city of the Manassites, near Er> 
dor, and Megiddo. It was given 
to the Kohathites ; but the Ca- 
naanites long retained it in their 
hands, Josh. xvii. 11. xxi. 25. 
Judges i. 27. 

TAPESTRY, cloth beauti 
499 



TAR 

fully figured in the loom, or with 
the needle. It was anciently 
used in the east, as early as the 
age of Solomon. The crusaders 
seem to have introduced the art 
of making it into Europe, about 
five or six hundred years ago. 
The English and Flemish first 
distinguished themselves in ma- 
king it; but the French knew 
little of it till within 160 years 
backward. It is used to cover 
beds, and to hang fine rooms. 
Its figures are frequently formed 
with threads of gold, Prov. vii. 
16. 

TAPPUAH, or the apple city, 
belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, 
and is probably the same as En- 
tappuah, which was fortified by 
Bacchides, the Syro-grecian ge- 
neral, Josh. xvii. 7, 8. Another 
situated in the low country, be- 
longed to Judah, and was dif- 
ferent from Bethtappuah in the 
hill country, Josh. xv. 34, 35. 

TARES. We have a kind of 
pease called tares ; but what the 
scripture mentions under that 
name, appears to be a weed very 
hurtful to corn. Its stem is small- 
er than that of wheat ; and at 
the top springs forth a long ear, 
with small husks surrounding 
three or four grains. The meal 
of tares is unwholesome, loads 
the stomach, and intoxicates, 
creating drowsiness, heaviness, 
and headaches. Wicked men 
are likened to tares; they grow 
rjp among the saints, are some- 
what similar, and very hurtful, 
but cannot be fully separated 
till the last day, when they shall 
be cast into everlasting fire. 

TARGET. See Shield. But 
Goliath's chidon probably signi- 
fies a gorget, corslet, or neck- 
piece, 1 Samuel xvii. 6. 

TARSHISH, the son of Ja- 
van, and who probably founded 
Tarshish or Tarsus in Cilicia, 
and gave his name to the coun- 
try, and was perhaps the father 
of the Etrusci in Italy. Perhaps 
different places are called Tar- 



TAX 

shish. This word has given 
much trouble to the commenta- 
tors. It seems to have been used 
for places widely asunder; and 
sometimes, it is thought, for the 
sea in general. The passages 
where it must refer to a particu- 
lar place are, 2 Chr. ix. 21. xx. 
36, 37. Isaiah xxiii. 6. lxvi. 19. 
Jonah i. 3. iv. 2. But in all 
these texts it cannot mean the 
same place; for Jonah went 
down to Joppa and took ship 
for Tarshish : but the fleet which 
Solomon sent to Tarshish was 
built at Ezion-geber, on the Red 
Sea. In some places, it proba- 
bly refers to Tartesus in Spain, 
and in others to Tarsus in Cili- 
cia. The texts in which it is 
supposed to mean the sea in ge- 
neral, or some distant sea-port, 
are, 1 Kings xxii. 48. Psalm 
xlviii. 7. Isa. ii. 16. xxiii. 1 — 10. 
Ix. 9. 

TARTAR, the idol of the 
Avites. The Jewish writers 
think he had the figure of an ass ; 
but Jurieu will have this idol to 
be the chariot of the sun, or the 
sun in his chariot, 2 Kings xvii. 
31. 

TARTAN. See Esarhad- 
don, Sennacherib. 

TATNAI. See Samaritans, 

TAX, toll, tribute, a sum of 
money or goods paid to rulers as 
a token of submission to them, 
and in order to reward their la- 
bour in government, 2 Chron. 
xvii. 21. 2 Kings xxiii. 35. The 
revenues of eastern princes are 
paid in the productions of their 
subjects' lands, 1 Kings iv. 7 — 
19. Eccl. v. 9. As the Hebrews 
acknowledged God for their pro- 
per King, they paid their tribute 
to him in tithes, offerings, and 
soul-money, Exod. xxx. 13. Lev. 
i — vii. &c. Wherever they pre- 
vailed over the Canaanites, they 
laid them under tribute, Joshua 
xvi. 10; Judges i. 30—35. To- 
wards the end of his reign, So- 
lomon imposed a tribute on the 
Hebrews, which issued in the re- 
500. 



TEL 

volt often tribes from his son, I 
Kings xii. The Syrians, too, and 
Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, 
Greeks, and Romans, in their 
turn, imposed tribute on them, 
and other conquered nations. 
Seleucus, the son of Antiochus 
the Great, was a raiser of taxes 
in the glory of his kingdom; i, 
e. famed for nothing, but raising 
of taxes, to pay his father's debt 
to the Romans, Dan. xi. 20. 

Tributary, one under tribute, 
Judg. i. 

A TEACHER, is, (1.) A mas- 
ter, an instructor, 1 Chr. xxv. 8. 
(2.) A minister of the gospel, 
who, by his doctrine and prac- 
tice, makes men to understand 
the truths of God, Eph. iv. 11. 
(3.) One who, by private instruc- 
tion or example, makes others 
to know spiritual things, Titus 
ii. 3. 

TEBET, or Thebet,the tenth 
month of the Jewish sacred year, 
and fourth of their civil. It con- 
sisted of 29 days. On the 8th, 
they observe a fast for the trans- 
lation of their law into Greek : 
on the tenth, a fast for the siege 
of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, 
2 Kings xxv. 1. On the 28th, a 
feast of joy for the ejection of 
the Sadducees from the San- 
hedrim, where, under Janneus, 
they had almost the whole 
power. 

TEKOAH, a pleasant city, 
about 12 miles south of Jerusa- 
lem, built by one Asher, or Ash- 
ur, I Cnr. ii. 24. iv. 5. and which 
had a wilderness adjacent to it, 
that reached almost to the Dead 
Sea. A widow of it persuaded 
David to recall Absalom, 2 Sam. 
xiv. Rehoboam repaired and 
fortified it, 2 Chron. xi. 6. Near 
to it Jehoshaphat's enemies mas- 
sacred one another, 2 Chron. xx. 
20 — 23. Amos the prophet was 
a herdraan of it, Amos i. I. 

TELASSAR. See Eden. 

TELAB1B, a place of Chal- 
dea, between the rivers Chebar 
and Saocoras, Ezek. hi. 15. 



TEM 
TELEM, or TEL AIM, a city 

on the south frontiers of Judea, 
where Saul mustered his forces 
to march against the Amalekites, 
Josh. xv. 24. 1 Sam. xv. 4. 

TELMELA, Telharsha; Che- 
rub, Jlddan, and Immer, were 
perhaps all cities of Chaldea, 
Ezra ii. 59. 

TEMA, a son of Ishmael, who 
probably founded the city The- 
ma, or Thamma, near the west 
of Chaldea, and was the parent 
of the troops of Tema, Geo. 
xxv. 5. Job ix. 10. 

TEMAN, or Timnah, the 
grandson of Esau, by his son 
Eliphaz, and parent of the Te- 
manites, of whom Eliphaz, Job's 
friend, was one, and Husham, 
an ancient king of Edom, ano- 
ther, Gen. xxxvi. 34. We sup- 
pose he built a city called Te- 
man, about five miles from Pe- 
tra. Most, if not the whole of 
the land of Edom, is sometime*, 
called Teman, Jeremiah xlix. 20 
Amos i. 12. The symbols of the 
divine presence, seemed to move 
from above the land of Teman 
and Paran, to Sinai, which lay 
south-west therefrom, Hab. iii. 3. 

TEMPLE. The Jews some- 
times called the tabernacle by 
this name, 1 Samuel i. 9. iii. 3. 
The houses built for the resi- 
dence of idols were also so call- 
ed ; but that built at Jerusalem 
for the worship of the true God, 
is so called by way of eminence. 
We he.ve different descriptions 
of this magnificent structure. 
Villalpandus, a learned Jesuit 
and famed architect, has pub- 
lished a splendid one in three 
volumes in folio ; but it is chiefly 
founded on Ezekiel's visionary 
descriptions, and his own fancy, 
and rules of architecture, and 
not on the plain reports of scrip- 
ture. Lightfoot, too, and Pri- 
deaux, had given us laboured 
descriptions ; but as these are 
founded on Josephus's account 
of Herod's form of it, and on the 
Talmud, whose authors lived 
501 



TEM 

long after it was in ruins, we 
cannot depend on them as de- 
scriptions of Solomon's. Our 
account shall be taken from the 
history of the Bible, which alone, 
we suppose, is to be regarded in 
this matter. 

The preparations for this tem- 
ple were immense. David and 
his princes assigned thereto 103,- 
000 talents of gold, 1,017,000 ta- 
lents of silver, both which to- 
gether, amounted to about 942,- 
719,750Z. or 939,299,6872. sterl. 
and in weight amounted to about 
46,000 ton weight of gold and 
silver. About 183,000 men, He- 
brews and Canaanites, were em- 
ployed in building it. Every 
thing was made ready ere it 
came to the spot, so that no- 
thing was to do but join the ma- 
terials ; and yet it was seven 
years in building. It was erect- 
ed on mount Moriah. The top 
of this hill was enclosed with a 
wall. Into this there was an en- 
trance on every side; besides 
one towards the south-west, for 
the royal family, whereby, by a 
raised way, called the gale of 
Shallcchcth, they came to their 
place in the covert of the Sab- 
bath. The east gate was called 
Sur: the south gate was called 
Asuppim, because it seems there 
the Levites convened to receive 
their directions ; and the gate 
Parbar was at the north-west 
of the temple. At the side of 
every gare, and at every corner 
of the court, houses seem to 
have been built. Into this outer 
court, every clean Hebrew, or 
proselyte of the covenant, might 
enter. In our Saviour's time, 
there was a court of the Gen 
tiles without this. In the mid 
die of the outer court, but nearer 
to the west end, there was a 
court for the priests and Le- 
vites, stretching oblonglv, from 
west to east, and was surround- 
ed with a low wall, of about four 
feet high, that the people might, 
over the top of it, see what was 



TEM 

doing by the priests. This court 
had two entrances ; one on the 
north side, and another on the 
south. In this court, just before 
the east end of the temple, stood 
the brazen altar, 20 cubits long, 
as many broad, and 10 high ; and 
the brazen sea and lavers, which 
brass-work was cast in the clay 
ground, near Succoth and Za- 
retan. The temple, properly so 
called, stood from west to east, 
near the west end of the court 
of the priests ; and had its sole 
entrance on the east end. First, 
you came to a porch 20 cubits 
from north to south, and 10 from 
east to west, and 120 in height. 
This served as a steeple to adorn 
it, and was a place of shelter 
and of prayer to the serving 
priests. On each side of its en*- 
trance was a pillar about 18 cu- 
bits high and 12 cubits in ch> 
cumference, and adorned with 
chapiters, and about 200 figures 
of pomegranates. The one was 
ealled Jachin, stability; and the 
other Boat, strength. Passing 
through this porch, you entered 
the sanctuary or holy place, 
which was 46 cubits in length, 
20 in breadth, and 30 in height, 
at the west end of which, stood 
ten golden candlesticks on the 
south side, and on the north 10 
tables, with 12 loaves of shew- 
bread on each: and in the mid.. 
die between them, stood the got- 
den altar of incense. In this 
apartment, too, were lodged the 
silver trumpets, the standards of 
weight and measure, and the sa- 
cred treasures. Passing through 
the sanctuary lengthwise, yoa 
entered by a fine vail, and a 
two-leaved door of olive-tree, 
into the oracle, or most holy 
place, into which only the higiw 
priest might enter, and that only 
upon the day of atonement. It 
was a square of 20 cubits every 
way, and here stood the ark with 
its furniture ; and Solomon made 
two new cherubims of olive-tree, 
which overshadowed the two 
502 



TEM 

golden ones, and stretched their 
wings the whole breadth of the 
house. The wall of the house 
was reared with alternate rows 
of fine cedar-wood and hewn 
stone, probably polished mar- 
ble ; the inside was carved with 
figures of cherubims and palm- 
trees, and the whole inside, floor, 
walls, and roof, was overlaid 
with gold. The oracle had no 
windows at all, but was perpe- 
tually dark ; the sanctuary had 
narrow windows, light against 
light. If the 90 priests' cham- 
bers of three stories, 30 in each, 
were built on the wall of the 
temple, the windows of the sanc- 
tuary must have been high ; but 
If, with some, we suppose the 
priests' chambers built on the 
top of the temple, the windows 
might be low enough. About 11 
months after the building was 
finished, and just before the feast 
of tabernacles, this temple was 
furnished with the ark, and other 
sacred utensils, and the Sheehi- 
nah, or cloud of divine glory, 
entered it, to take up its rest 
over the ark, between the cheru- 
bim ; and it was dedicated with 
a solemn prayer by Solomon, 
and by seven days of sacred 
feasting, and by a peace-offering 
of 20,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, 
to consume which, the holy fire 
anew came down from heaven. 
The tempie-service consisted in 
sacrifices, songs, prayer, &c. 1 
Chron. xxii. xxvi. xxix. 1 — 9. 1 
Kings vi — viii. 2 Chr. lii — vi. 

The Jewish temple remained 
but about 34 years in its glory, 
when Shishak carried off its 
treasures, 1 Kings xiv. 25. Un- 
der Jehoram, Ahaziah, and 
Athaliah, it was much decayed, 
but Jehoiada and Joash repaired 
it about Ji. 31. 3150. Soon after, 
Joash robbed it of its treasures 
to give them to Hazael, king 
of Syria, 2 Kings xii. 2 Chron. 
Kxiv. To procure the assistance 
of Tiglath-pileser the Assyrian, 
Ahaz presented him with the 



TEM 
treasures of the temple. He re- 
moved the brazen altar, and put 
his idolatrous one in its place. 
He removed the brazen sea from 
off the oxen, and the brazen 
lavers from off their pedestals or 
supporters, and placed them on 
the ground. He also brake ma- 
ny of the sacred vessels, and 
shut up the temple, 2 Chron, 
xxviii. 2 Kings xvi. Hezekiah 
repaired it, and made such ves- 
sels for it as it wanted ; but in 
the 14th year of his reign, he was 
obliged to rob it of much of it3 
wealth, to give it to Sennache- 
rib, 2 Chron. xxix. 2 Kings xviii, 
Manasseh reared altars to the 
host of heaven in the sacred 
courts, but afterwards restored 
the true worship of God. Josiah 
his grandson further purged the 
temple, and replaced the ark of 
God therein, 2 Kings xxi. xxii. 
2 Chron. xxxiii. xxxv. About 
A. M. 3398, Nebuchadnezzar 
carried part of the sacred ves- 
sels to Babylon, and about seven 
years after, he carried others; and 
at last, in 3416, entirely burnt 
and demolished the temple, Ez, 
vii.20— 22. xxiv. 21. Jer. lii. 13. 
About A. M. 3469, amidst the 
joy of some, and mourning of 
others, it, by Cyrus' order, be- 
gan to be rebuilt, and, notwith- 
standing of much hinderance, 
was finished in about 20 years, 
and solemnly dedicated to the 
service of God. The Persian 
king's decree seems to order its 
height to be 60 cubits, and its 
breadth to be 60: perhaps the 
porch might be only allowed to 
be 60 cubits high, which was but 
the half of the height of that 
erected by Solomon : or what 
we render breadth may signify 
the length, as it is scarce proba- 
ble Cyrus would order the height 
and breadth, and not the length* 
Or, perhaps, though Solomon's 
temple was but 20 cubits from 
side to side within, yet the 
breadth of the walls, and priests* 
chambers added thereto, might 
503 



TEM 
make it 60 cubits. The second 
temple, built under the direction 
of Zerubbabel, and Joshua the 
high-priest, wanted, as the Jews 
say, five things, which were the 
cfiiel' glory of the former, viz. 
the ark and its furniture, the 
Shechinah or cloud of the di 
vine presence, the holy fire, the 
Urim and Thummim, and the 
spirit of prophecy : but the want 
of these could hardly be the rea 
son of the old mens' mourning 
when they saw the foundation 
of it laid ; but the true reason 
seems to be, the unlikelihood 
that it, when founded by a few 
poor tributaries, would ever at- 
tain to the glory of the former, 
reared by the wisest and richest 
of kings, Ezra i. iii. vi. About 
A. M. 3837, Antiochus profaned 
it, stopt the daily sacrifice, and 
erected the image of Jupiter, his 
chief idol, on the altar of burnt- 
offering; but, about three years 
after, Judas Maccabeus purified 
and repaired it, and restored the 
true worship of God. 

To gain the affection of the 
Jews, and humour his own pride, 
Herod the Great, about A. JW. 
3987, began to build it anew. In 
about nine years he finished the 
principal parts of it ; but forty- 
six years after, when our Savi" 
our had begun his public minis- 
try, it was not quite finished ; 
nay, till the beginning of their 
ruinous wars, they still added to 
its buildings. Josephus describes 
this temple as follows : It was 
built on a very hard rock, where- 
in the foundations were laid with 
incredible expence. The temple 
itself was GO cubits high, and as 
many broad. But in the front 
Herod added two wings or shoul- 
ders, each of which projecting 
20 cubits, made the whole length 
of the front 100 cubits, and the 
breadth as many ; and the gate 
was 70 cubits high, and 20 broad, 
but without any doors. The 
stones were white marble, 25 
cubits in length, 12 in height, 



TEM 

and 9 in breadth, all polished, 
and unspeakably beautiful. In- 
stead of doors, the gate was 
closed w r ith vails, flowered with 
gold, silver, purple, and every 
thing rich and curious. At each 
side of the gate were two stately 
pillars, from whence hung got- 
den festoons, and vines with 
leaves and clusters of grapes, 
curiously wrought. The whole 
inclosure was about a furlong 
square, surrounded with a high 
wall of large stones, some of 
them above 40 cubits long, and 
all fastened to one another with 
lead or iron. Where the wall 
was raised from the bottom of 
the adjacent valley, its height 
was above 3 or 400 cubits. On 
the inside of this high wall, 
round about, were erected three 
fine galleries, the narrowest 
about 30 feet wide and 50 in 
height, but the largest, which 
was between the other two, was 
45 feet wide, and 100 feet high. 
These galleries were supported 
by 162 pillars of marble, each 
about 27 feet in circumference. 
The wall of this inclosure had 
four gates towards the west, and 
one towards each of the other 
three airths. Solomon's porch 
was at the east gate of the tem- 
ple, called Beautiful, Acts iii. 2. 
11. The piazzas and court were 
paved with marble. Within this 
inclosure, and near to the galle- 
ries, was a second, surrounded 
with a flight of beautiful marble 
rails, and with stately columns 
at proper distances, inscribed 
with mottoes, prohibiting the 
Gentiles and unclean Jews to 
proceed any further. This in- 
closure had one gate on the east 
side, three on the south, and as 
many on the nor'h, placed at 
equal distances. Within this, a 
third inclosure surrounded the 
temple and altar of burnt-offer- 
ing. Its wall had a flight of 14 
steps on the outside, which hid 
a considerable part of it, and 
on the top, quite round, it had 
504 



TEM 

a terrace of 12 feet broad. This 
inclosure had one gate on the 
east, four on the south, and as 
many on the north, at equal dis- 
tances. At the inside of each 
gate, were two large square 
chambers, 30 cubits wide, and 
40 high, supported by pillars of 
12 cubits in circumference. On 
the inside, except on the west 
side, there was a double flight of 
galleries supported by a double 
row of pillars. The gates were 
30 cubits high, and 15 broad. 
The women, it seems, had their 
separate court, and entered by 
the east gate, which was over- 
laid with Corinthian brass. — 
Within this third inclosure, the 
court of the priests was separat- 
ed from that of the people, by a 
low wall. Here stood the altar 
of burnt-offering, which was of 
hewn stone, 40 cubits broad, 
and 15 in height ; and the lavers, 
and the temple properly so call- 
ed. The wall of the temple and 
its roof being covered with gold 
on the outside, made a glorious 
appearance in sun-shine. Herod 
solemnly dedicated his new tem- 
ple. It had not stood much above 
70 years, when the Jews made a 
fort of it in their ruinous war. 
After it had been polluted with 
murder, and every other wick- 
edness, it was, to the extreme 
grief of Titus the Roman prince, 
burnt to the ground. To give 
the lie to our Saviour, who had 
said, one stone of it should not 
beleft above another, Julian, the 
Roman emperor, in concurrence 
with the Jews, twice attempted 
to rebuild it, about A. D. 360. 
Earthquakes and flames of fire 
dispersed their materials, and 
killed a vast number of the work- 
men. At present, there is a mock- 
temple on the south-east of Je- 
rusalem, whose court is 570 
paces long, and 370 broad. In 
tfce middle, where it is supposed 
the holy of holies stood, there is 
a Mahometan mosque. To this 
the Mahometans pay great ve- 
Y . 43 



TER 

neration ; but no Jew or Chris- 
tian dare enter this court, under 
pain of death, or of redeeming 
his life by becoming a Mahome- 
tan. The heathens had temples 
for their idols. That of Belus 
at Babylon, of Diana at Ephe- 
sus, and of Jupiter in the Capi- 
tol at Rome, and that of Serapis 
in Alexandria, were the most 
famous ; but the ancient Per 
slans, &c. would build none, as 
God is omnipresent. 

TEMPT, to try; so God 
tempts men, when he puts them 
on hard duties, to discover their 
grace, their faith, love, and obe- 
dience, Gen. xxii. 1. Men tempt 
God, when they unseasonably 
and irreverently require proofs 
of his presence, power, and good- 
ness ; when they expose them- 
selves to danger, from which 
they cannot escape without the 
miraculous interposition of his 
providence ; and when they sin 
with such boldness, as if they 
wanted to try whether God could 
or would know and punish them, 
Exodus xvii. 2. Matthew iv. 7. 
Mai. iii. 15. Acts v. 9. 

Temptation, is, (1.) The en- 
ticement of a person to sin, and 
the means thereof; this men are 
to watch and pray against, Mat. 
xxvi. 41. 

TEXT. See Tabernacle. 
TERAH, the son of Nahor, 
and father of Haran, Nahor, and 
Abraham, was born, A. M. 1878 ; 
and at the 130th year of his life, 
had Abram born to him. He 
and his family were idolators ; 
but we hope God's call of Abra- 
ham was blessed for the conver- 
sion of sundry in it. It is cer- 
tain that Terah went along with 
Abraham to' Haran, and died 
there, Gen. xi. 24 — 32. Joshua 
xxiv. 2. 14. 

TERAPHIM, a certain kind 
of images used by the ancients. 
Some think they were talismans', 
or figures of metal, formed un- 
der a particular aspect of th« 
planets ; and to whicli they as- 
505 



TES 

eribed the preservation of the 
family from evil, and their en- 
joyment of happiness. To such, 
the eastern nations have for ma- 
ny ages been exceedingly ad- 
dicted; and the Persians call 
them telephin, which is much 
the same as teraphim. It is cer- 
tain they were consulted for ora- 
cles, Zech. x. 2. To transfer 
her father's good fortune to her- 
self and family, or in order to 
worship it, Rachel stole her fa- 
ther's teraphim. He carefully 
searched to recover it, but could 
not. Jacob caused her soon af- 
ter to deliver it, and he hid it 
under an oak, never more to be 
used, Gen. x.xxi. 19 — 35. xxxv. 
4. Micah the Ephraimite, form- 
ed a teraphim, but the Danites 
took it, and placed it at their 
city Dan, Judg. xvii. xviii. Mi- 
cal laid a teraphim in the bed, 
instead of David her husband, 
and thereby deceived her father's 
messengers, 1 Sam. xix. 13. 16. 
Dealers with familiar spirits 
consulted the teraphim, 2 Kings 
xxiii. 24. Nebuchadnezzar con- 
sulted his teraphim, whether he 
should first besiege Rabbah or 
Jerusalem, Ezek. xxi. 21. The 
Jews, in their present dispersion, 
are without images and tera- 
phim, as they profess great de- 
testation of idolatry, Hos. iii. 4. 

TERTIUS, is the Latin name 
of Silas. 

TERTULLUS, a famed ora- 
tor among the Jews, who, with ; 
flattery of Felix the wicked j 
judge, and with plenty of false-' 
hood, accused Paul at Cesarea, 
Acts xxi v. 1 — 10. 

TESTAMENT, the will of a 
dying man, whereby he deter- 
mines how his property shall be 
disposed of after his death, Gal. 
iii. 15; and a testator is one 
that makes such a latter-will. 
Jesus Christ is called a Testa- 
tor, because in his word he has 
freely bequeathed to sinful men 
all his unsearchable riches of 
grace and glory, Heb. ix. 16, 17 ; , 



THE 

and the covenant of grace, as 
ratified by his death, is called a 
testament, Rev. xi. 19. The 
former dispensation of that cov- 
enant, in the inspired writings 
of Moses and the prophets, is 
called the Old, or First Testa- 
ment; it was published before 
our Saviour's incarnation ; it 
was ratified by his typical death 
in sacrifices, and was less excel- 
lent ; and now, in its ceremonial 
part, is quite abolished, Heb. ix. 
15. 2 Cor. iii. 15. 

TESTIFY, testimony. See 
Witness. 

TE1L-TREE; some think it 
an elm ; others reckon it an oak; 
others a chesnut-tree ; others 
a turpentine, which resembles 
the ash-tree in its leaves ; only 
they are more thick and gluti- 
nous ; and its fruit grows in 
clusters, and is hard and resin- 
ous ; and a kind of gum called 
turpentine-pitch, distils from its 
root. Others will have it the 
tilia, or lime-tree, which has 
broad leaves, and which propa- 
gates fast by layers. The word 
so rendered Isa. vi. 13. is every 
where else rendered ' oak,' and 
should be so in this place. 

THADDEUS. See Jude. 

THANK, to acknowledge a 
benefit as freely received, 1 Chr. 
xvi. 4. What thank have ye ? 
What grateful acknowledgment 
or reward can ye expect God 
will give you for your selfish 
conduct? Luke vi. 32—34. 
Thankworthy, is what is worthy 
of thanks and praise, 1 Pet. ii. 
19. Giving of thanks, is a 
hearty and cheerful acknowledg- 
ment of favours, spiritual, tem- 
poral, or eternal, bestowed on 
ourselves or on others, Phil. iv. 
6. 1 Tim. ii. 1. Thank-offer- 
ings and psalms of praise, are 
called thanksgiving, Levit. vii. 
12—15. xxii. 29. Neh. xi. 17. 

THEATRE, a place where 
the people assemble to behold 
plays and shows. It was often 
a place half or almost wholl/ 
506 



THE 



TH1 



surrounded with seats of stone J A. D. 1801, and gives the fol 
or wood, gradually ascending, | lowing description of its present 
in the manner of our galleries in condition : 'The wails give a 



churches, or of those in play 
houses, Acts xix. 24. 31. 

THEBEZ, or Thebes, a city 
of the Ephraimites, about thir- 



very remarkable appearance to 
the town, and cause it to be seen 
for a great distance, being white- 
washed, or painted. They ex- 



teen miles west from Bethshan,; tend in a semi-circle from the 
and about half a mile from She- 1 sea, enclosing the whole of the 
chem. The inhabitants seem to : buildings within a pcribolus, 
have revolted from A bimelech; whose circuit is five or six miles; 



the son of Gideon, and assisted 
the Shechemites. When he as- 
saulted it, they fled to their tow- 
er; and thence a woman brake 
his skull with a piece of a mill 
stone. It was a village about 
400 vears after Christ, Judg. ix 
50—54. 

THEOPH [LUS,a noted Chris- 
tian, to whom Luke directs his 
Gospel, and Acts of the Apos- 
tles. It seems he was a person 
much noted for his gifts and 
graces, if not also for his high 
station. Some think that this 
name denotes any lover of God, 
Luke i. 3. Acts i. 1. 

THESSALONICA, the capi- 
tal city of Macedonia, and situ- 
ated on the north-east of the 
Thermaic or Saloniki Bay, and 
on the south-west frontier of 
Thracia. It was anciently call- 
ed Halis, and Thermae; but 
Philip, the father of Alexander 
the Great, called it Tkessaloni- 
ca, to commemorate his victory 
over the Thessahans. About 
A. M. 3837, the Romans seized 
it. About A. D. 885, the Sara- 
cens took it; but Simeon, one 
of the Greek emperor's secreta- 
ries, redeemed it from them with 
a larse sum of money. About 
A. D. 1180, William of Sicily 
took .t from the Greek emperor ; 
but he retained it but a short 
time. In 1313, it was sold to 
the Venetians. About 1430, 
Amurath, the sultan or emperor 
of the Ottoman Turks, seized on 
it, and they still retain it. About 
A. D. 52, Paul, Silas, and Timo- 
thy, planted a church here. 
Dr. Clarke visited this place 



but a great part of the space* 
within die walls is vacant. It 
is one of the few remaining ci- 
ties which has preserved the 
form of its ancient fortifications. 
The mural turrets are still stand- 
ing, the walls that support them 
being entire. Like all the an- 
cient and modern cities of 
Greece, its wretched condition 
is forcibly contrasted with the 
beauty of its external appear- 
ance. It rises like an amphi- 
theatre on the side of a hill, and 
is surrounded with groves of 
cypress and other evergreens. 
The present population is esti- 
mated to be 60,000, of whom 
30,000 are Turks, 16,000 Greeks, 
12,000 Jews, and a mixed popu- 
lation of Gypsies and Ethio- 
pian slaves, 2000.' 

THEUDAS, some time be- 
fore our Saviour's death, set. up 
as some noted person, and was 
joined by about 400 men ; but 
he being killed, they were dis- 
persed. Perhaps he is the Judas 
that revolted on the occasion of 
Herod's death ; or Josephus is 
wrong in his chronology, and 
places the Theudas he men- 
tions as the head of a sedi- 
tion, too late by some veSars, 
Acts v. 36. * 

THISTLES and THORNS. 
These words are used in scrip- 
ture in a very general sense for 
all noxious and prickly shrubs 
and weeds, which spontaneous- 
ly spring up in the earth, and 
greatly obstruct the growth of 
bread-corn, and give incessant 
trouble to the husbandman. 
They are a part of the curse de 
507 



THI 

pounced on the earth for the 
sake of man, Gen. iii. 18. 

The lesser kind of thorns are 
called briers ; both of them are 
pretty useless in their wood, ex- 
cept for fuel ; both of them mar 
the increase of the ground, but 
are very useful for hedging. The 
great abundance of thorns, is a 
continued memorial of Adam's 
fall, Gen. iii. 18. With thorns, 
Gideon tore the flesh off the eld- 
ers of Succoth, Judg. viii. 7. 16. 
To torment our Saviour, and 
mark contempt of his royalty, 
and his bearing the curse for us, 
his enemies crowned him with a 
crown of platted thorns, John 
xix. 2. Thorns make a speedy 
and violent fire, but it is soon 
quenched, Psal. lviii. 9. cxviii. 
12. Thorns and briers covering 
a place, imports its being reduc- 
ed to desolation, Hos. ix. 6. x. 8. 

Thorns are put for great dif- 
ficulties and hindrances, which 
stop men's progress, as a thorn- 
hedge : so thorns are in the way 
of the slothful, Pro v. xv. 19 ; 
and thorns are in the way of 
the f reward ; great calamities 
and opposition await him, Prov. 
xxii. 25; and to take the har- 
vest out of the thorns, is to take 
the fruit of the field from one, 
notwithstanding every hinde- 
rance, Job v. 5. Troubles are 
called thorns, as they prick, ha- 
rass, and confine men ; so God 
hedges up men's way with 
thorns, restrains them by sore 
trials and afflictions, Hos. ii. 6. 

THOMAS, or Didymus, one 
of our Saviour's apostles, Matt. 
x. 3. When he heard that Laz- 
arus was dead, he proposed that 
they should all testify their af- 
fection by going to the spot, and 
dying along with him, or die 
with Christ, who endangered his 
life, by returning to Judea, John 
ri. 16. Jesus, after his last sup- 
per, talking of the mansions in 
his father's house, which he was 
going to prepaid for them, Tho- 
mas very ignorantly asked, 



THO 

whither he was going? and 
which way he would take? Je- 
sus replied, that himself was 
the way, the truth, and the life, 
John xiv. 5, 6. Thomas being 
absent when the other ten, on 
the resurrection-even, saw their 
risen Lord, and afterwards hear- 
ing of it, he told them, tha' un- 
less he saw in Jesus's hands me 
prints of the nails, and put his 
fingers into them, and thrust his 
hand into the wound made by 
the spear in his side, he would 
never believe he was risen from 
the dead. When Jesus appear- 
ed to them next Lord's evening, 
he offered Thomas the proof of 
his resurrection he had mention- 
ed. Thomas, all captivated 
with such condescension, and, it 
seems, without making the trial, 
cried out, My Lord and my 
God. Jesus told him, that it 
had been more to his honour, if 
he had believed without any 
sensible proof, John xx. 20 — 29. 
A few days after, Thomas saw 
his Master again at the sea of 
Galilee, John xxi. After he had 
staid several years at Jerusalem 
he went, it is said, to preach 
among the Parthians, Medes, 
Hyrcanians, and Bactrians, and 
at last suffered martyrdom in 
Meliapour in the East Indies, 
near to which the Portuguese, 
about 300 years ago, found 
Christians of St. Thomas ; nay, 
some think, he preached in 
China. 

THONG, a leathern whip, 
Acts xxii. 25. 

THOUSAND, ten hundred ; 
but often thousands and ten 
thousands, are put for great 
numbers in general, Rev. v. 11. 
Eccl. vi. 6. vii.28. Isa. xxx. 17. 
The city that went out by a 
thousand shall leave a hun- 
dred, and that which went out 
by a hundred shall leave ten to 
the house of Israel ; i. e. the 
tenth part of the inhabitants 
shall scarcely be preserved, 
Amos v. 3. 

508 



TIB 

THREE T AVERNS,a place 
between Appii Forum and 
Rome, about 35 miles south of 
Rome. They were inns or 
drinking houses. 

THRESH, to beat out corn 
from the ear or pod, Isa. xxviii. 
28. 

THRESHOLD, the ground- 
sel of a door or gate, Judges 
six. 27. 

THYATIRA, was a very 
considerable city of Lesser Asia, 
about 20 miles north of Sardis, 
and 56 north-east of Smyrna. 
Anciently it was called Pelopia, 
but Seleucus the Syro-Grecian 
king, having repaired it, called 
it Thygaieira. 

TH YINE- WOOD, only once 
found in Scripture, Rev. xviii. 
12: valuable for cabinet work. 

TIBERIAS, was a famed city 
of Western Galilee, built by 
Herod Agrippa, in honour of the 
Emperor Tiberius. It stood on 



TIL 

preach, Luke iii. 1. Soon after 
he took from the Jews the powei 
of putting criminals to death. It 
is said, tiiat hearing of the mira- 
cles of our Saviour, he was 
earnest to have him enrolled 
among the Roman deities, buL 
was hindered by the senate. He 
so favoured the Christians, as 
to threaten death to such as 
molested them on account of 
their religion. 
TIBNI. See 1 Kin<rs xvi.21. 
TIDAL, the ally of Chedor- 
laomer, was called king of Go- 
jim, or nations, either because 
Gqjim was the place of his 
abode, or that sundry tribes had 
coalesced under his government, 
Gen. xiv.l. 

TIGLATH-PILESER, or 
Tiglath-pihieser, king of As- 
syria. Receiving the kingdom in 
a prosperous state, after the 
death of his father Pul, he la- 
boured to extend his dominions, 
the south-west shore of the sea. Instigated by Ahaz king of Ju- 
of Galilee, about 80 miles north dah, he invaded Syria, slew Re- 
of Jerusalem, and 12 eastward , zin their king, plundered Da- 
of Nazareth. In the time of the ! mascus and other places, and 
Jewish wars, this city was the ! carried the people captive to 
capital of Galilee, and was ; Kir in Media. He ravaged the 
bravely defended by Josephus Hebrew territories eastward of 
the historian; but being taken; Jordan, and carried the people 
by Vespasian, the father of Ti- j captive to Halah, Habor, and 
tus, and afterwards emperor, it • Hara, on the river Gozan. He 
was greatly demolished. It was, also ravaged Western Galilee, 



however, a place of considerable 
note, many ages after. Here was 
both a Christian church and a 
famed Jewish academy, John 
vi. 1. 23. 

TIBERIUS. Caesar Augustus 
having married Li via his mo- 
ther, adopted him to be his heir 
in the empire. In the beginning 



and took Ijon, Abelbeth-maa- 
chah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, 
&c. and carried the people cap- 
tives into Assyria. Not content, 
it seems, with Ahaz's presents, 
and his complimentary visit of 
him at Damascus, he appears to 
have ravaged part of Judea, 2 
Chron. xxviii. 20. 1 Chron. 



of his reign, Tiberius behaved . 26. 2 Kings xv. 29. After a reign 
himself decently, but afterwards] of about nineteen years, he left 



became quite peevish, cruel, and 
oppressive. About the sixth year 
of it, the senate ordered all the 
Jews to depart from Rome, or 
become slaves. About the thir- 
teenth year, he made Pilate go- 
vernor of Judea. In the fifteenth 
year, John Baptist began to 



43* 



his throne to Shalmanezer. See 
Assyria. 

TILES were used to cover 
houses ; and hence a roof is call" 
ed the tiling' : but as the Jewish 
roofs were flat, their tiles might 
be like our flag stones, or broad 
bricks. Nay, perhaps the tiU on 



509 



TIM 

which Ezekiel pourtrayed the 
city of Jerusalem, might be a 
table of free-stone, Ezek. iv. 1. 

TILL, to turn over the ground, 
that it may be fit for receiving 
seed. Cain was the first tiller or 
plowman, Gen. iv. 2. Tillage is 
husbandry, manuring of the 
fields, 1 Chron. xxvii. 26. 

TIME, season ; (1.) The mea- 
sure of motion, or the duration 
of things, Psal. lxxxix. 47. (2.) 
The particular appointed season 
or opportunity of doing a thing, 
Eccl. iii. 1. Gen. xviii. 10. Psal. 
Ixxxi. 1. In season and out of 
season, i. e. when there is more 
or less opportunity, 2 Tim. iv.2. 
The different times of Spring, 
Summer, Harvest, and Winter, 
are called the seasons, Gen. i. 
14. The appointed season of 
God's vengeance on men, is 
called his times or days, as he 
displays his power and perfec- 
tions therein ; and their time, or 
the time of the Heathen, as they 
then receive the due reward of 
their deeds, Job xxiv. 1. Jer. 1. 
27. 31. Ezek. iii. 3. Christ's 
time, is either the time of his 
going up to the feast of taberna- 
cles, or the time of his death, 
John vii. 6. 8; or the time of his 
appearance to judgment, 1 Tim. 
vi. 15. which will be a lime of 
refreshing- and restitution of 
9,11 things, as then he will dis- 
play his glory to the highest, 
ftilly comfort his saints, and re- 
store the system of irrational 
nature to its original purity and 
honour, Acts iii. 20, 21. Rom. 
viii. 21. That season in which 
God calls sinners to him, and 
quickens and unites their souls 
to Christ, is called his time of 
love, Ezek. xvi. 8; and it is an 
acceptable time and day of sal- 
vation, when God bestows his 
special favours on men, Psal. 
lxix. 13. 2 Cor. vi. 2. The last 
times or days, denote either the 
whole latter part of the dura- 
tion of the world; or the whole 
of the gospel-period, particularly 



TIM 

that in which the Jewish cere 
monies were going to be abol 
ished, 1 Peter i. 20. Isaiah ii. 2. 
Mic. iv. I. 1 John ii. 18; or the 
latter part of the Christian 
period, which are represented as 
perilous times, abounding with 
scoffers and wicked professors, 
lTim. iv. 1. 2 Tim. iii. 1— 5. 2 
Pet. iii. 3. To know the times, 
is to know the history of former 
times, and to observe the present 
times in their various circum- 
stances, and what is proper to be 
done therein, thus discerning 
time and judgment, Esth. i. ]3. 
1 Chron. xii. 32. Eccl. viii. 5; 
but the knowledge of future 
times in their events, is not for 
men to dive into, further than 
God pleases to reveal, Acts i. 7. 

TIMNAH, Timnath, Tim- 
nathah, a city which it seems 
stood in the west corner of the 
lot of Judah, and was given to 
the Danites. It is said to have 
been six miles from Addullam, 
where Judah lived, and twelve 
from Eshtaol, where Samson 
lived. It was a village about 
400 years after Christ. 

TIMNATH-SERAH,or77m 
nath-heres, was a city of the 
Ephraimites, where Joshua lived 
and was buried, Josh. xix. 50. 
xxiv. 30. Judg. ii. 9. 

TIMOTHY, or Timotheus, a 
noted evangelist. He was a na- 
tive of Lystra in Lesser Asia. 
His father was a Greek, but his 
grandmother Lois, and his mo- 
ther Eunice, being pious Jewish 
women, trained him up from a 
child in the knowledge of the 
Scriptures ; and Paul circumcis- 
ed him, to render him the more 
acceptable to the Jews. His 
bodily constitution was very 
weak, but his gifts and graces 
were eminent, Acts xvi. 1. 2 
Tim. i. 5. 15. iii. 15. 1 Tim. v. 
23. ] Cor. iv. 17. After he had 
been ordained a minister by 
Paul and the presbytery of Lys- 
tra, he became very dear to 
Paul, for his faithfulness and 
510 



TIR 

piety; and so he calls him his 
dear son in the faith, his faith- 
ful fellow- worker, &c. 2 Tim. 
i. 6. 1 Tim. iv. 14. i. 2. 1 Cor. 
iv. 17. 

TIN, a well-known coarse 
metal, harder than lead, and of 
the same kind, with a mixture 
of silver, and which formed part 
of the Tyrian trade with Tarsh- 
ish, Ezek. xxvii. 12. Perhaps 
tin-mines renew their store in 
process of time. Trees are found 
in them at the depth of fifty 
fathoms. Sinners, and their 
abundant corruptions, that are 
ready for the fire of God's wrath, 
are likened to lead, tin, brass, 
iron, and dross, Ezek. xxii. 18. 
20. Isa. i. 25. 

TINGLING ef the cars, im- 
ports trembling and horror, be- 
cause of fearful calamities, 1 
Sam. iii. 11. 

TIPHSAH;(l.)Acityofthe 
tribe of Ephraim, at no great 
distance from Tirzah, and about 
six miles from Samaria. It seems 
this city refused to submit to 
Menahem ; and being taken, the 
inhabitants were put to the 
swo.d, 2Kingsxv. 16. (2.) Tiph- 
sah, or Thapsacus, on the Eu- 
phrates, on the east of Syria, and 
about GOO miles north-west of 
Babylon. Some geographers 
place it on the east, and others 
on the west side of the river ; but 
as there was a famous bridge 
here, I suppose part of the city 
stood on the one side, and part 
on the other. This city was the 
north-east border of Solomon's 
territories, 1 Kings iv. 24. 

TIRAS, or Thiras, the se- 
venth son of Japheth. He is sup- 
posed to have been the father of 
theThracians, in whose country 
was the river Atyrus; and they 
worshipped the god of war, un- 
der the name of Odrysus and 
Thuras, probably the same as 
Tiras: and there was here a na- 
tion called the Thrausi. 

TIRE, a dress for the head, 
Ezek. xxiv. 17. 23. Round tires 



TIT 

like the moon, may denote the 
golden necklaces, somewhat lik» 
those worn by the kings of Midi- 
an, and their camels, Isa. iii. 18. 

TIRIIAKAH, or Thearchon, 
as Strabo calls him, was king of 
Cush ; but whether that in Ara 
bia, or Abyssinia, is not agreed. 
We suppose him the sovereign 
of Abyssinia and Egypt, and 
that he was defeated by Sen- 
nacherib, against whom he 
marched for the relief of king 
Hezekiah ; and that at this time, 
to the terror of the Jews, the 
Ethiopians and Egyptians were 
taken prisoners, 2 Kings xix. 19. 
Isa. xx. 4 — 6. 

TIRSH ATHA, a name given 
to Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. 
Some think it denotes the cup- 
bearer; but more properly it de- 
notes a governor, or a commis- 
sary, appointed by the Persian 
king, to carry his orders to a 
province, and see them put in 
execution, Ezra ii. 6'i. Neh.x. 1. 

TIRZAH, a city of the 
Ephraimites. It was a most 
beautiful place. Jeroboam the 
son of Nebat, Nadab, Baasha, 
j Elah, Zimri, and Omri, kings of 
Israel, resided here; but after 
Samaria was built, the court 
mostly abandoned Tirzah, 1 
Kings xiv. 17. xv.21. It appears 
to have shared in the above- 
mentioned fate of Western Tiph- 
sah, 2 Kings xv. 16. 

TISHBEH, a city of Gilead, 
and the native place of Elijah. 
It seems to have still remained 
about 400 years after Christ ; but 
was in the hand of the Arabi- 
ans, 1 Kings xvii. 1. 

TISRI, or Tizri. See Etha- 
nim. 

TITHES, or tenth parts. We 
suppose God suggested to the 
ancient patriarchs his claim to 
the tenth part of their gain or 
product. When Abram returned 
from his victory over Chedorlao- 
mer and his allies, he gave to 
Melchizedec, the Lord's priest, 
the tenth part of his spoils, Gen. 
511 



TIT 

xiv. 20. Jacob dedicated to God, 
by a vow, the tenth part of hit 
gain in Mesopotamia, Gen. 
xxviii. 22. Nay, multitudes of 
Greeks, Romans, and other Hea- 
thens, devoted the tenth part o 
their incomes to the service of 
God. To commemorate the He- 
brews living in the wilderness 
on omers or tenth deals of man- 
na, God not only regulated their 
meat-offerings by tenth deals of 
fine flour, but he further regulat- 
ed the affair of their tithes in the 
following manner: After the 
first-fruits and their attendant 
offerings were deducted, the 
tenth part of their remaining 
product of corn, cattle, &c. were 
assigned to the Levites. Of this 
the priests had the tenth part for 
their share. Of what remained 
to the proprietor, another tithe 
was levied, and, in value or 
kind, sent to the service of the 
tabernacle and temple, and the 
ministers thereof, at the solemn 
feasts. On every third year a 
third tithe was levied from the 
proprietor for the use of the Le- 
vites, the fatherless, widows, and 
strangers; if this was not the 
same as the second tithe, and 
only in the third year applied to 
this use, and eaten at home in 
their cities. It does not appear 
that the tithe of their herbs was 
demanded. The Pharisees, how- 
over, tithed their mint, ani^e, 
cummin, and rue; nor does Je- 
sus condemn them for it, but for 
neglecting weightier things, as 
mercy, judgment, and faith, 
while they were so wonderfully 
exact in small matters, Deut. 
xiv. 22 — 29. xii. 17. Num. xviii. 
20—32. 

TITUS, a noted evangelist. 
He attended Paul, by whose 
ministry he had been converted, 
from Syria to the synod at Je- 
rusalem, Gal. ii. 1 — 3. Some 
years after, Paul sent him to 
Corinth, where his piety, and his 
disinterested and zealous preach- 
ing of the gospel, procured him 



TOG 

a kindly reception. Coming from 
thence to Paul in Macedonia, 
he gave him an account of the 
state of the Corinthian church, 
and was returned to them, bear- 
ing a second epistle from Paul, 
2 Cor. xii. 18. vii. 6. 15. viii. 6. 
16, 17. When Paul left him in 
Crete, to settle the affairs of that 
church, and ordain elders in it, 
we are uncertain ; but it is cer- 
tain, that, in the epistle sent 
thither to him, he desires him to 
come to him at Nicopolis, and 
bring Zen as the lawyer and 
A polios with him, as soon as 
Tychicus and Artemas should 
come to supply his room, Titus 
iii. 12, 13. After this, Paul sent 
him into Dalmatia, 2 Tim. iv. 
10; but it is said, he returned to 
Crete, and thence propagated 
the gospel into the neighbouring 
islands. The epistle sent to Ti- 
tus, directs him to ordain offi- 
cers; to warn and censure the 
unruly; and to instigate all 
ranks to act agreeably to their 
Christian character. 

TITTLE, the least part, the 
least sentence, Matt. v. 18. 

TOB, or Ishtob, a small can- 
ton on the south-east of Syria, 
where Jephthah retired, when 
driven from his native country by 
his brethren, Judg.xi. 3. 5. In the 
time of the Maccabees, the peo- 
ple here were called the Tubieni. 

TOBIAH, an Ammonite, and 
an opposer of Nehemiah, Neh. 
ii. 10. 

TOGA RM AH, the third son 
of Corner, and grandson of Ja- 
pheth, Gen. x. 3. Josephus 
makes him the father of the 
Phrygians ; Bochart, of the Cap- 
padocians, of whom there was 
a tribe called Trogmi, Trocmi, 
or Trogmades. Others make 
him the father of the Turcomans 
in Tartary. The Armenians too 
pretend to be his descendants* 
It is certain that his posterity 
traded with the Tyrians, in 
horsemen, horses, and mules > 
Ezek. xxvii. 14; and that they 
512 



TOP 
will assist Gog and Magog, 
against the Hebrews, at the be- 
ginning of the millennium, Ezek. 
xxxviii. 6. 

TOI, king of Hamath. See 
Hamath. 

TOLA; (1.) The eldest son of 
Issachar, and father of the Tola- 
ites, Num. xxvi. 23. (2.) Tola, 
the tenth judge of Israel. He 
was the son of Puah, and grand- 
son of Dodo, of the tribe of Issa- 
char. He succeeded Abimelech, 
and judged Israel 23 years, and 
was buried at Shamir in Mount 
Ephraim, A. M. 2794, Judg. x. 1. 

TOPAZ, a precious and trans- 
parent jewel, third in value to 
the diamond. The finest to- 
pazes are brought from the East 
Indies. and are often found about 
the bigness of a pin-head ;• and 
scarce any exceed the sixth part 
of an inch in diameter. The 
best are of a yellow golden co- 
lour ; but Pliny says the best are 
of a green colour. The most 
valuable topaz in the world, we 
know of, is in the possession of 
the Great Mogul. It weighs 
about 137 carats, and cost 
200,300/. sterling. The topaz 
was anciently found in an island 
of the Red Sea, called Topazion, 
and hence it is called the topaz 
of Cash, Job xxviii. 19. If the 
Pitdath signifies a topaz, it was 
seeond in the high-priest's breast- 
plate ; and it was the ninth 
foundation of the New Jerusa- 
lem, Exod. xxviii. 17. Rev. xxi. 
20. At present, the topazes of 
East India are the best; those 
of Abyssinia the next; those of 
Peru in America, are much soft- 
er ; and those of Bohemia in 
Germany, are still softer, and a 
little cloudy. By proper firing, 
chrystal is formed into a kind 
of topaz, Exodus xxviii. 17. 
xxxix. 10. Ezekiel xxviii. 13. 
Rev. xxi. 10. 

TOPHET, a place on the 
east of Jerusalem ; so called, 
from the beating of drums to 
drown the cries of the children 



TOW 

burnt in the fire to Molech. It 
was also called the valley of 
Hinnom, either from some pro- 
prietor of it, or it may be ren- 
dered the valley of shrieking ; 
but Reland places the vailey of 
Hinnom on the west of Jerusa- 
lem. It is said to have been a 
very delightful spot, watered by 
the streams of Shiloah, and 
shaded with a number of gar 
dens. But it is more certain, 
that here the Jews burnt their 
children to Molech, Jer. vii. 30. 
Here, according to the purpose 
of God, a great part of the As- 
syrian host were cut off, as in a 
fire, by a burning pestilence, Is. 
xxx. 33. The word Gehenna, 
used for hell, is the same as Ge- 
hinnom, the valley of Hinnom, 
or of shrieking. 

TORTOISE, an amphibious 
animal, mentioned only once in 
the scriptures, Lev. xi. 29; and 
several learned men are of 
opinion, that a kind of lizard, 
well known in Arabia, is in- 
tended. 

TOWER, a strong and high 
building, for protecting against 
enemies, and for annoying of 
them ; or for prospect, 2 Chron. 
xiv. 7. In scripture we read of 
the towers of Babylon, Jerusa- 
lem, Penuel, Shechem, Thebez, 
Eder, &c. The tower of the 
watchman, may be one erected 
for watching the invasion of en- 
emies ; and from the tower of 
the watchmen to the fenced city, 
is in all places, more or less 
populous, 2 Kings xvii. 9. The 
tower of the flock, may denote 
Bethlehem, near to which was 
the tower of Eder, or of the 
flock ; or Jerusalem, where the 
tribes of God assembled as a 
flock ; or Jesus and God him- 
self, who is the protecting Sa 
viour of his people, Micah iv. 8. 
2 Sam. xxii. 3. Prov. xviii. 10. 
Jerusalem, the temple, and the 
ordinances of God, were a tower 
in God's vineyard; were most 
visible, and useful for protecting- 
513 



TRA 
men, Isa. v. 2. Matth. xxi. 33. 
Song viii. 10. 

TRACHONITIS, a small 
canton on the south of Damas- 
cus, which properly pertained to 
Arabia, not to Canaan. It had 
Iturea on the south, and Bashan 
on the west. It abounded with 
rocks ; and here the robbers, 
that gave Herod the Great so 
much work, sheltered them- 
selves. Philip, his son, was te- 
trarch here, Luke iii. 1. 

TRADITION, some things 
handed down from age to age, 
without being committed to 
writing. The Jews pretend, 
that besides the laws of Moses 
written in the Pentateuch, God 
gave him a great many more 
of which he informed Aaron and 
his sons ; they handed them 
down to the elders ; and these 
informed the prophets thereof 
these from one generation to an- 
other conveyed them to posteri 
ty. This oral law, conveyed 
without writing, they reckon 
the soul of the written law, 
which, as it were, gives life and 
sense to it. These traditions, 
however, were but the inven 
tions of presumptuous men. 
Moses expressly calls us to re- 
gard only what God has reveal- 
ed to us in his word, Deut. xxix. 
29. 

Under the New Testament 
dispensation, the Papists have 
pretended to hold a multitude 
oftraditions, said to be conveyed 
from the apostles. These are 
for the most part never a whit, 
better than their fellows of the 
Talmud. Nor does the word 
of God allow us to regard any 
such, in the matter of religion. 
The Thessalonians were requir- 
ed to hold the traditions, i. e. 
what had been delivered to them 
in the epistles sent them, and in 
the preaching of Paul and his 
brethren, according to the scrip- 
tures. But now the canon is 
finished, with a terrible curse 
denounced against the person 



TRE 

who, in his religion, adds to, or 
takes from, what is written ill 
the Bible, 2 Thess. iii. 15. Rev 
xxii. 18, 19. 

TRANCE, that state of a per- 
son's mind, wherein, by wonder 
or otherwise, his outward senses 
are bound up, and supernatu- 
ral things are revealed to him. 
When Ezekiel, and John the 
apostle, had their visions, they 
were often cast into a trance^ 
Ezek. i. &c. Rev. i. iv. &c. 
And so was Peter, when ad- 
monished to go and preach to 
the Gentiles, Acts x. 10. xi. 5; 
and Balaam boasts that he, fall- 
ing into a trance, saw the glory 
of the Lord, Num. xxiv. 4. 

TRANSFIGURE,*raiis/orro, 
to turn into another shape. To 
exhibit to some of his disciples 
a semblance of his future glory, 
and to fortify them against the 
offence of his after-sufferings, 
Christ, as he prayed, was glo- 
riously transfigured on the 
mount, Matth. xvii. 1 — 5. Men 
are transformed by the renew- 
ing of their minds, when their 
nature is changed from its like- 
ness to Satan, into the image of 
God, in knowledge, righteous- 
ness, and true holiness, and their 
practice is rendered conformable 
to his law, Rom. xii. 2. 

TRANSGRESS, to disobey a 
law, going over the limits which 
it fixeth for action or forbear- 
ance, Esther iii. 3. Sin is a 
transgression, as thereby we 
treacherously overpass the limits 
which God hath fixed for our 
duty in his law, and do what he 
forbids, or omit what he requires, 
1 John iii. 4 ; and a transgres- 
sor is a sinner, particularly a 
noted one, Isaiah xlviii. 8. Gal. 
ii. 18. Isa. liii. 12. 

TREES,a large kind of plants, 
some of which are useful for 
wood ; others for fruit ; and 
some for both purposes. The 
scripture mentions shittah,cedar, 
hestnut, cypress, almug or al- 
gum, oak, teil, ash, elm, box, 
514 



TRO 
fir, oil, olive, apple, pomegran- 
ate, fig, sycamore, mulberry, &c. 
trees. Every pleasant and fruit- 
ful tree grew in the garden of 
Eden; but the tree of know- 
ledge of good and evil, so call 
ed, because thereby God tried 
man's perseverance in good, or 
fall into evil; and by eating of 
its fruit, man experienced what 
it was to fall from good into 
evil, and the fruit of which, if 
eaten, sealed up man under mis- 
ery and woe ; and the tree of 
life, so called, perhaps, because 
it was a natural means of pre- 
serving man's animal vigour, 
.but chiefly, as it confirmed to 
him eternal life, upon supposi- 
tion of his perpetual obedience 
during his time of trial, Gen. ii. 
9. 17. Of what kind these two 
trees were, it is impossible for 
as to determine. Jesus Christ 
is called the tree of life, in the 
midst of the street, and on either 
side of the river of life, or be- 
tween the street and river ; and 
which yields its fruit every 
month, and the leaves of which 
are for the healing of the na- 
tions. 

TRESPASS, a failing of duty 
towards God or men ; or an of 1 
fence and injury done them, 
Matt. vi. 15. The Hebrew pa- 
ehahhh, signifies an injury done 
in a seditious and rebellious 
manner, Gen. xxxi. 36. Tres- 
pass-money, was that which 
was given by people who lived 
at a distance from the temple, 
to purchase animals for a tres- 
pass-offering, 2 Kings xii. 10. 

TRIBE, a class of peop'e, 
sprung as branches from one 
root ; and so the twelve families 
of Jacob's tweive sons, are call- 
ed tribes. The Gentiles suc- 
ceeding into the church-state, 
when the Jews were cast out, 
are called the twelve tribes of 
Israd, Ezek. xlv. 8. Matth. xix. 
28. Rev. vii. 4. xxi. 12. 

TROAS, or Troy, a city of 
Phrygia or Mysia, a little to the I 



TRU 

south-west of the mouth of the 
Hellespont, and on the shore of 
the Mediterranean Sea. To the 
north of this, in the earliest ages, 
stood the famed city of Troy. 
After it had been for some gene- 
rations the head of a noted king- 
dom, it was, after a siege often 
years, taken by the Greeks of 
Europe. This occasioned the 
dispersion of the Trojans into a 
variety of places ; and many 
nations affected to be reckoned 
their offspring. 

[n this place, Paul had the vi- 
sion in the night, of a man say- 
ing, ' Come over to Macedonia, 
and help us ;' which induced 
him to cross over into Europe, 
1 assuredly gathering that the 
Lord had called us to preach the 
gospel unto them.' 

TROGYLIUM, was a pro- 
montory, or head of land, of 
Mycale, about five miles from 
Samos, Acts xx. 15. 

TRUE; (1.) Real: so God is 
the only true God ; he alone ia 
possessed of infinite perfection. 
(2.) Not false: faithful, candid. 
God is true, and every man is 
a liar; God cannot be guilty of 
any deceit or falsehood, and 
every one that contradicts him 
will be found a liar, Rom. iii. 4. 
Joseph's brethren were true 
mm, who did not seek to de- 
ceive, Gen. xlii. 11. A true, 
heart, is one that has real grace, 
and is upright and candid, Heb. 
x. 22. (3.) Most excellent ; so 
Christ is true bread, John vi. 32; 
the true vine, John xv. 1; the 
true light, John i. 9. God's 
word is true, and the truth ; is 
quite consistent with the things 
of which it speaks, and one part 
of it with another ; nor shall any 
promise, threatening, or predic- 
tion thereof, be left unaccomr 
plished, Psal. cxix. His judg- 
ments are true, as in them he 
fulfils his word, shows his can- 
dour, and manifests his faithful- 
ness, Rev. xvi. 7. And truly^ 
of a truth, or in truth, is, (1.) 
515 



TRU 

Really, and sincerely, without 
deceit, Luke xx. 21. (2.) Veri- 
ly, without fail, Matth. xvii. 11. 
Jer. iii. 23. Truth, or verity, 
is, (1.) What is opposite to false- 
hood and error : in this sense, 
the law and gospel of God are 
the truth, Psal. cxix. 151. Gal. 
iii. 1. (2.) What is real and 
substantial, opposed to what is 
shadowy and typical : thus truth 
comes by Jesus Christ, i. e. the 
glorious realities shadowed forth 
by the types, are fulfilled in his 
incarnation, righteousness, in- 
tercession, and government, 
J6hn i. 17. (3.) Candid sinceri- 
ty, in opposition to dissimula- 
tion, John iv. 24. (4.) Faith- 
fulness, or veracity, in fulfilling 
what one is bound to, by word, 
engagement, or relation, Psalm 
xxxi. 5. God's truth, is his can- 
dour and faithfulness, Psal. lxxi. 
22 ; or his revealed will, in 
which, in a way of obedience to 
it, his people do walk, Psalm 
xxvi. 3. His works are verity 
and judgment ; are precisely a 
fulfilment of his word, and of 
his relations to men, and are all 
performed in infinite wisdom, 
Psalm cxi. 7. 

TRUMP, or Trumpet, a hol- 
low instrument of silver, brass, 
horn, or the like, for sounding 
with the breath, in order to con- 
vene assemblies and encourage 
to war, Jer. iv. 5. By the di- 
rection of God, Moses made two 
silver trumpets, wherewith the 
priests were to call together the 
Hebrews to their solemn assem- 
blies, and to direct their marches, 
or encourage them to war. 
When the whole congregation 
was required to assemble, the 
60und was to be simple and uni- 
form: when only the princes 
were required to meet with Mo- 
ses, the sound was shrill. A 
long and quivering sound direct- 
ed those on the east side of the 
tabernacle todecamp and march : 
a second sound of the same airs, 
directed those on the south side 



TUB 

to do the same : at a third sound, 
those on the west side marched '• 
and at the fourth, those on the 
north. The priests blew with 
these trumpets over the burning 
sacrifices, especially at the so- 
lemn festivals ; and on the feast 
of trumpets, they blew from 
morning to night: Numbers x. 
Lev. xxv. 9, 10. It seems, Solo- 
mon made 120 silver trumpets 
instead of these two, 2Chron. v. 
12. With trumpets of rams'- 
horns,the priests sounded around 
Jericho, till its walis fell down 
flat; and with such, it seems, 
the jubilee was proclaimed, 
Josh. vi. 4. Whatever tends to 
alarm or assemble men, is called 
a trumpet, as the noisy thunders 
that called and alarmed the He- 
brews to hear God's law at Si- 
nai, Exod. xx. 18; or the ma- 
jestic and awful means where- 
by God will raise the dead, and 
call mankind to his tribunal at 
the last day, 1 Cor. xv. 52. 1 
Thess. iv. 16; or the alarming 
declaration of God's prophets 
and ministers, warning their 
hearers of the judgments of 
God, and to flee from their sins, 
Hos. viii. 1. Isa. lviii. 1. Ezek. 
xxx iii. 3. 6. 

TRUST ; (1.) To be persuad- 
ed, to hope well, Heb. xiii. 18. 
Luke xxiv. 21. (2.) To depend 
on without fear, Isaiah xxvi. 3. 
To trust in the Lord, is firmly 
to expect, that he will do for us 
in time and eternity, whatever 
corresponds to his word, his per- 
fections, and relations, and so in 
quietness wait for the event, Ps. 
Ixii. 8. 

TRYPHENA and TRYPHO- 
SA, were two noted Christian 
women at Rome, who, by their 
private instructions and gene- 
rosity, mightily contributed to 
the success of the gospel there, 
Rom. xvi. 12. 

TUBAL; (1.) The fifth son 
of Japheth, Gen. x. Josephus 
makes him the father of the Ibe- 
rians on the east of the Black 
516 



TCTT 
Sea. Bochart make3 him the 
father of the Tibarenes on the 
north of Armenia the Less; and 
I see nothing to hinder his being 
the parent of both these tribes, 
as their situation is not very dis- 
tant. Others, I think without 
ground, make him the father of 
the Italians, or Spaniards. (2.) 
Tubal-cain, a son of Lamech 
the bigamist, and the inventor 
of smith-work and foundery ; 
and, it is believed, the Vulcan 
or god of smiths of the Heathen, 
Gen. iv. 22. 

To TURN. To turn to the 
Lord, is to leave off a sinful 
state or course, in coming to 
him, as our Saviour, portion, 
and governor, and walking in 
his w r ay, 1 Thess. i. 9. 

TURTLE-DOVE, a well- 
known bird often referred to in 
scripture, Gen. xv. 9. Lev. i. 14. 
v. 7. 11. xii. 6. 8. xiv. 22. xv. 
14. 29. Numb. vi. 10. Psalm 
Ixxiv. 19. Cant. ii. 12. Jer. viii. 
7. In the last mentioned text, 
the turtle is spoken of as a mi- 
gratory bird, in which it differs 
from the rest of its family. Tur- 
tle-doves and pigeons were the 
only birds allowed to be used in 
sacrifice, according to the Le- 
vitical law ; and in some solemn 
services, were expressly ap- 
pointed. 

In Psalm Ixxiv. 19. we read, 
' O deliver not the soul of thy 
turtle-dove unto the multitude 
of the wicked ;' but in all the 
ancient versions, the reading is, 
4 deliver not the soul of him 
that confesseth thee,' &cc. And 
this variety can easily be ac- 
counted for, only by supposing, 
that, in the Hebrew, one letter 
has been substituted for another 
very much like it. There is, 
therefore, a strong probability 
that the LXX. and the Syriac, 
nave preserved the true reading 
in this place. 

TUTOR, one that takes care 

of a child and his estate, while 

he is under age. The ceremu- 

44 



TYP 

nial law was a tutor and gover- 
nor ; it ruled over the church in 
her infant state, Gal. iv. 3. 

TWELVE. In allusion to 
the 12 tribes of Israel, 12 loaves 
of shew-bread were on the table 
of the sanctuary; Christ chose 
12 apostles, whose doctrines are 
called 12 stars in the gospel- 
church ; twelve thousand are 
said to be sealed of every tribe ; 
the New Jerusalem has 12 gates 
and 12 foundations ; and the 
tree of life bears 12 manner of 
fruits, Matth. x. Rev. xii. 1. 
vii. xxi. xxii.2. 

TYCH1CHUS, a noted evan- 
gelist, who attended Paul with 
the collection for the poor saints 
at Jerusalem, Acts xx. 4. Paul 
afterwards sent him to Ephesus 
and Colosse, with his epistles to 
these churches, Eph. vi. 21. 22. 
2 Tim. iv. 12. Col. iv. 7, 8. ' He 
appears to have been the suc- 
cessor of Titus, in ordering the 
affairs of the church of Crete, 
Tit. hi. 12. 

TYPE, properly signifies a 
person or thing, that, by the des>- 
tination of God, prefigured some- 
thing relative to Jesus Christ 
and his church. Some consider 
almost every person and event 
as typical. The following list 
is from the writing of one 
who favours this opinion, and 
whose imagination must have 
been uncommonly active. There 
were typical persons, as Adam, 
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Melchize- 
dek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 
Job, Moses, Aaron, Bezaleel, 
Aholiah,Phinehas, Joshua, Gid- 
eon, Samson, Boaz, Samuel, 
David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, 
Jonah, Eliakim, Daniel, Zerub- 
habel, Joshua the high-priest, 
and John Baptist; typical clas- 
ses of persons, as Israelites; 
their first-born males ; unmar- 
ried brothers of him that left 
his widow childless; kinsman- 
redeemers ; voluntary bond- 
servants ; sojourning stran- 
gers: Nazarites ; Nethinims ; 
517 



TYP 

Levites ; priests : high-priests ; 
holy prophets ; and kings of Da- 
vid's family. Occasional typi- 
cal things, as Noah's ark; Ja- 
cob's ladder ; Moses's burning- 
bush ; the cloudy pillar ; the 
sweetened water of Marah; the 
manna ; the water-yielding 
rocks ; the well of Beer ; the 
cluster of grapes from Eshcol ; 
Aaron's budding rod ; the bra- 
zen serpent; the healing pool 
of Beihesda ; the waters of Shi- 
loah; the deliverance of the He- 
brews from Egypt; their pas- 
sage through the Red Sea; their 
travels in the wilderness ; their 
entrance into Canaan ; their 
wars with the Heathens ; and 
their return from Babylon. The 
miscellaneous typical institu- \ 
tutiovs, were circumcision ; ; 
sanctification of fruit-trees; of- j 
fering no base things to God ; 
scourging of bond- women for 
sin; protection of fugitive ser- { 
vants ; exclusion from the con- | 
gregation of the Lord ; wearing 
proper apparel ; blue fringes ; j 
cutting of no flesh for the dead ; \ 
abstinence from blood and fat, 
and things torn, or dying of : 
themselves; reaping of fields;; 
avoiding of mixed garments, 
sowing of mingled seed, of j 
ploughing with oxen and asses ; 
tenderness to beasts ; not muz- ! 
zling the trending ox ; freedom ! 
from the service of war. The 
typical places, were Canaan ; ; 
the cities of refuge ; Jerusalem ; 
Zion ; the tabernacle, and the 
temple. The typical utensils, j 
were, the ark of the covenant; 
the pot of manna ; the table of 
shew-bread, with its loaves ; the 
golden altar, with its incense; 
the golden candlestick, with its 
oil ; the silver trumpets ; the 
brazen lavers and sea ; the bra • 
zen altar ; ihe altars of stone or 
earth; and the altar of Ebal. 
The typical offerings were, the '' 
bumt-ofFering ; the sin-offering ; 
the trespass-offering ; the peace- j 
offering ; the meat-offering ; the I 



TYR 

drink-offering ; the holy anoint- 
ing oil ; the soul ransom-money; 
the tithes, the first-fruits; the 
things voluntarily devoted ; A- 
braham's oblation of birds and 
cattle ; his offering of the ram 
caught in the thicket; Moses's 
oblation for ratifying the cove- 
nant between God and Israel. 
The typical seasons were, the 
time of the daily sacrifices ; the 
weekly sabbath in its ceremonial 
use; the feast of new moons; 
1he passover, and feast of un- 
leavened bread ; Pentecost; the 
j feast of trumpets ; the fast of 
general expiation ; the feast of 
tabernacles; the year of release, 
and the Jubilee. The typical 
purifications were, purgation 
from the defilement of holy 
things ; and from the defilement 
of touching or eating of beasts ; 
purgation from child-birth, of 
leprosy, and of infection by dead 
corpses ; the trial of suspected 
adultery ; and the expiation of 
uncertain murder. To him that 
discerns the evangelical signifi- 
cation of these various types, 
the narratives of the Old Testa- 
ment are not a dry history, but 
appear replenished with the 
most useful instructions con- 
cerning our Saviour, and his 
bodv the church. . f 

TYRE, a sea- port of Phttni> 
cia, and one of the most famous 
cities of the ancient world, for 
commerce, wealth, and popula- 
tion. At first, its site was on 
the continent, but when the city I 
was besieged by Nebuchadnez- 
zar, the inhabitants removed all 
their valuable effects and trea- 
sures into an island not far off, 
where they built the new city of 
Tyre. According to Pliny, the 
ruins of old Tyre covered a 
space of 19 miles in compass: 
while insular Tyre was no more 
than three miles in circuit. For 
a long time Tyre had no rival ; 
her navies, her commerce, and 
her colonies, visited every known 
region of the world. Josephus 
518 



TYR 

informs us that this city was 
built 240 years before the erec 
tion of Solomon's temple, that is 
1250 years B. C. but it must have 
been much older, for we find it 
mentioned in Josh. xix. 20. as 
* a strong city;' so that it mutt 
have been built at least 1300 B. 
C. The wealth and greatness 
of Tyre was doubtless owin L 
very much to its becoming the 
emporium of the commerce of 
the east ; for as soon as Alex- 
andria was built, and this com- 
merce directed into a new chan- 
nel, Tyre began to decline. — 
The destruction of the old city 
by Nebuchadnezzar took place 
573 years B. C. Some idea 
of the strength of the city may 
be obtained from the fact, that 
this potent prince besieged it 13 
years before he took it. When 
he found the place deserted and 
its wealth carried off to an in- 
accessible place, his rage was 
so violent, that he gave orders 
to slay every person old or young 
male or female, that could be 
found, and to raze every house 
to the foundation. The disap- 
pointment of Nebuchadnezzar 
upon the capture of Tyre is re- 
ferred to by Ezekiel, who pre- 
dicts that as a compensation for 
his long service before Tyre, E- 
gypt should be given to him, 
Ezek. xxix. 18, 19. It was also 
foretold that Tyre should re- 
main desolate for 70 years, ' And 
it shall come to pass, that Tyre 
fhall be forgotten 70 years, ac- 
cording to the days of one king: 
after the end of 70 years, Tyre 
Bhall sing as a harlot.' The 
period here designated seems to 
have been that of the continu- 
ance of the Babylonian empire: 
for when Cyrus conquered Ba- 
bylon he encouraged the rebuild- 
ing of Tyre, and it soon became 
as rich and populous as ever, 
and continued to flourish for 200 
years, when the new city was 
taken by Alexander the Great, 
but not until he had" made a 



TYR 

causeway from the continent to 
the island on which the city 
stood. Seven months were spent 
in reducing this place; after 
which it began to flourish again, 
until its prosperity was arrested 
by the budding of Alexandria, 
by which the sources of its 
wealth were dried up. In the 
following ages Tyre was often 
taken and devastated by the 
belligerent powers, until it fell 
under the power of the Romans 
by the extension of their empire 
to the east. It was among the 
earliest conquests of the Sara- 
cens in the seventh century It 
was conquered by the crusaders, 
and fell under the power of the 
Mamelukes, by whom it wa3 
razed to the ground to prevent it 
becoming a shelter to the Chris- 
tians. Finally, Tyre came into 
the possession of the Turks, with 
whom it remains at present.— 
Few cities in the world have 
been the subject of more re- 
markable prophecies thin Tyre 
Isaiah predicts her fall 125 year." 
before the event, Isaiah xxiii. 
Ezekiel designates the instru 
ment by whom the judgments 
of heaven would be inflicted, 
Ezek. xxvi. xxviii. Joel, Amos, 
and Zechariah prophesy of the 
desolation of this city, and men- 
tion, as the cause, her abuse of 
wealth and cruel treatment of 
God's people. The prophecies 
of the perpetual desolation of 
this place are still in a course of 
fulfilment, which is very remark- 
able. It is said, ' I will scrape 
her dust from her, and make her 
like the top of a rock: it shall 
be for the spreading of nets in 
the midst of the sea.' Now, 
Huetius relates, that a certain 
traveller coming to the place, 
beheld the bare rocks and stones, 
made clear by the waves and 
wind, and now only useful for 
the drying of fishermen's nets, 
many of which happened at that 
time to be spread thereon. — 
Maundrell who was there A. D. 
519 



TYR 

1697, says, ' Its present inhabit- 
ants are only a few wretches, 
harbouring themselves in the 
vaults, and subsisting by fish- 
ing,' who seem preserved in this 
place by providence, as a visible 
argument how God has fulfilled 
his word respecting Tyre, viz. 
4 That it should be as the top of 
a rock, a place for fishermen to 
dry their nets on.' About 80 
years after this, Mr. Bruce visit- 
ed Tyre, who says, ' Passing by 
Tyre for curiosity, I came to 
be a mournful witness of the 
truth of that prophecy that Tyre 
the queen of nations should be a 
rock for fishers to dry their nets 
on.' Since that time, however, 
the place has partially revived. 
A. D. 1816, Mr. Buckingham 
was there and found, as he cal- 
culated, five or six thousand in- 
habitants ; but Mr. Jowett, on 
the authority of the Greek Arch- 
bishop, reduces the number to 
four thousand, of whom twelve 
hundred are Greek Catholics, 
the rest are Maronites, Greeks, 
Turks, &c. This traveller ob- 
served many beautiful columns 
scattered along the shore, or 
standing in fragments half-bu- 
ried in the sand, that has been 
accumulating for ages. Mr. Jo- 



TYR 

lifF states, { That now scarcely 
any traces exist of this once 
famous city.' There are a few 
rows of cabins, and some build- 
ings occupied by the officers of 
government of rather a better 
description; and these compose 
the whole of the town. The 
present name of the place is 
Ttour, which is the old He- 
brew or Phoenician name renew- 
ed. The ruins of the old city 
have entirely disappeared ; so 
that like Nineveh and Babylon, 
travellers cannot agree where it 
stood. All appearance of the 
island on which the new town 
was built, has vanished. The 
fact is, that ever since Alexan- 
der united it to the continent it 
has lost its insular character, 
and gradually the channel which 
separated it from the main land 
has been filling up with sand, 
until now the ruins of new Tyre 
appear to be on the continent 
In Ezek. xxvii. we have an ac- 
count of the various articles in 
which Tyre traded in the time 
of her glory; which is a very 
curious and a very ancient com- 
mercial document; and gives us 
also some idea of the arts and 
productions of many countries 
in remote antiquity. 



VAI 

\TAIL, a covering. To mark 
their modesty, and their re- 
verent subjection to their hus- 
bands, women, especially in the 
east, were wont to wear vails on 
their faces, Gen. xxiv. (35. Isa. 
lii. 23. Possibly it is with such 
that Paul admonishes the Co- 
rinthian women to be covered in 
their public worshipping assem- 
blies, 1 Cor. xi 3 — 10. Moses 
covered his face with a vail, that 
the Hebrews mi;;ht not be af- 
frighted, or their eyes dazzled 
with the brightness thereof, after 
he came down last from Sinai, 
Exod. xxxiv. 33. Ir signified the 
obscurity of his ceremonial laws. 



VAI 

A vail was spread over the face 
of persons condemned to death, 
Esther vii. 8. In the tabernacle 
and temple, a fine and strong 
hanging or vail, separated be- 
tween the holy and the most 
holy apartment. The renting of 
this vail at the death of our Sa- 
viour, imported the abolishment 
of the ceremonial law, which 
separated between Jews and 
Gentiles; the opening of a free 
passage into the heavenly state, 
and the finishing of Jesus' de- 
based appearances, which, for a 
while, concealed his glory from 
men, Matth. xxvii. 51. Eph. iL 
14. Heb. vi. 19. x. 20. The vail 
520 



VES 

of the ceremonial law is done 
away in Christ, as in him are 
fulfilled the whole rites thereof, 
2 Cor. iii. 13, 14. Bat this vail 
still remains on the Jewish na 
tion as they cleave to it, and so 
blind and harden themselves 
against Christ; hut when that 
nation, and their blinded hearts, 
are turned to the Lord, they 
shall relinquish these abolished 
ceremonies, and embrace the 
gospel, 2 Cor. iii. 15, 16. 

VASHTI. See Jhasuerus. 

VERMILLION, a kind of 
red earth, used by painters for 
garnishing chambers, Jer. xxii, 
14; or colouring images, Ezek 
xxiii. 14. But perhaps the He- 
brew Shashar was the cinnabar 
of the Arabians, which is also a 
red paint: it is found in silver 
mines in the form of sand, and 
was anciently much used as a 
paint. The colour produced was 
a beautiful red. 

VESSEL, a dish or any 
utensil in a house, 2 Tim. ii. 20. 
The vessels of the Lord's taber- 
nacle or temple were holy; but 
other vessels were called com 
mon. Men are vessels, and ves- 
sels of mercy and wrath, as they 
are appointed to be for ever 
filled with the effects of God's 
mercy, or just wrath, Rom. ix. 
22,23. 

VESTMENTS, robes for the 
idolatrous priests ; and the ves- 
try was the place where they 
lay, and were put off and on, 2 
Kings x. 22. The Hebrews wore 
a coat and a cloak: the former 
was their under, and the latter 
their upper garment. These two 
made what is called in Scrip- 
ture, ' a change of raiment,' 2 
Kings v. 15. 22. The coat was 
commonly of linen, and the cloak 
of woollen stuff. These last were 
commonly made of a single 
piece, in which there was a hole 
by which it passed over the 
bead. The fashion of clothes 
never changed among the He- 
brews. White and purple were 



y2 



44* 



VIN 

the colours most in esteem, EccI 
ix. 8. 

One of the remarkable ana 
miraculous circumstances at 
tending the sojourning of the 
children of Israel in the wilder- 
ness was, that their raiment 
waxed not old upon them, Deui. 
viii. 4. Some, however, interpret 
this to mean no more, than that 
they were well provided for in 
the wilderness ; so that they were 
not under the necessity of wear- 
ing old or ragged clothes; but 
certainly the former is the ob- 
vious meaning of the text. 

The law required the Israel- 
ites to wear tassels, tufts, or 
fringes on their outer garments . 
which custom our Saviour fol- 
lowed as appears from Matt. ix. 
20. These the Pharisees made 
large and elegant. 

A vesture is chiefly an upper 
robe, Deut. xxii. 12. Christ's 
having his vesture dipped in 
blood, and inscribed with this 
name, King of kings, and Lord 
of lords, imports, that, in con- 
quering and destroying his ene- 
mies, he mightily shows his 
sovereign power and dominion, 
Rev. xix. 13. 16. 

VILLAGE, a small town 
without walls, Ezekiel xxxviii. 
11. 

VINE, a well-known tree or 
shrub, producing grapes of vari- 
ous kinds, from which wine is 
made. Vines have always flour- 
ished in the land of Canaan: 
the sides of the mountains were 
formerly cultivated by plant- 

_ vineyards on them. When 
the spies sent by Moses passed 
through the land, they brought 
back from the valley of Esbcol 

cluster of grapes so large that 
it was carried on a staff by two 
men; but perhaps this mode of 
conveyance was not on account 
of its weight, but to prevent its 
being bruised. 

Christ is likened to a vine, is 
called the true vine. Being 
planted and dressed by his Fa- 



521 



VIN 

ther, how he spread and pro- 
duced the fruits of righteousness! 
and being trodden in the wine- 
press of his Father's wrath, what 
sweet, nourishing, new, ever 
fresh, best, or on the lees, and 
mingled wine of complete righ- 
teousness, gospel-promises, in- 
fluences, and everlasting bless- 
ings, are produced for weak, 
diseased, and sorrowful men ! 
John xv. 1. Prov. ix. 2. 5. Is a. 
xxv. 6. lv. 1. Matth. xxvi. 29. 
The church is a. vineyard; God, 
the proprietor, first planted the 
Jews therein as his vine, and 
gave them his tabernacle or tem- 
ple as their wine-press, and his 
oracles, ordinances, and bless- 
ings. He let out this vineyard 
to their keepers, and sent the 
prophets, and at last his Son, to 
demand their good fruits; but 
these being abused and mal- 
treated, he gave their church- 
state to the Gentiles, and at dif- 
ferent seasons of time and life ' pared to vipers, Job xx. 16. Isa, 
cails men to labour in it, Isa. v. i xxx. 6. lix. 5. The text last re- 
1 — 7. Matt. xxi. 28—45. Luke | ferred to is difficult, ' They hatch 
xiii. 6, 7. Matt. xx. 1 — 16. It is cockatrice eggs, and weave the 
a vineyard of red wine, kept spider's web; he that eateth 
and watered night and day by their eggs dieth, and that which 
the Lord; amid bloody persecu- is crushed breaketh out into a 
lions and sore troubles, God by viper.' Now it is a well-known 
his preserving and actuating in- fact, that the eggs of one animal 
fluenccs, causes his people to never produce a different species; 
bring forth the best of fruits to | and it is also known, that the 
his glory, and their own good, ' viper is not oviparous, but vi-» 
Isa. xxvi i. 2, 3. ,viparous. To remove this dou- 

VINEGAR; an acid liquor, : ble difficulty, let it be observed, 
commonly produced by the fer- that the word cockatrice, in this 



VIR 

VIOL, a musical instrument 
Isa. v. 12. 

VIPER; a kind of serpents, 
which are scarce ever above an 
ell long and an inch thick, and 
whose head is flat, and they 
have a snout like that of a pig. 
Whereas other serpents have 
two rows of teeth, vipers have 
but one, consisting of sixteen 
small ones in each jaw; and at 
least the male vipers have two 
large teeth, which being raised 
when they are angry, their bite 
distils poison into the wound 
Their body is either of an ash 
or yellow colour, speckled with 
longish brown spots, and the 
scales under their belly are of 
the colour of well-polished steel. 
There is not in the animal 
kingdom a more venomous crea- 
ture than the viper. Its deadly 
poison is often referred to in 
Scripture, and men of the most 
malignant dispositions are com- 



mentation of the juice of grapes, 
a )(>les, &c. Matthew xxvii. 48. 
Ruth ii. 14. Num. vi. 3. Psal. 
lix. 21. Prov. x. 26. xxv. 20. 

VINTAGE; the time of 
gathering grapes, and treading 
them in the wine-press. It was 
a season of great joy, and fre- 
quentlyaccompanied with shout- 
ing, Isa. xri. 10. Jer. xlviii. 33. 
The treading of the wine-press 
is one of the strongest imnges of 
divine vengeance against sin- 
ners, Isa. lxiii. 2. Rev. xiv. 20. 
xix. 15. Lam. i. 15. 



place, must signify the viper; 
and although it is true, that 
vipers bring forth their young 
alive, yet they are inclosed in 
eggs, in the body of the animal; 
and it might readily occur, that 
one of these eggs should be cast 
forth, and when crushed, should 
produce a viper. 

VIRTUE; (1.) Efficacy for 
producing an effect, Mark v. 30, 
(2.) A wonderful work, produced 
by distinguished power, Matth, 
vii. 22. (3.) Holiness of heart 
and practice. (4.) Christian cou- 
522 



UNI 

rage and boldness, 2 Peter i. 
3.5. 

To be Virtuous, is to be given 
to true godliness in heart, speech, 
and behaviour, Ruth iii. 11. 

ULAI, or EuIcbus, a river of 
Persia, near to the city of Shu- 
shan, on whose bank Daniel had 
his vision of the ram and he- 
goat, Dan. viii. 2. 16. Probably 
it is the same with the Ckoaspes 
of die ancients, and the Caron 
of the moderns. 

UNCLEAN. Persons or things 
are unclean, (1.) Naturally; so 
dunghills, and hateful animals, 
are unclean, Rev. xviii. 2. (2.) 
Ceremonially; such persons as 
touched dead corpses, mourned 
for the dead, and a great num- 
ber of beasts were thus unclean, 
Numb. xix. Lev. xi — xvi. (3.) 
Federally; thus the children of 
Heathens are unclean; are not 
in covenant with God, nor en- 
titled to receive the seal of bap- 
tism, 1 Cor. vii. 14. (4.) In scru- 
pulous opinion ; so some meats 
were reckoned unclean by the 
primitive Christians, Rom. xiv. 
14. (.5.) Morally, being polluted 
with sin ; so devils are unclean 
spirits, Matt. x. 1. 

To UNDERGIRD a ship, is 
to bind her round with ropes, 
that she may not be torn asun- 
der, Acts xxvii. 17. 

UNDERSETTERS, a kind 
of supporters or feet at the cor- 
ners of the sacred lavers, which, \ 
together with the wheels, held ' 
them up from the ground, 1 1 
Kinss vii. 30. 34. 

UNICORN. This word signi- , 
fies, ' the animal with one horn,' , 
but the Hebrew word reem, of ; 
which it is a translation, has no 
relation to one, or more horns. J 
The LXX. however, understood 
it to signify a one-horned ani- 
mal ; and it is an ancient opi- ! 
nion, that there existed some- 
where, a fierce and terrible beast 
with a single horn, growing 
directly from his forehead. Most 
critics, however, have supposed 



URI 

that the rhinoceros was intended* 
some of which have one, and 
others two horns, projecting from 
their nose; and the ferocity and 
strength of this animal cor- 
responds with the scriptural de- 
scription of the unicorn. Others, 
however, are confident, that the 
buffalo or wild ox, is the beast 
referred to; and some have con- 
jectured that it was a species of 
wild-goat, or deer. From the 
accounts of late travellers to 
South Africa, it is rendered pro- 
bable, that there exists in that 
region a large animal with a 
single horn in front, different 
from any one hitherto describ- 
ed by naturalists. Mr. Barrow 
speaks of having seen the head 
and horn of such an animal, and 
Mr. Campbell brought a horn to 
England, which was supposed 
to belong to such an animal; so 
that the unicorn, agreeably to 
the ancient opinion, may yet be 
discovered, as was the came- 
leopard, after naturalists had de- 
termined that no such animal 
existed, except in the imagina- 
tion, Num. xxiii. 22. Deut. xxxiii. 
17. Job xxxix. 9, 10. Psal. xxii. 
21. xxix.6. xc. 10. Isa.xxxiv. 7. 

UR, an ancient city of Chal- 
dea or Mesopotamia, where Te- 
rah and Abraham dwelt. Some 
think it was the same as Orchoe 
in proper Chaldea ; but I rather 
suppose it wasUra, which stood 
in Eastern Mesopotamia, be- 
tween the city Nisibis and the 
river Tigris. About A. D. 360, 
as Jovinian retreated this way, 
after the mad invasion of Persia 
by Julian his predecessor, he 
found a Persian fort here, Acts 
vii. 2. Gen. xi. 28. 

URIAH, URIJAH,URIAS; 
(1.) A Hittite, one of David's 
worthies, and husband of Bath- 
sheba. (2.) The idolatrous high- 
priest, who at Ahaz's direction, 
formed an altar like to another 
idolatrous one at Damascus, and 
offered sacrifices thereon,instead 
of the altar of the Lord, 2 Kings 
523 



URI 
xvi. 10,11, 12. (3.) A faithful 
prophet, who warned the Jews 
of their approaching ruin, and 
admonished them to repent of 
their evil ways ; but Jehoiakim 
hearing thereof, resolved to put 
him to death. 

URIM and THUMMIM, sig- 
nify lights and perfections, and 
are mentioned as in the high- 
priesfs breast-plate: but what 
they were we cannot determine. 
Some think they were two pre- 
cious stones added to the other 
twelve, by the extraordinary lus- 
tre of which, God marked his 
approbation of a design, and by 
their dimness, his disallowance 
of it: others think, these two 
words were written on a preci- 
ous stone, or plate of gold, fixed 
in the breast-plate ; others will 
have the name Jehovah inscrib- 
ed on a plate of gold, and there- 
in fixed; others think, the let- 
ters of the names of the tribes, 
were the Urim and Thummim ; 
and that the letters by stand- 
ing out, or by an extraordina- 
ry illumination, marked such 
words as contained the answer 
of God to him who consulted 
this oracle. Le Clerc will have 
them to be the names of two 
precious stones, set in a golden 
collar, and coming down to his 
breast, as the magistrates of E- 
gypt wore a golden chain, at the 
end of which hung the figures 
of justice and truth, engraven on 
precious stones. Weems thinks 
they were some ornament form- 
ed by God himself, and given to 
Moses. Hottinger thinks they 
might mean no more, but that 
Moses was to choose the most 
shining and perfect ptones of 
the various kinds to be put in- 
to the breast-plate. Prideaux 
thinks the words chiefly denote 
the clearness of the oracles dic- 
tated to the high-priest, though 
perhaps the lustre of the stones 
in his breast-plate might repre- 
sent this clearness. When this 
oracle of Urim and Thummim 



URI 

was to be consulted, it is said 
the high-priest put on his golden 
vestment, and in ordinary casea 
went into the sanctuary, and 
stood with his face to the holy 
of holies, and the consulter stood 
as near him as the law allowed : 
but how the answer was given, 
whether by an articulate voice 
from the mercy-seat, or by the 
outstanding or lustre of the let- 
ters in the breast-plate, we know 
not. This oracle was never con- 
sulted in matters of faith; as in 
these the Jews had the written 
law for their rule: nor was it 
consulted in matters of small 
moment; and it is even said, I 
suppose without ground, that 
none but sovereign judges, kings, 
and generals, consulted it. It is 
certain David consulted the Lord 
in this manner before he came 
to the throne. While Moses 
lived there was no occasion to 
consult this oracle, as the Lord 
spake to him face to face. After 
his death, it was consulted till 
the age of the temple and pro- 
phets, the latter of which seem 
to have supplied its room ; for 
we read not of one single in- 
stance of the then consulting it 
Nor did Josiah, when terrified 
with the threatenings of God, 
consult it, but Huldah the pro- 
phetess, in order to know the 
mind of God, 2 Kings xxii. 14. 
Josephus will have the stones of 
the Urim and Thummim to have 
retained their lustre till about 
Ji. M. 3890 ; but it is certain the 
oracle was wanting some ages 
before, in the days of Ezra and 
Nehemiah, Ezraii. 63. Neh. vii. 
65. Nor do I know of the least 
ground to believe that it existed 
under the second temple. There 
is good reason for believing that 
the urim and thummim were 
nothing distinct from the pre- 
cious stones of the breast-plate ; 
for why should every part of the 
high- priests' dress be minutely 
described, and this important 
part omitted ? This opinion will 
524 



VUL 

be confirmed by observing, that 
in Exodus xxxix. 8—21, where 
the rows of precious stones are 
mentioned, nothing is said of 
urim and thummim : but in Lev. 
viii. 8. the urim and thummim 
are distinctly named, but the 
rows of stones are not. From 
which they seem to have been 
considered one and the same. 
The same thing may be inferred 
from Exod. xxviii. 20. 

USURY, the gain taken for 
the loan of money or wares. 
The law of nature forbids not 
the receiving of moderate inter- 
est for the loan of money, any 
more than the taking of rent for 
the lease of fields or houses. If 
another trade on my stock, rea- 
son says, I may receive part of 
the gain. The interest, however, 
ought to be moderate. As the 
Jews had very little concern in 
trade, and so only borrowed in 
case of necessity, and as their 
system was calculated to estab- 
lish every man's inheritance to 
his own family, they were allow- 
ed to lend money upon usury to 
strangers, Deut. xxiii. 20; but 
were prohibited to take usury 
from their brethren of Israel, at 
least if they were poor, Exodus 
xxii. 25. Lev. xxv. 35 — 37. 

VULGATE, the name given 
to the Latin vers ; on of the Bi- 
ble, which has been long in use, 
and was declared authentic by 
the Council of Trent. Latin 
translations were made at an 
early period of the Christian era, 
and seem to have been numer- 
ous ; but one called the Italic 
prevailed. But this being found 
defective, Jerome, who flourish- 
ed at the beginning of the fifth 
century, undertook to give a 
new translation of the whole Bi- 
ble, from the original languages. 
At first, he attempted to correct 
the old Latin versions, but find- 
ing this impracticable, he yielded 
to the solicitations of many, and 
began an entirely new version. 
The translation was begun about 



UZ 

A. D. 389, and when a book 
was finished, it was immediately 
published. The books of the 
Old Testament were not taken 
in regular order, but commenc- 
ing with the books of Samuel 
and Kings, he concluded with 
the Pentateuch, A. D. 405. Je- 
rome also gave a new transla- 
tion of the New Testament from 
the original Greek. But in this, 
the learned translator found it 
expedient to depart as little as 
possible from the old version: 
and even this did not prevent a 
loud clamour against his work. 
Rufin, his constant rival, set 
himself in direct hostility to the 
new version ; and even Augus- 
tine was at first but little favour- 
able to the design ; though after 
wards he became much attached 
to the new version. This trans- 
lation, in the lapse of time, un- 
derwent many changes and cor- 
ruptions. 

VULTURE, a large fowl re- 
sembling the eagle, which feeds 
on carrion in preference to sound 
flesh. There are many kinds of 
vultures, but they are easily dis- 
tinguished from other species of 
fowls, by the nakedness of their 
heads, Lev. xi. 13. Isa. xxxiv. 
15. 

UZ. There are three persons 
of this name mentioned in the 
scriptures, viz. the son of Aram, 
the son of Nahor, and the son 
of Seir, the Horite. 

Commentators are not agreed 
as to the situation of the coun- 
try called Uz. Bochart, Span- 
heim, Calmet, and Wells, place 
it in Arabia Deserta; Michaelis, 
in the valley of Damascus, which 
city was, in fact, built by Uz, 
the grandson of Shem ; but bi- 
shop Lowth, archbishop Magee, 
Dr. Hales, Dr. Good, and Mr 
T. H. Home, with a large num- 
ber of others, consider Idumea 
to be the country of Job. In 
confirmation of this opinion, re- 
ference is made to Sam. iv. 21; 
where Uz is expressly said to be 
525 



uzz 

in Edom, to Jer. xlix. 7, 8. 20. 
Ezefc. xxv. 13. Amos i. 11, 12. 
Obad. 8, 9. Gen. x. 23. xxxvi. 
28. But the frequent and fami- 
liar reference in the book of Job 
to snow and ice, favours a more 
northern situation; as also the 
mention of the river Jordan. 
The country immediately north- 
east of Judea, near to the foot 
of Libanus, or Anti-Libanus, 
and to the sources of the Jor- 
dan, seems to unite most of the 
characteristics of the country of 
Job. Job vi. 16. ix. 30. xxiv. 
19. xxxvii. 6. xxxviii. 22. 29. 
xl 23. 

UZAL, the sixth son of Jok 
tan, whose posterity appear to 
have settled in the south of Ara- 
bia Felix. Here was anciently 
the sea-port Ocila or Ocelis, and 
Ansal or Ausar, in the kingdom 
of the Gebanites, whose myrrh 
was very much celebrated. Some 
Jewish writers call the capital 
city of Yaman, or Arabia Felix, 
by the name ofUzal, Genesis x. 
27. 

UZZ AH and AHIO, the sons 
of Abinadab, in whose house 
the ark of God had long resided, 



UZZ 

at David's orders, conducted it, 
upon a new cart, from Kirjath- 
jearim to Jerusalem. When 
the oxen stuck in the mire, or 
stumbled as they passed the 
threshing-floor of Nachon or 
Chidon, Uzzah,thoughno priest, 
and perhaps not a Levite, pre- 
sumed to touch the ark, in order 
to hold it on the cart. Offended 
that the ark was not carried on 
the shoulders of the Levites ac- 
cording to order, and offended 
with Uzzah's presuming to touch 
it, and perhaps also for his ad- 
vising to convey it on a cart, 
God struck him dead on the 
spot, to the no small grief and 
terror of King David, 2 Samuel 
vi. Whether it was in a gar- 
den which belonged to this Uz- 
zah, that King Amon was bu- 
ried, we know not, 2 Kings xxi. 
26. 

UZZENSHERAH, a city of 
the Ephraimites, and at no great 
distance from Bethoron, was 
built by Serah, the daughter or 
grand-daughter of Beriah, 1 Chr. 
vii. 22—24. 

UZZIAH, or Ozias. See 
Jlzariah the son of Jotham. 



WAL 

WAFER, a thin cake of fine 
flour, anointed or baken 
with oil. Such wafers were used 
in the consecration-offerings of 
the priests, Exodus xxix. 2. 35; 
and in meat-offerings, Lev. ii. 4 ; 
and in thank-offerings, Lev. vii. 
12 ; and in the Nazarite's offer- 
ings, Numb. vi. 15. 

WAIL, to mourn, by crying, 
howling, wringing the hands, or 
beating the breast, thighs, or the 
like, Ezek. xxxii. 18. 

WALK. (1.) Voluntarily 
to move from one place to ano- 
ther, Exodus xxi. 19. (2.) To 
act and behave in the tenor of 
conversation ; and when thus 
metaphorically taken, walking 
denotes deliberation, pleasure, 
perseverance, and progress. 



WAL 

God's or Christ's walking in his 
church, or among his people, im- 
ports bis gracious presence with 
them, his constant delight in 
them, his observation of them, 
and readiness to do them good, 
Lev. xxvi. 12. Rev. ii. 1. His 
walking on the waves of the 
sea, and the wings of the wind, 
denotes the uncontrollable so- 
vereignty, speed, composure, 
and mysterious nature of his 
providential conduct, Job ix. 8. 
Psal. xviii. 10. His walking in 
the circuit of heaven, imports 
the immensity of his presence, 
Jobxxii.14; but his walking con- 
trary to men, imports his thwart- 
ing their purposes and attempts, 
and his executing his judgments 
upon them, Lev. xxvi. 24. 
526 



WAT 

WARD; Q.) A prison, Gen. 
jd. 3 — 7. (2.) Watch, garrison, 
Neh. xii. 25. 1 Chron. xii. 29. 
(3.) A class of persons that serve 
together at a time as soldiers on 
a watch : so the classes of the 
priests and singers are called 
wards, Neh. xiii. 30. 1 Chron. 
xxv. 8. 

WARDROBE, a place for 
laying up the royal and other 
garments belonging to the court 
or for laying up the priest's 
robes who were officiating in 
the temple, 2 Kings xxii. 14. 

WASHING was much used 
among the eastern nations. As 
they often walked barefoot, or 
only with sandals, they used, 
for cleanliness and refreshment, 
to wash their feet when they 
came from a journey, Gen. xviii. 
4. xxiv, 32. xliii. 24. Ordina- 
rily, servants washed the feet of 
those of the family : only, daugh- 
ters often washed the feet of 
their parents. To wash the 
saints'' feet, therefore, implied 
much humility or kindness, 1 
Tim. v. 10. What love and 
condescension it then showed in 
our Saviour, to wash his disci- 
ples' feet! John xiii. 1—8. 

A WATCH is, (1.) A guard 
of persons set to observe the mo- 
tions of an enemy, or to keep 
order in a city, or to keep a trust, 
Jer. li. 12. Neh. iv. 9. Matthew 
xxviii. 11. And they who keep 
watch in a city or camp, are 
called watchmen, 2 Kings ix. 18. 
Ministers,and perhaps also rulers 
in the state, are called watch- 
men : in the night of time, min- 
isters do, or ought to watch over 
the church and souls of men, 
discern spiritual dangers, and 
faithfully warn them thereof; 
and magistrates are to espy, 
and take all proper methods to 
prevent them, Song iii. 3. v. 7. 
Ezek. iii. 17. Isaiah lii. 8. (2.) 
The place or station where the 
guard is kept, which is also call- 
ed the watch-tower, Hab. ii. 1. 
(3.) Watchmen's discharge of 



WAT 

I their duty, doing what in them 
| lies to espy and prevent danger 
or loss, 2 Kings xi. 6. Luke ii. 
8. (4.) The time in which a 
particular set of persons keep 
watch at once, in a city or camp. 
It seems the night was once di- 
vided into the evening, the mid- 
dle, and the morning watch,each 
containing four hours, Judg. vii. 
19. Exodus xiv. 24 ; but after- 
wards the Greeks and Romans 
relieved their sentinels at three 
hours apiece, and made four 
watches of the night, Luke xii. 
38. Mark vi. 48. The end of 
these watches was anciently, 
and in the east is still, proclaim.' 
ed in cities by a crier. 

WATER signifies, not only 
that which is most properly so 
called, but almost every thing 
liquid, as tears, Jer. xi. 1 ; rain, 
Job xxii. 11; and clouds, Psalm 
civ. 3 ; and every thing proper 
to be drunk, 1 Samuel xxv. 11. 
Isa. xxxiii. 16. Water is of a 
cleansing, refreshful, and heal- 
ing nature, and is a common 
and free gift of God to men; but 
streams of it are sometimes noi- 
some and destructive. Jeaus 
Christ, his Spirit, and gospel-or* 
dinances, are likened to waters, 
still waters, and streams, liv* 
ing water, or water of life. 

Water- springs, denote ground 
well moistened or fruitful, in Pa, 
cvii. 33. 

Water-courses, are either the 
beds of rivers, wherein they run, 
or the running streams, Isaiah 
xliv. 4. 

Water-spouts, are falls of 
water from the clouds, in the 
manner that a river bursts over 
a precipice ; or which are forced 
with a mighty noise from the 
sea, by an earthquake at the 
bottom. They are more fre- 
quent on the coasts of Canaan 
and Syria, than any where else 
in the Mediterranean Sea. To 
these, heavy, overwhelming, and 
terrifying afflictions, are com" 
pared, Psalm xiii. 7. 
527 



WEE 

WAX, a well-known sub- 
stance, wherewith bees form 
their combs. It is excellent for 
candles, and is easily melted : it 
is also much used in the sealing 
of letters, Ps. xcvii. 5. 

WEAN. The Jews weaned 
their children at a later age than 
is now common. The saints are 
likened to weaned children, to 
denote their humility, teacha- 
bleness, keeping within thn 
bounds of their own station, and 
quiet contentment with the will 
of God, Psalm cxxxi. 2 ; or to 
denote their weakness and ina- 
bility to help and defend them- 
selves, Isa. xi. 8. 

WEASEL. This animal is 
only mentioned Lev. xi. 29. In 
most versions the word is ren- 
dered ' weasel ;' but Bochart 
thought that the ' mole' was in- 
tended. 

WEEDS. This word occurs 
but once in scripture, and then 
refers to a sea-plant, Jonah ii. 5. 
1 The weeds were wrapped about 
ray head.' 

WEEK ; a natural one is the 
space of seven days : such a 
week of nuptial feasting for 
Leah's marriage Jacob finished, 
ere he obtained Rachel, Gen. 
xxix. 27. A prophetic week is 
the space of seven years, a day 
for a year. Nor was this method 
of calculation abstruse to the 
Jews, who had their seventh 
year a Sabbath, as well as their 
seventh day ; and who, at the 
end of seven prophetical weeks, 
had their Sabbatical jubilee. 
That the 70 weeks mentioned by 
Daniel denote weelcs of years, 
is agreed by every sensible com- 
mentator, but not the time when 
these 70 weeks, or 490 years be- 
gan. It is plain they began from 
an edict or warrant to build the 
city of Jerusalem, and not from 
an edict to rebuild the temple : 
they could not, therefore, begin 
at the edict of Cyrus or Darius 
for rebuilding the temple; but 
at the edict of Artaxerxes Lon- 



WEE 

gimanus for repairing the city, 
either in the seventh year of his 
reign, when he gave Ezra his 
commission for that effect, Ezra 
vii. viii ; or in the twentieth 
year of it, when he gave Ne- 
hemiah his, Neh. ii. The edict 
in the seventh year of his reign 
was most favourable, and was 
ratified by the counsellors as 
well as by the king, and appears 
to have been just 490 years be- 
fore our Saviour's death, where- 
in he finished transgression, and 
made an end of sin, by his com- 
plete atonement. Of these, se- 
ven weeks, or 49 years, were 
spent in rebuilding the city and 
its walls, amid no small trouble; 
and these ended about the death 
ofNehemiah. Sixty -two more 
weeks, or 434 years, elapsed ere 
the public ministry of John or 
Christ began ; and after con- 
firming the covenant with many, 
Jesus, in the last half of the 
seventieth week, that is, at the 
end of it, made the sacrifice and 
oblation to cease in point of obli- 
gation. If, with Mercator and 
Petavius, we should allow Ar- 
taxerxes to have reigned 10 
years along with his father, and 
so the twentieth to be but the 
tenth after the death of his fa- 
ther Xerxes ; then 483 years 
elapse between that and the 
commencement of our Saviour'a 
public ministry, and inthernidst 
of the seventieth week, or about 
three years and a half after the 
sacrifices were abolished by his 
death. If we date the com- 
mencement of these weeks from 
the twentieth of Artaxerxes af- 
ter the death of his father, the 
death of our Saviour happened 
478 years after, in the middle of 
the sixty-ninth week ; and we 
must leave the seventieth for the 
events at the destruction of the 
Jewish nation, between j9. D. 
65 and 72, in which, after mak- 
ing covenants or leagues with 
a variety of the eastern princes, 
Vespasian and his son Titus en- 
528 



WHA 

tirely overturned the Jewish 
church and state. But after all, 
it must be allowed, that the 
chronology of that period is not 
so absolutely fixed and clear, as 
to occasion any warm dispute 
about a few years ; so that to 
me it appears a small matter, 
whether these 490 years be reck- 
oned from the seventh or twen- 
tieth year of Artaxerxes Longi- 
manus, Dan. ix. 24 — 26. 

WEIGH, to examine the hea- 
viness of things. A cubic foot 
of common water, which is near 
17 Scotch pints, weighs 1000 
avoirdupois ounces; a cubic foot 
of pure gold, 19,637 ounces; one 
of guinea gold, 17,793 ; of quick- 
silver, 14,000; of lead, 11,325; 
of standard silver, 10,535; of 
copper, 9000 ; of plate-brass, 
8000; of steel, 7852; of iron, 
7645; of block tin, 7321; of 
proof spirits, 928 ; of pure spi- 
rits, 880. All stones are, in dif- 
ferent degrees, heavier than wa- 
ter; wood is for the most part 
lighter, and accordingly swims. 
A cubic foot of common air 
weighs 507 grains, or one ounce 
27 grains. God's weighing the 
mountains, imports his exact 
knowledge of and power over 



WHA 
them, Isa. xl. 12. He weighs 
men, or their spirits and paths, 
when he exactly observes and 
judges them that he may punish 
or reward them in a proper man- 
ner, Daniel v. 27. Prov. xvi. 2. 
Isa. xxvi. 7. 1 Sam. ii. 3. 

Weights, denote standards for 
weighing of things in merchan- 
dise. As neither the Jews nor 
any others, had any coined mo- 
ney for along time, they weigh- 
ed it in their traffic. The shekel, 
the maneh, and the talent, were 
all originally names of weighL 
We can find no foundation for 
supposing the Jews to have had 
two kinds of weights, one sacred, 
and the other common ; and the 
latter only the half of the former. 
The weights are denominated 
from the sanctuary, as a shekel 
of the sanctuary, because the 
exact standards of weight and 
measure were kept in the sanc- 
tuary: even as we call exact 
measure, Linlithgow measure. 
Divers weights and measures, 
forbidden by the divine law, are 
unjust ones ; a larger to receive 
things with, and a lesser to give 
them out, Dqut. xxv. 13. Prov. 
xx. 10. 



Jewish weights reduced to English Troy weight. 
lbs. oz. dwt. grs 
Shekel -- 0— 0— 9— 2 



60| Maneh 2—3— 6—10 

3000 J50 1 Talent 113—10— 1—10 



Note. — In reckoning money, 50 shekels make a maneh ; but in 
weight, 60 shekels. 



WELL. See Fountain. 

WENCH, a young girl, 2 
Sam. xvii. 17. 

W T HALE. The largest ofthe 
animals commonly found in the 
sea. What species of fish that 
was which swallowed Jonah, is 
disputed. In the book of Jonah, 
it is described merely as a great 
fish. In the New Testament, 
the word which usually signifies 
whale, is employed ; but it may 
Z 45 



include any huge fish, as well as 
the species now called whala, 
by naturalists. 

It is no objection to the word 
whale that this fish is not now 
found, in the Mediterranean, 
as this by no means proves 
the animal never did exist 
there: and with regard to the 
supposed inability of a wha*Ie 
to swallow a man, Captaha 
Scoresby, one of the most 
529 



WIM 

experienced whale fishers! 
g ates, that "when the mouth 
of the Balana Mysticetus, '■ 
or great common whale is i 
open, it presents a cavity six 
or eight feet wide, and ten or! 
twelve feet high." It has been' 
well ascertained, says Harris, ' 
that the writers of the Bible must 
have been ignorant of the whale, : 
as it is never seen near Jerusa- j 
lem or Egypt, and that the cro- j 
codile must be meant, Jonah i. ; 
17. Genesis i. 21. .lob vii. 12. 
Ezekiel xxxii. 2. Job xli. 1. 
Matt. xii. 40. 

VVH EAT, a gram well known ■, 
for ils durableness, and delight- j 
ful and nourishing substance. 

WHOREDOM, uncleanness,\ 
or fornication, comprehends all 
kinds of unchastity. 

WILDERNESS. See Desert. 

WILES, crafty tricks; entic- 
ing temptations, Numb. xxv. 18. 
Eph. vi. 11. 

WILL, that power of our 
soul, whereby we freely choose 
or refuse objects. It however 
cannot choose any thing spi- 
ritually good, till it be renewed 
by the Spirit of Christ, Rom. 
viii. 7. 8. 

WILLOWS, a well-known 
kind of trees that grow in moist 
places; they readily grow from 
cuts; and grow much in a very 
short time. Nay, if an old stump, 
not altogether rotten, do but lie 
on the ground, it will sprout 
forth twigs. It seems, willows 
were very plentiful on the banks 
of the Euphrates, and thereon 
the captive Hebrews hanged 
their harps, as useless to them in 
their distressed and mournful 
condition, PsaL cxxxvii. 2. Isa. 
xv. 7. The Jews used branches 
of willows in erecting their tents 
at the feast of tabernacles, Lev. 
xxiii. 40. 

WIMPLES, Isa. iii. 22. This 
same word is translated veil. 
Ruth iii. 15. In both places, I 
am persuaded mitpachath signi- 
fies a covering sheet, a plaid, or 



WIN 

apron. In the Dutch language, 
wimple signifies the large plaited 
linen cloth wherewith nuns co- 
vered their necks and breasts; 
as well as the streamer or jlag 
of a ship, and sometimes the 
sail. 

W r IND, a sensible tossing of 
the air, by means whereof a large 
quantity of it flows from one 
place to another. The trade- 
winds are such as blow con- 
stantly from east to west, and 
monsoons are those which blow 
three or six months at once from 
one point, and as long from the 
opposite. Where the air, by the 
heat of the sun or otherwise, is 
most rarified, thither the densei 
part of the distant air bends its 
course; and so a very rarified 
air bodes a storm. The trade- 
winds which are met with on 
the vast ocean, chiefly on the 
Pacific, blow not directly from 
east to west, but incline towards 
the equator, where the air is 
most rarified. This rarefaction 
of the air under the equator, I 
suppose, is also the reason why 
so much rain happens in the tor- 
rid zone in the summer-season, 
the clouds from other places 
pouring themselves into that re- 
gion, where the heat has so ex- 
ceedingly rarified the air. Winds 
blow almost constantly from off 
the sea in places exceeding hot. 
Winds from the sea are warmest 
in winter and coldest in summer: 
and land-winds are coldest in 
winter and hottest in summer. 
Winds blowing over hills cover- 
ed with snow, or over cold coun- 
tries, are thereby rendered colder. 
In different countries, the wind 
is often in different, or even op- 
posite points at the same time; 
and the north and south wind 
are wet or dry, Prov. xxv. 23L 
At Aleppo in Syria, the winds 
from the north, and especially 
the north-east, are exceedingly 
cold in the winter, but exces- 
sively hot in summer; and yet 
then their water kept in jars is 
530 



WIN 
colder, A whirlwind,ha. strong; 
blast, which winds about in aj 
somewhat circular manner.) 
Multitudes of such blasts come; 
from the deserts of Arabia; and! 
out of one of them the Lord 
spake to Job, Isa. xxi. 1. Job 
xxxvii. 9. xxxviii. 1. Whirl- 
winds sometimes sweep down 
trees, houses, and every thing m 
their way ; and carry along with 
them such quantities of dust, as 
blind, or even bury multitudes 
of travellers. They generally, 
though not always, come from 
the south; and those in Africa 
have often a poisonous influence. 

To Wind; (1.) To go round 
about, Ezek. xh. 7. (2.) To 
wrap : roll up, John xix. 40. 

WINDOW, a well-known 
passage for the light to enter 
into, and illuminate bouses. 
lattices, or Casements, were 
the windows, or the net-work of 
■wire in them, before the inven- 
tion of glass, Judges v. 23. 2 
Kin^s i. 2. 

WINE, a liquor made by a 
fermentation of the juice of 
grapes. It is thought that before 
the art of distillation was disco- 
vered, wines must have been 
very inferior. The art was dis- 
covered by the Saracens. 

The wine of Helhon, Ezek 
xxvii. 18, was made at Damas 
cus. The Persians had planted 
vineyards there on purpose ; and 
one author says, that the kings of 
Persia used no other kind of wine. 

The wine of Lebanon is men- 
tioned, Hos. xiv. 7. The wine 
from the vineyards on that 
mount is even to this day in 
repute; but some think that 
Hosea means a sweet-scented 
wine, or wine flavoured with 
flagrant gums. 

Must, or New Wine, is the 
liquor as it runs from the press, 
and is often referred to in scrip- 
ture, Isa. xlix. 26. Joel i. 5. iv. 
18. Amos ix. 13. 

Mixed-wine, was wine render- 
ed more intoxicating by the mix- 



WIN 

ture of spices and other ingre- 
dients, Prov. xxiii. 30. Isa. lxv. 
11. Drunkards, it seems, were 
fond of mixed-wine, Isa. v. 22. 
God's fiercest wrath is compared 
to mixed-wine, Isa. li. 17. Rev. 
xiv. 10. In Cant. viii. 2. we read 
of 'spiced wine,' Gen. xix. 32. 

WINGS : those feathery mem- 
bers of fowls, wherewith they 
fly in the air, Job xxxix. 13. 
The Hebrews gave the name of 
a wing to any thing that resem- 
bled it; as (I.) The skirt of a 
garment, Ruth iii. 9. Jer. ii. 34. 
(2.) The outside or end of a 
country, Job xxxviii. 13. Isa. 
xxiv. 16. (3.) The battlement of 
a house ; hence perhaps what of 
the temple our Saviour stood 
upon, is called a pinnacle or 
wing, Matth. iv. 5. (4.) The 
spreading and warming rav3 ot 
the sun, Mai. iv. 2. (5.)" The 
sails of ships, or the shadows of 
h gh mountains, Isa. xviii. 1. 
(b.) An army spread out like 
wings, Isa. viii. 8; and so the 
wing of abomination, may de- 
note the Roman armies wbo 
rendered Judea a desolation, 
Dan. 9. 27. (7.) The motions of 
the wind, Psal. xviii. 10. 

WINKING with the eye, is 
expressive of mockery and de- 
rision ; or of giving one a token 
to do his neighbour an injury, 
Prov. vi. 13. x. 10. Psal. xxxv. 
19. God's winking at the times 
of ignorance, imports his patient 
long-suffering towards the hea- 
then world, Acts xvii. 30. 

WINNOW, to clean corn by 
exposing it to the wind, that the 
chaff and dust may be blown 
away, Isa. xxx. 24. God's win- 
nowing of men's path, and lying 
down, denotes his perfect know- 
ledge thereof, and his trying 
men with frequent trials, Psalm 
exxxix. 3. 

WINTER, the cold season, 
when fields and trees are barren, 
grass withered, and storms fre- 
quent. In the middle division of 
the earth, called the torrid zone, 
531 



WIS 

which is about 3270 miles broad 
from south to north, they have 
generally two winters a-year 
but both of them very warm. In 
countries near to the poles, they 
have what we might call a per- 
petual winter: nay, even in 
Sweden, one might say, nine 
months are a severe winter, and 
all the rest of the year is sum- 
mer. In some places the winter 
is so excessively cold, that it is 
almost impossible to escape be- 
ing frozen to death, Gen. viii.22. 
Even in Canaan, great men had 
their warmer houses for the win 
ter season, as well as their cooler 
ones for the summer, Jer. xxxvi 
22. Amos iii. 15; and indeed 
there the winter is very wet and 
cold; especially between the 
12th of December and 20th of 
January, its cold is sometimes 
deadly, Matt. xxiv. 20. Seasons 
of temptation, persecution, and 
distress, are like to a winter ; or 
summer and winter, may signify- 
all the year long; perpetually, 
Zech. xiv. 8. The winter is 
past, and the rain is over and 
gone; i. e. the cold, dark, and 
barren period of the ceremonies 
is past, and the storms of divine 
wrath are fully exhausted on 
Christ; the barren winter of un- 
regeneracy, and of curses lying 
on the conscience, is over ; the 
days of deadness, unfruitfulness, 
and persecution in the church, 
and of temptation, desertion, and 
spiritual grief or stupidity in the 
soul, are over, Song ii. 11. To 
Winter, is to live or stay during 
the winter, Isa. xviii. 6. Acts 
xxvii. 12. 

WISDOM ; (1.) Prudence and 
discretion to perceive what is fit 
or unfit to be done, with respect 
to time, place, manner, instru- 
ments, or end, of an action. 
Eccl. ii. 13. (2.) Knowledge 
of sciences ; so Moses was learn- 
ed in aWthe wisdom of the Egyp- 
tians, Acts vii. 22. (3.) Quick- 
ness of invention and dexterity 
m framing of curious works;, 



WIS 

with such wisdom Bezaleel and 
Aholiah were qualified to fash- 
ion the pertinents of the taberna- 
cle, Exod. xxxi. 2. 5. (4.) Craf- 
tiness in carrying on projects : 
such was the wisdom of Pha- 
raoh in oppressing the Hebrews, 
Exod. i. 10 ; and of Jonadab, 
who contrived how Ammon 
might lie with his half-sister, 2 
Sam. xiii. 3. The three last are 
called the wisdom of this world % 
1 Cor. ii. 6. (5.) Natural in- 
stinct and sagacity: thus the 
ostrich is made without wisdom, 
Job xxxix. 17. (6.) True god- 
liness, wherein one being taught 
of God to know his will, seeks 
what is proper, and shuns what 
is improper, and studies to per- 
form every duty in the proper 
season thereof, Psalm xc. 12. 
Job xxviii. 28 : this wisdom is 
from above, is a special gift of 
God; is pure, making men care- 
ful to avoid error, and every 
thing sinful, and to cleave to 
truth and holiness ; is peace- 
able, disposing men to make 
and keep peace with others, 
as far as is consistent with ho- 
liness. 

WISE. God is only wise' 
he alone has in and of himself 
an infinite knowledge of all 
things, and is possessed of an in- 
finite prudence for the direction 
and management of all things, 
Rom. xvi. 27. 1 Tim. i. 17. (l.j 
Godly: pious: being taught of 
God, and made wise unto salva- 
tion, Prov. xiii. 14. 2 Tim. iii. 
15. (2.) Skilful artificers, Exod. 
xxviii. 3. (3.) Subtle: witty, 2 
Samuel xiv. 2. (4.) Puffed up 
with a conceit of their own wis- 
dom, 2 Cor. xi. 19. Rom. xii. 16. 
Wise also signifies, manner, 
respect, rate, Num. vi. 23. Ex. 
xxii. 13. The wise men of 
Egypt, Chaldea, &c. not only 
comprehended their philoso- 
phers, astronomers, and other 
adepts of natural science; but 
also their diviners ; see Divina- 
tion, Gen. xli. 8. Dan. ii. 10— 
532 



WIT 

14. What the wise men, who, 
excited by the reports of the fu- 
ture appearance of the Messiah, 
and by the appearance of an ex- 
traordinary star, came to visit 
our Saviour just after his birth, 
were — whether magicians ; or 
whether of the sect of the Per- 
sian magicians, who believed 
two subordinate principles, one 
of good, and another of evil, 
and detested images and tem- 

Eles, and worshipped God only 
y the emblem of fire ; or whe- 
ther they were only philoso- 
phers, we cannot determine. 
Nor know we a whit better, 
what particular country they 
came from ; whether from Per- 
sia, Chaldea, or eastern Arabia; 
nor what time they took up in 
their journey. 

WIT, wot, to know, Gen. xxi. 
26. We do you to wit, is an 
obsolete phrase for we inform 
you, 2 Cor. viii. 1. To be at 
one's wiVs end, is to be in such 
perplexity as not to know what 
to do, Psal. cvii. 27. Wittingly, 
is wisely; warily; well know- 
ing what he did, Gen. xlviii. 14. 
Witty, is dexterous; that re- 
quires great wisdom and skill, 
Prov. viii. 12. 

WITCH, a woman, and wiz- 
ard, a man, who pretends to do 
wonders by the aid of evil spi- 
rits. The crime of such pre- 
tensions is very great, as it gives 
to Satan the honour due to God 
only, and is a virtual denial of 
the Providence of God. Under 
the theocracy, it was expressly 
commanded that all witches 
should be put to death, on the 
same principle that isolators 
were capitally punished : both 
Grimes partook of the nature of 
treason. But great mischief has 
arisen from attempting to exe- 
cute the laws against witchcraft 



WIT 

are found no where but in ob- 
scure corners. 

WITHS, twisted boughs, wil- 
lows, Sec. such as those where- 
with faggots are often bound to- 
gether, Judg. xvi. 7, 8. 

WITNESS; (1.) One who 
solemnly, or upon oath, declares 
concerning a matter, Num. v. 13. 
By the law, no person was to 
be condemned on the testimony 
of one witness ; but at least two 
or three are to depose harmo- 
niously for proving the same or 
a similar fact. As some men, 
especially such as are given to 
swearing in their common con 
versation, by prejudice, or by 
the influence of a bribe, aro 
ready to swear falsely, God, to 
deter the Hebrew witnesses from 
false swearing, appointed them 
to begin the execution of the 
sentence against him that was 
condemned to death upon the 
footing of their deposition, by 
casting the first stone at him, 
Deut. xvii. 6, 7. If a witness 
was detected of false testimony, 
he was condemned to the very 
same form of punishment to 
which his false deposition tend- 
ed to bring his neighbour, Deut. 
xix. 16—18. When our Sa- 
viour was crucified, his adver- 
saries suborned as many false 
witnesses as they could ; but 
their testimony never agreed op 
any thing criminal, Mark xiv 
55, 56. False witnesses too were 
suborned against Naboth and 
Stephen, 1 Kings xxi. 10. 13. 
Acts vi. 13. God is a witness 
and swift witness, against sin- 
ners, false swearers, or others 
he observes, and will speedily 
manifest and punish their sin 
Jer. xxix. 23. Mai. iii. 5. Christ 
is a witness given to the people : 
faithfully and solemnly he de- 
clares to men the various trutha 



in modern times. Pretences to of the gospel; and the constitu- 
•extraordinary knowledge and tion of his person and mediation, 
power, by the aid of the devil, ; and his word, miracles, oath, 
disappear before the bright light death, and ordinances, do aU 



of the gospel. 



Witches now concur to attest the same, Rev 
45* 533 



lev 



WOL 

i. 5. iii. 15. Isaiah lv. 4. The 
Holy Ghost is a witness : by h,s 
powerful miracles, and by his 
influences on the consciences of 
men, he attests the truth of 
God's word, and the Messiah- 
ship of Christ: by causing to 
understand the marks of real 
grace laid down in scripture, by 
shining on, and quickening our 
holy dispositions, and enabling 
us to discern the reality of our 
grace, and by a mighty applica- 
tion of the promises, he bears 
witness with our spirits, that we 
are the children of God, Rom. 
viii. 16. Heb. x. 15. 

WIZARD. See Witch. 

WO, is a word of mourning, 
Wo worth; alas for! Ezekiel 
xxx. 2. Woe's me ; alas ! how 
unhappy I am ! Psalm cxx. 5. 
A wo, is a heavy calamity ; the 
rise of Popery and Mahometism, 
the 396 years' ravage of the Ot- 
toman Turks, and the fearful 
overthrow of Popery and Ma- 
hometism, are the three terrible 
woes, that, under the 5th, 6th, 
and 7th Apocalyptic trumpets, 
fall on the inhabitants of the 
earth, Rev. viii. 13. ix. 12. xi. 
14. Wo, in curses and threaten- 
ings, denotes the approach of 
some heavy calamity, Matthew 
xxiii. 13—29. 

WOLF, is a fierce, cruel, ra- 
pacious, and carnivorous ani- 
mal, about the size, and having 
something of the appearance of 
a large dog. The wolf is not a 
courageous, though it is an un- 
commonly voracious animal ; 
and is not satisfied with killing 
what it can devour, but murders, 
indiscriminately, as many sheep 
as it can seize. Wolves are 
gregarious, and generally make 
their depredations in the night, 
while in the day they lie con- 
cealed. The noise which they 
make is a dismal howl. They 
seem to have abounded in Ju- 
dea, as, in scripture, they are 
often mentioned. In Jer. v. 6. 
we read of ' a wolf of the even- 



WOO 

ing.' In Ezekiel xxii. 27. the 
princes of Israel are compared 
to ' wolves ravening the prey to 
shed blood ;* and in Zeph. iii. 3. 
4 iler princes within her are 
roaring lions, her judges are 
evening wolves.' Unfaithful, 
hireling shepherds, are, by our 
Lord, compared to wolves, Matt, 
vii. 15. ' The wolf catcheth 
them, and scattereth the flock.' 
And, by Paul, false teachers are 
called wolves. Acts xx. 29. 'I 
know that, after my departure, 
shall grievous wolves enter in 
among you, not sparing the 
flock,' Gen. xlix. 27. Isa. xi. 6. 
lxv. 25. Ezek. xxii. 27. 

WOOD, the timber of tree9. 
Cedar is the wood of Lebanon^ 
Song iii. 9. See Chariot. A 
forest, or multitude of trees, 
growing together ; or the place 
where they grow. It is probable 
that marshes producing shrubs 
were called woods. In such a 
one, might David's battle with 
Absalom be, as it is certain an- 
cient warriors used to encamp 
in them ; and they were extreme- 
ly fatal to a flying army, 2 Sam. 
xviii. 6. 8. There were a varie- 
ty of forests in Canaan ; as the 
forest of Hareth, in the south 
of Judah, 1 Samuel xxii. 5 ; of 
mount Ephraim, Josh. xvii. 18 ; 
of Bethel, 2 Kings ii. 14; and 
of Carmel, 2 Kings xix. 23. On 
the east of Jordan was a forest 
called the wood of Ephraim, be- 
cause there Jephthah had routed 
and cut ofT multitudes of the 
Ephraimites, 2 Samuel xviii. 6. 
Judg. xii. 5. We read also of 
the forest of Arabia, Isa. xxi. 
13; but that of Lebanon is the 
most noted, and it is called the 
king's forest, as the Persian 
kings took it under their special 
care, Neh ii. 8. 

WOOL was anciently pluck- 
ed off the sheep, though alive ; 
and so a fleece borne by a sheep 
at a time, was called by the Ro- 
mans Vellus, the plucking. In 
China the sheep are shorn thrice 
534 



WOR 

every year. Anciently the best 
wool was had from about Da- 
mascus, Ezekiel xxvii. 18 ; now 
the Spanish is reckoned the best 
in Europe. In countries either 
too cold or too hot, the wool is 
coarse or short. 

WORD; (1.) A speech, ex- 
pressing report, request, com- 
mand, promise, &c. Gen. xxxvii. 
14. xliv. 18. Exodus viii. 13. 
Daniel iii. 28. 2 Samuel vii. 25. 
The kingdom of God is not in 
word, but in power ; God does 
not erect his church by mere 
words, but by the Almighty in^ 
fluences of his Spirit, 1 Cor. iv, 
20. Men love not in word, nor 
in tongue, but in deed and in 
, truth, when they show their 
love, not chiefly in kind speech- 
es, but in kind works, 1 John 
iii. 18. (2.) The thing about 
which a speech is made ; so the 
affair of John Baptist's birth, is 
called a word, Luke i. 65. To 
ichom hast thou uttered words 7 
and whose spirit came from 
thee ? Dost thou not know, that 
he to whom you speak knows all 
that you have said ; and that his 
circumstances are not proper for 
6uch a discourse? Have you not 
rather repeated what Eliphaz 
said,than spoken under the direc- 
tion of God's Spirit 1 and what 
encouragement have you ever 
given to my drooping spirit 1 Job 
xxvi. 4. The word of God is, 
(1.) Jesus Christ, who, by the 
Chaldee paraphrase, and by the 
apostles and others, is called the 
Word. He is the express image 
of his Father, as words are of 
our thoughts. He spoke for us 
in the council of peace ; he spoke 
all things into being at the crea- 
tion ; he spoke to the ancient 
patriarchs and prophets ; he 
preached the gospel in the days 
of his flesh ; he speaks for men 
in his intercession ; and speaks 
to their hearts in the day of his 
power; and he is the great sub- 
ject-matter of what is spoken in 
scripture, John i. 1. 4. Rev. xix. 



WOR 

13. (2.) The declared will of 
God in the scripture, doctrines, 
commands, promisee, threaten- 
ings, histories, predictions, Rev. 
xix. 9. Romans ix. 6 ; and it, 
chiefly the gospel, is the word of 
Christ, as he is the author, sub- 
ject-matter and end of it, Col. 
iii. 16. The word of righteous- 
ness, as it revenls to us the righ- 
teousness of Christ, is the sole 
price of our salvation ; and it 
teaches us to follow righteous- 
ness, faith, and charity, Hebrew 
v. 13. It is the word of faith: 
is a declaration of divine truths, 
to be received and credited by 
us, as the ground of our claim to 
salvation, Rom. x. 8. It is the 
word of salvation, as it reveals 
and offers to us a full salvation; 
and by believing and improving 
it, are we possessed of begun 
salvation, and prepared for eter- 
nal fflorv, Acts xiii. 26. 

WORLD. The Jews distin- 
guish the world, in respect of 
place, into the lower world of 
earth and air, the world of hea- 
'ven and stars, and the highest 
world ; or, as others, the world 
of earth and air, the world of 
angels, the world of spheres and 
stars, and the highest world of 
spirits departed, called the third 
heaven. In respect of duration, 
they distinguish it into the old 
w r orld before the flood, the pre- 
sent world before the Messiah, 
the world to come under the 
Messiah, the world of the resur- 
rection, and the eternal world. 
| In allusion to these divisions, 
Paul mentions worlds, Heb. i. 2, 
In scripture, world denotes, (1.) 
The world containing; and that 
either the whole frame of hea- 
ven and earth together, and all 
things therein, John i. 10 ; or the 
heavens and what they contain, 
Psalm xc. 2; or the habitable 
part of the earth, Psalm xxiv. 1. 
xcviii. 7. (2.) The men that 
dwell on this earth ; and that 
either all of them, Rom. v. 12; 
or an indefinite number of them, 
535 



WOR 
John vii. 4. Isaiah xiii. 11 ; or 
many, a great part of them, 
Matthew xviii. 7. John iv. 42. 
Matt. xxiv. 14. xxvi. 13. Rom. 
L 5. x. 18; or all or most of the 
subjects of the Roman empire, 
eo called because of its extent, 
Luke ii. 1. Rev. xiii. 3; or the 
Gentiles as distinguished from 
the Jews, 1 John ii. 2; or God's 
chosen people, his elect, Psalm 
Xxii. 27. John iii. 16. vi. 33. 51 ; 
they may be so called, because 
they are the substance of the 
world, and because chiefly ga- 
thered from among the Gentiles ; 
and hitherto mostly out of those 
countries once subject to the 
Romans ; or the reprobate, 
wicked, and cursed part of the 
men on earth, so called because 
they are the greatest part of the 
men on earth, 1 John v. 19. John 
xiv. 17. 22. xv. 19. xvii.9. Rev. 
xiii. 3. (3.) The carnal corrup- 
tion that prevails on earth, Gal. 
i. 4. Eph. ii. 2. James i. 27. 
1 John ii. 16. (4.) A worldly 
or earthly state and condition, 
Psalm Ixxiii. 12. Luke xvi. 8. 
John xviii. 36. 1 John iv. 5; to 
which may be reduced, the out- 
ward pomp, pleasure, and good 
things of a present life, Gal. vi. 
14. 1 Cor. vii. 31. This world, 
denotes this earth in its present 
carnal and corrupt state, Tit. ii. 
12. Christ's kingdom is not of 
it, is not of an earthly size, form, 
or tendency, John xviii. 36. 
That world, denotes the heaven- 
ly state, Luke xx. 35. The 
world to come, signifies the gos- 
pel-period, after the resurrection 
of Christ, or the church in her 
New Testament form, Heb. ii. 
5. vi. 5 ; or the future and eter- 
nal state, Matth. xii. 32. The 
elect and saints are given out of 
the world ; set aside from the 
rest of mankind, and saved by 
and subject to Christ, John xvii. 
6; but they are not out of it in 
respect of their abode, while 
they live on earth, John xvii. 15. 
Men's tongue is a world of ini- 



WRE 

quity ; its words contain incon- 
ceivable wickedness ; or, it is an 
ornament of iniquity, which oft 
sets off sin in fair colours, Jam, 
iii. 6. Worldly is what is of a 
carnal and earthly nature, Tit. 
ii.12. Heb.ix. 1. 

WORMWOOD, a herb, ol 
which Tournefort says, there are 
24 kinds. It has a very bitter 
taste, but is useful in medicine 
for killing worms, is a fine me- 
dicine for the stomach and liver, 
and is useful in the jaundice and 
dropsy: the very smell of it is 
odious to vermin. Idolatry, pro- 
faneness, apostacy, and other 
wickedness, are likened to worm- 
wood; how disagreeable to God 
and his people ! and in the end, 
how bitter to sinners themselves ! 
Deuteronomy xxix. 18. Heb. xii. 
15. 

The wormwood of Scripture 
seems to have been a plant of 
different qualities from the herb 
in our gardens, which goes by 
that name. It was probably not 
only bitter and nauseous, but de- 
leterious in its qualities, Deut. 
xxix. 18. Prov. v. 4. Jer. ix. 15. 
xxiii. 15. Lam. iii. 15. Amos v. 
7. vi. 12. 

WORSHIP, to bow down 
with reverence ; and so worship 
is, (1.) Civil reverence, given to 
one of authority or worth, Matt 
ix. 18. xviii. 26. Luke xiv. 10. 
(2.) Outward religious homage, 
given as an acknowledgment of 
Deity, Matth. iv. 10. Dan. iii. 5. 
12. 14. (3.) Inward religious 
honour, whereby one thinks on, 
trusts to, loves and fears God, 
because of his infinite excellen- 
cy, mercy, power, wisdom, and 
the like, John iv. 24. 

WRATH; God's wrath de~ 
notes, (I.) His holy indignation 
at, and readiness to punish sio, 
Rom. i. 18. (2.) His manifesta- 
tion of his hatred of sin, in the 
just punishment thereof, in time 
and eternity, Psalm xc. 12. 1 
Thess. v. 9. Men pass their 
days in God's wrath, when they 
536 



WRI 
spend them under the tokens of 
his displeasure, Psalm xc. 9. 

WREATHS, or wreathen- 
work, was a kind of net-work 
interlaced with the form of 
6prigs, leaves, flowers, and fruit, 
and as it were twisted in the 
form of a rope : with such a gol- 
den wreath was the ephod fas- 
tened on the high-priest's shoul- 
ders ; such a wreath, with 200 
figures of pomegranates, was 
around the pommel of the pil- 
lars in the porch of Solomon's 
temple, Exod. xxviii. 14. 2 Chr, 
iv. 12, 13. Men's transgressions 
are wreathed or twisted about 
their neck, when they are first 
entangled in the punishment of 
their sin, Lam. i. 14. 

WRITE; (1.) To note down 
any thing on a book or table, 
Isa. x. 1. In Arabia and Egypt 
they anciently wrote on stones, 



WRI 

by staining or colouring, which 
continued for many generations. 
The children learned to write by 
marking letters on whitened 
boards, or in the sand or dust. 
The law of God was written 
on tables of stone. Writing 
on parchment, or the skins 
of animals nicely cured and 
made thin, and then rolled 
together like a scroll, was the 
common way. (2.) To declare a 
thing as quite certain, and mark 
it in a prophecy, Jer. xxii. 30. 
God's sealed book, being writ- 
ten within and without, or on 
both sides of the paper, imported 
the vast quantity of matter con- 
tained in it, Rev. v. 1. God 
writes his law on men's hearts 
when he deeply impresses it on 
their soul, and forms their in- 
ward qualities into a conformity 
with it, Job xxxi. 32. Heb.viii.10. 



YEA 

YEAR, that space of time 
wherein the sun finishes his 
course through all the signs of 
the zodiac circle of ihe heavens, 
consisting of the four seasons of 
spring, summer, harvest, and 
winter. It consists of 365 days 
5 hours 49 minutes. The pa- J 
triarchs before the flood appear 
to have divided their year into 
12 months, each consisting of 30 
days; and whether they added 5 
days to the last, or had an inter-! 
calary month every 5th or 6th 
year, to exhaust the odd time of 
5 days 5 hours and 49 minutes 
that was ove< in each year, we 
know not. Home think -the E- 
gyptians and others once reck- 
oned the time of one revolution of 
the moon their year, and that this 
is the source of their extravagant 
reckonings concerning antiquity. 
It is more certain, that before 
the Hebrews' departure from 
Egypt, they reckoned by a year, 
consisting of 12 months, each of 
■which consisted of 30 days, and 
began their year about the be- 



YEA 

ginning of our September. Pos- 
sibly the Chaldean year was 
much the same, till Nabonassar, 
about the time of Hezekiah, or- 
dered them to reckon the year 
by 12 months, or 365 days, and 
I suppose the Egyptians soon 
after admitted this form. After 
long confusion, the Greeks reck- 
oned the year by 12 months, of 
30 days each ; but seem after- 
wards to have reckoned by 12 
moons, or 354 days. They most- 
ly began their year at the sum- 
mer solstice, when the sun is 
most northerly, in June ; but the 
Macedonians began their's about 
the middle of our September. At 
first, the Roman year consisted 
of 10 months, or 304 days. King 
Numa extended it to 12 months, 
or 355 days, and every second 
year they added 22 or 23 days 
by turns. Julius Ctesar, their 
first emperor, fixed it at 365 days 
and 6 hours, which in four years 
make one day, which in the 
fourth is added to February, and 
occasions that vear being called 
537 



YEA 

leap-year. By this year we still 
reckon our time; but as it in- 
cludes about 11 minutes too 
much, this, in 130 years, runs 
the reckoning forward one day, 
and in our reckoning had run 
forward the year full 11 days, 
till this was rectified by the in- 
troduction of the new style 
among us, as it was in several 
countries abroad, by Pope Gre- 
gory, almost 200 years ago. The 
old Persian year began about 
the beginning of June, and con- 
sisted of 365 days, or 12 months. 
Most of the Mahometans reckon 
their year by 1*2 moons, or 354 
days 8 hours 48 minutes 38 se- 
conds and 12 thirds : and so in 
about 35 years the beginning 
of their year runs backward 
through all the seasons. The 
Jewish year too was of the lu- 
nar kind, reckoning by 12moons: 
their sacred year began in March, 
because therein they came out 
of Egypt at the new moon; in 
Which the names and order of 
their months were, 1. Abib or 
Nisan ; 2. Zif or Jair ; 3. Sivan ; 
4. Thammuz; 5. Ab; 6. Elul; 
7. Ethanim or Tizri ; 8. Bui 
or Marchesvan ; 9. Chisleu ; 10. 
Tliebet; 11. Shebet ; 12. Adar; 
and on every third year they 
added an intercalary month, 
formed out of the odd days, and 
called it Veadar, or second Adar. 
It is generally agreed, that all 
their odd months, as first, third, 
&c. consisted of 30 days, and all 
the even ones of 29; but Sel- 
den's old calendar gives 30 days 
to the even months, and 29 
to the odd ones. Their civil 
year began with Ethanim, the 
eeventh month of the sacred, as 
it was supposed the world was 
created about that time ; and so 
Abib was the seventh month of 
it. Months, in the reckoning of 
all nations, appear to have had 
their rise from the revolutions of 
the moon. 

Ignorance of chronology, and 
pride of antiquity, made the E- 



YEA 

gyptians, Chaldeans, Chinese, 
Indians, and others, to run up 
the creation of the world, or 
even the rise of their own na» 
tion, to the distance of a ridi- 
culous number of years; but the 
learned now generally acquiesce 
in or near to the chronology of 
Bishop Usher,according to which 
the creation took place 4004 
years before our common ac- 
count from the birth of our Sa- 
viour: but it is suspected that 
common reckoning begins two 
or three years too late. But Dr. 
Caverhil will have our Saviour 
born A. D. 6. The 430 years 
of the Hebrews' sojourning be- 
gan at Abraham's call to leave 
his native country, Gen. xii. \, 
Exod. xii. 40,41. The 400 years 
of the sojourning of his seed be- 
gan at the birth of Isaac, Gen. 
xv. 13. The about 450 years 
mentioned, Acts xiii. 20. may 
reach from the birth of Isaac to 
the settlement of Canaan ; or 
from that settlement, reckoning 
the years of bondage different 
from the years of the judges, to 
the government of Samuel. The 
sixty-five years, against the end 
of which, Ephraim, or the ten 
tribes, were to be no people, i. e. 
have no form of government at 
all, and scarce any be left in Ca- 
naan, extends from the fourth 
year of Ahaz to the twenty se- 
cond of Manasseh, lsa. vii. 8. 
The years of a hireling, denote 
exact ones ; and it seems were 
three on end, lsa. xxi. 16. xvL 
14. In prophetic style, a year 
signifies three hundred and sixty 
years, and a month 30, a day 
being put for a year; and so 
three years and a half, and times, 
time, and half a time, or 42 
months, or 1260 days, denote the 
twelve hundred and sixty years 
duration of Antichrist, Rev. xL 
2, 3. xii. 6. 14. The five months 
ravage of the locusts, may de- 
note the period between A. D. 
606 and 760, in which Popery 
and Mahometism mightily gain- 
538 



YEA 

cd ground, Rev. ix. 5. 10. Tne 
year, month, day r and hour, of 
the Turkish ravage, is 391 years 
from 1281 to 1692, or 396 from 
1302 to 1698. See Antichrist, 
Gog. 

Year too signifies the season 
or period in which a thing hap- 
pens. The three years of God's 
patience with the barren Jews, 
may denote the time of the mi- 
nistry of John Baptist and Christ; 
and the fourth may denote the 
time after Christ's resurrection, 
before the breaking out of their 
ruinous war, Luke xiii. 6 — 10. 
The year of visitation, is a sea- 
son of remarkable calamities, 
Jer. xi. 23. The year of God's 
redeemed, is that season in which 
he effectuates the redemption of 
his chosen ; as, the period of our 
Saviour's debasement, the pri- 
mitive gospel-period, and the pe- 
riod of Antichrist's ruin, Isaiah 
Ixiii. 4. In allusion to the year 
of release and jubilee, the period 
of the elect's conversion to Christ, 
or the gospel-period, is called 
the acceptable year of the Lord, 
Isa. lxi. 2. God's years, are the 
unbounded duration of his ex- 
istence, Heb. i. 11; or the pe-l 



YOK 

riods of his most noted works, 
as of bringing Israel out of E- 
gypt, the incarnation of Christ, 
&c. Psalm lxxvii. 10. So man's 
months are his time of life, Job 
xiv. 5; and he possesseth months 
of vanity, when he is long un- 
der trouble and disappointment, 
Job. vii. 3. 

YEARNING of bowels, im- 
ports the stirring of the most 
tender pity and affection, Gen. 
xliii. 30. 1 Kings iii. 26. 

YOKE, an instrument put on 
the nekk of cattle, for drawing 
ploughs, waggons, and the like : 
and the cattle yoked together in 
one plough are called a yoke, 1 
Kings xix. 19. The law of God 
is a yoke, which galls the carnal 
man, as it binds him to his duty; 
but as received in Christ, it is an 
easy yoke; receiving excitement 
and strength from Jesus, men 
with pleasure and comfort obey 
it; and it is much easier than 
the service of sin, the slavery of 
the broken covenant, or the 
bondage of the ceremonial law, 
which is called a yoke, or yoke 
of bondage, as the service re- 
quired by it was carnal and bur- 
densome, Mat. xi.29,30. Gal.v.1. 



ZAC 

ZAANAN, a city destroyed 
by the Assyrians, was one 
of the tribe of Naphtali, in the 
plain of Zaananim, or Zanaim ; 
or if it was Zenah, a city of Ju- 
dah, we know not, Mic. i. 11. 
Judg. iv. ] 1. Josh. xix. 33. xv. 37 

ZACCIIEUS ; this name 
means just, or justified, and oc- 
curs in Luke xix. 5. 

ZACHARIAH, Zacharias, 
Zechariah; (1.) The son of Je- 
roboam the 2d, and the fourth 
descendant of Jehu. Perhaps his 
father left him an infant. It was 
about 23, or perhaps no more 
than 11 years after, that he 
mounted the throne, and having 
reigned six months, was mur- 
dered by Shailum the son of, 



ZAC 

Jabesh, A. M. 3232. 2 Kings xy. 
8—11. (2.) The son of Jehoiada 
the chief priest, who is perhaps 
also called Azariah. Having re- 
proved king Joash, his cousin, 
for his idolatry and wickedness, 
that ungrateful wretch ordered 
him to be stoned to death, in the 
court of the temple. In his dying 
moments, he told them, that the 
Lord would speedily avenge his 
death, 2 Chr. xxiv. 20—25. (3.) 
The son of Jeberechiah, or 
Barachiah, who had understand - 
ing in the visions of God, and 
encouraged Uzziah in his piety,, 
and perhaps withstood him when 
he attempted to offer incense, 2 
Chron. xxvi. 5. He was one of 
the faithful witnesses that at- 
539 



ZAC 

tested Isaiah's writing concern- 1 
ing Maher-shalal-hash-baz, I&a. 
viii. 2. (4.) The son of Bara- 1 
chiah, grandson of Iddo, and ' 
11th of the lesser prophets. He 
returned from Babylon with 
Zerubbabel ; and while yet 
young, began to prophesy in the 
second year of Darius Hystaspes, 
J3. M. 3484, about two months 
after Haggai. They two mightily 
encouraged the Jews in their 
building of the second temple, 
Ezra v. 1. After Zerubbabel had 
exhorted the people to repent- 
ance, the Lord appeared to him 
as a man on horseback, in the 
middle of a plot of myrtle-trees, 
in a low place, thereby intimat- 
ing the presence of God with, 
and care for, his people, in their 
distress: and hinted to him, that 
Jerusalem should be rebuilt. 

(5.) Zacharias, an ordinary 
priest of the course of Abia. He 
and his wife Elizabeth were 
eminently godly and blameless. 
About fifteen months before our 
Saviour's birth, as Zacharias 
was burning incense in the tem- 
ple, the angel Gabriel appeared 
to him, and told him, that his 
wife should bear him a son called 
John, who should be the suc- 
cessful harbinger of the Messiah. 
As the priest refused to credit 
the message, the angel told him, 
that his dumbness till the event 
should verify the prediction. 
When he came out of the tem- 
ple, he could speak none, but 
made signs to the people who 
were praying in the court, that 
he had seen a vision. When his 
turn of ministration was finished, 
he went home: his wife, after 
about nine months, was happily 
delivered of a son. Contrary 
to the remonstrances of their 
friends, Elizabeth insisted the 
child should be named John. 
Zacharias being consulted by 
ugns, wrote that he should be so 
called. Hereupon he recovered 
the use of his speech, and uttered 
a hymn of praises to God, for 



ZAD 

the donation of the Messiah, 
whose birth was at hand; and 
turning himself to his babe, 
foretoid, that he should, by his 
instructions, prepare the nation 
to receive the Messiah, Luke i. 

Who that Zacharias, the son 
or Barachias, who was slain be- 
tween the porch of the temple 
and the altar; whether he was 
the son of Jehoiada, whose 
name has much the same signi- 
fication as Barachia, i. e. a 
blesser of the Lord; or the son 
of Jeberechiah, whom perhaps 
Ahaz murdered between the 
porch and the altar, for opposing 
his idolatrous worship; or the 
prophet above mentioned, who 
was perhaps murdered in that 
place; or the father of the Bap- 
tist, who might have shared the 
same fate, perhaps about the 
time when his son was a public 
preacher ; or, if it was one 
Zacharias the son of Baruch, 
whom Jesus foresaw the Jews 
would murder in that place, a 
little before the last destruction 
of their city, is not agreed by the 
learned. But be who he would, 
the coming of all the blood shed 
from that of Abel to that of this 
Zacharias, upon the Jewish na- 
tion, imports, that as their rejec- 
tion and murder of Christ and 
his apostles approved the whole 
of it, it should be all revenged 
on them, Matth. xxiii. 34 — 36. 
Luke xi. 50, 51. 

ZADOK, the son of Ahitub. 
In his person, appointed high- 
priest by Saul, that high office 
was returned to the family of 
Eleazar, after it had continued 
near 120 years in the house of 
Eli, and the family of Ithama*. 
Bo f h he and Abiathar were a 
kind of high-priests under the 
reign of king David ; but it seems 
David chiefly consulted Zadok, 
as perhaps he was a prophet. 
Both the two, at David's desire, 
tarried at Jerusalem during Ab- 
salom's rebellion, and procured 
him proper information, 2 Sam. 
540 



ZAR ZEB 
xv. xvii. They, too, instigated ! ZAREFTHAH, or Sarepta, 

the tribe of Judah to make all a city of the Zidonians, on the 

the haste they could, to bring shore of the Mediterranean Sea. 

David home after the rebellion It seems they had a glass-work 

was suppressed, lest the other at it. Here Elijah lodged some 

tribes should get the start of time with a widow, 1 Kings xvii. 

them, 2 Sam. xfx.l 1,1-2. Zadok, 9, 10. Luke iv. 26. About A. D, 

instead of joining Adonjah, was 400 it was still of some note, 

one of those most active in the ZARETHAN, Zartanah,OT 

coronation of Solomon, and ac- Zeredathah, a place on the west 

tually anointed him to the roy- of Jordan, near to which the 

alty, and came to be sole high- waters stood in heaps, as Joshua 

priest after Abiathar's confine- passed a good way below. Near 

ment, 1 Kings i. ii; and was to this place, in the plain of 

succeeded by his son Ahimaaz. Jericho, and almost over against 

Another Zadok, son of another Succoth, were the large vessels 

Ahitub, was high-priest long af- of the temple formed of metal, 

ter, and Jerusha his daughter Josh. iii. 16. 1 Kings iv. 12. 2 

seems to have been the wife of Chron. iv. 17. 



king Uzziah, and mother of Jo- 

tham, 1 Ch. vi. 12. 2 Ch. xxvii. 1. 

ZAIR, a place in the land of 

Edom, 2 Kings viii. 21. 



ZEBAH, victim, sacrifice, 
Jurlor. viii. 5. 
ZEBEDEE. See James. 
ZEBOLM, one of the four 



ZALMON, or Salmon, a hill cities which perished together 

near Siiechem, where it seems with Sodom, Gen. xiv. xix. Per- 

the snow lay thick: and the Ca- haps it stood about the north- 

naanitish carcases were like the west corner of the Dead Sea. 

snow of Zalmon, when they A valley of Zeboim, or spotted 

covered the ground. It is sup- serpents, was near to Jericho, 

posed to be one of the hills 1 Sam. xiii. 18 ; and hereabouts 

where the sons of Jacob fed the Benjamites had a city of this 



their flocks, Gen. 

Judg. ix. 48. Psal. Ixviii. 14 

ZAMZUMMlMS,or Zuzims, 
a race of terrible giants, proba- 



14. name, which continued till after 
A. D 400, Neb. xi. 34. 

ZEBUL. Judge? ix. 23. 41. 

ZEBULUX, or Zabnlon, the 
biy sprung from Ham, and which sixth son of Jacob by Leah, born 
dwelt on the east of Jordan, and about A. Jtf. 2256. From hia 
had their country ravaged by three sons, Sered, Elon, and 
Chedorlaomer, Genesis xiv. 5. Jahleel, sprung three numerous 
They were afterwards cut off, families. When this tribe came 
or driven from it, by the Am- out of Egypt, their fighting men 



monites, Deut. ii.20. 
ZAPHXATH, Gen. xli. 45. 



| amounted to 57.400 men, com- 
I manded by Eliab the son of 



ZARAH, or Zerah, the son Elon: they increased 3100 in the 
of Judah by Tamar, and twin wilderness. Their spy to search 
brother of Pharez. Of his five Canaan, was Gaddiel the son of 
sons, Ethan, Zimri, Heman, Cal- Sodi ; and their prince to divide 
col, and Dara, sprung the Zar- ; it, was Elizaphan the son of 
hites, who were less numerous Parnach, Gen. xxx. 20. xlvi. 11. 
than the posterity of Pharez, Num. i. 9. 31. xxvi. 26, 27. xiii. 
10. xxxiv. 25. They had their 
inheritance on the south of the 



Gen. xxxviii. 28, 29. 1 Chron. ii. 
6. Num. xxvi. 20. 

ZARED, or Zered, the name tribes of Asher and Naphtali, 
of a brook that runs into the and had the Sea of Galilee oa 



river Arnoti ; or of 
Num. xxi. 12. 



valley, ■ the east, and the Mediterranean 
j on the west: thev enriched them- 
46 541 



ZED 
selves by their fisheries, their 
sea-trade, and making of glass : 
they were very honest in their 
dealings, and, notwithstanding 
of distance, were punctual at- 
tenders of the worship of God at 
Jerusalem, Gen. xlix. 13. Deut. 
xxxiii. 18—20. They did not 
drive out the Canaanites from 
Kitron or Nahalol, Judg. i. 30. 
But they and the Naphtalites, 
under Barak, were very active 
in routing the host of Jabin, 
Judg. iv. 10. v. 14. 18. They as 
sisted Gideon against the Midi- 
anites, Judges vi. 35. Elon, a 
Zebulunite, was for ten years 
judge of Israel, Judg. xii. 11 ; 
and 50,000 of them attended at 
David's coronation to be kin,_ 
over Israel, and brought large 
quantities of provision, 1 Chron. 
xii. 33. 40. Psal. lxviii. 27. They 
were oppressed, and many of 
them carried captive to the east, 
by Tiglathpileser, 1 Chr. v. 26, 
Such as remained in their coun- 
try did partly join with Hezekiah 
in his reformation, 2 Chr. xxx. 
11. Their country was signally 
blessed with the early instruc- 
tions and miracles of our Sa- 
viour; and perhaps most of his 
disciples were of it, Isa. ix. 1, 2. 
Matt. iv. 13. 15. Perhaps there 
was also a city called Zebulun 
near Accho, which is said to 
have been built in the form of 
Tyre and Sidon, and to have 
been taken and burnt by Cestius 
the Roman about A. D. 66. 
Josh. xix. 27. 

ZEDEKIAH, the son of Jo- 
siah, by Hamutal the daughter 
of Jeremiah, a prince of Libnah. 
When Nebuchadnezzar carried 
Jehoiachin prisoner to Babylon, 
he made Mattaniah his uncle 
king in his stead, after he had 
caused him to swear to be his 
tributary, and changed his name 
to Zedekiah. He began to reign 
when he was 21 years of age. 
and reigned eleven. Contrary to 
manifold warnings of God by the 
prophet Jeremiah, be and his, 



ZED 

people hardened themselves in 
their idolatry and other impieties, 
2 Kings xxiv. 17. 2 Chr. xxxvi. 
10—16. Ezek. xvii. 13. In the 
first year of his reign, he sent 
Elasah the son of Shaphan, and 
Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, to 
Babylon, probably along with 
his tribute: with these, Jeremiah 
seems to have sent his letter to 
the captives at Babylon, Jer. 
xxix. About four years after, he 
either went himself, or at least 
sent Seraiah, the brother of Ba- 
ruch, to Babylon, with whom 
Jeremiah sent his predictions 
against Babylon, to be read by 
him, and then cast, fixed to a 
stone, into the Euphrates, Jer. 
li. 59—64. In the ninth year of 
his reign, Zedekiah, contrary to 
solemn treaty with Nebuchad- 
nezzar, entered into a league 
with Pharaoh-hophra of Egypt, 
and, it seems, with the other na- 
tions around, to throw off the 
Chaldean yoke. Nebuchadnez- 
zar quickly marched an army 
into Judea, and laid siege to Je- 
rusalem. Alarmed herewith, he 
and his subjects dismissed their 
bond-servants, whom they had 
retained longer than the law al- 
lowed, and begged that Jeremiah 
would pray for them. Mean- 
while, the Egyptians marching 
an army into Canaan, Nebu- 
chadnezzar raised the siege of 
Jerusalem to attack them. Dur- 
ing this interval, the Jews forced 
back their servants, and drew 
new punishment on their heads. 
Having defeated or driven back 
the Egyptians, Nebuchadnezzar 
renewed his siege of Jerusalem. 
Zedekiah often consulted the 
prophet Jeremiah, but had not 
patience to hear, or resolution to 
follow, his good counsels. Jere- 
miah urged him to go out, and 
submit himself to Nebuchadnez- 
zar's mercy, and k should be 
well with him. For fear of deri- 
sion, he declined compliance, 
and it is like, Pelatiah the prince, 
who soon after had a miserable 
5i2 






ZEL 

end, dissuaded him, Ezek. xi. 
13. Zedekiah, as Jeremiah had 
warned him, fell into great igno- 
miny by his refusal to surrender. 
When Jerusalem was taken, he 
and a number of his troops fled 
off in the night; but the Chal- 
deans pursued, and overtook 
them near Jericho. He was car- 
ried prisoner to Nebuchadnez- 
zar at Riblah of Syria, who, af- 
ter upbraiding him with his trea- 
chery, ordered his children to be 
murdered before his face, and 
then his eyes to be plucked out; 
after which he loaded him with 
chains v and sent him to Babylon, 
where, after some time, he died 
peaceably, and was honourably 
interred by his friends, Jer. xxi. 
xxvii. xxxii. 4 — 7. xxxiv. xxxvi 
— xxxix. 2 Kings xxv. 

Zedekiah, the son of Chenaa- 
nah, and the son of Maaseiah, 
were both false prophets. See 
Micaiah • Ahab. 

ZEEB, a Midianitish prince 
who gave name to a place in or 
near to the lot of the Ephraim- 
ites, and not far from Jordan, 
Judg. vii. 25. 

Perhaps ZEL AH, where Saul 
and his family were buried, was 
the same as Zelzah, not far from 
Ramah ; but in the south frontier 
of the tribe of Benjamin, Josh, 
xviii. 28. 1 Sam. x. 2. 2 Sara. 
xxi. 14. 

ZELOPHEHAD, the son of 
Hepher, of the tribe of Manas- 
«eh, died in the wilderness, not 
in any of the more noted provo- 
cations. Not long before Moses' 
death, his five daughters, Mah- 
lah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and 
Noah, for he had no son, ap- 

Elied to Moses to have an in- 
eritance in Canaan, as heirs to 
their father. The Lord approved 
their demand; only confined 
them to marry such as were of 
their own trihe : and it was di- 
vinely enacted, that to prevent 
the portion of one tribe going 
into that of another, no heiress 
should marry out of her own 



ZEP 

tribe ; or if she did, she. lost he/ 
inheritance, Numbers xxvi. 33 

XXV11. xXWli 

ZEMAJLAIM, a city of the 
Benjamites near Bethel, ana 
near to which was a mount of 
the same name; at the foot 
whereof, Jeroboam had 500,000 
of his army killed by Abijah'a 
troops. Josh, xviii. 22. 2 Chron 
xiii. 4. 

The ZEMARITES were the 
descendants of Canaan by his 
tenth son. It is like, they built 
and peopled Simyra, a city of 
Phoenicia, near Orthosia, Gen. 
x. 18. 

ZENAS, the only pious law- 
yer we read of in Scripture. 
Whether his learning respected 
the Jewish or the Roman law, 
we know not; but he was a 
noted Christian, whom, together 
with Apollos, Paul desires Titus 
to bring with him to Nicopolis, 
and to take care they were suf- 
ficiently provided for in the 
journey, Tit. iii. 13. 

ZEPHANIAH; (1.) A pro- 
phet, the son of Cushi, and 
grandson of Gedaliah: he ap- 
pears to have lived in the time 
of king Josiah, and after his 
children were grown up, to wear 
robes of a foreign fashion, Zeph. 
i. 1. 8. In his first and third 
chapters he inveighs against the 
wickedness of the Jews ; foretels 
their calamities and captivity 
and their deliverance therefrom. 
In the second he exhorts the 
Jews to repentance, and foretels 
the ruin of the Philistines, Moab- 
ites, Ammonites,Etbiopians, and 
iVssyrians. (2.) Zephaniah, the 
second priest or sagan under 
Seraiah the chief priest, By him 
Zedekiah, oftener than once, 
consulted Jeremiah, and request- 
ed his prayers in behalf of the 
kingdom, Jer. xxi. 1. xxxvii. 1. 
To him Shemaiah directed his 
letter accusing Jeremiah as a 
madman, and he read it to Jere- 
miah, chap. xxix. 24 — 29. When 
Jerusalem was taken, he, and 
543 



ZER 

Beraiah the chief priest, were 
car .led to Riblah, and there 
murdered by the order of Ne- 
buchadnezzar, 2 Kings xxv. 18. 
Perhaps he lived too early to be 
the father of Hen and Josiah, 
the priests, Zech. vi. 10. 14. 

ZEPHAATH, or Zephatah. 
Bee Hormah. 

ZERAH ; (1.) A son of Judah. 
See Zarah. (2.) A kingofCush, 
who, in the time of Asa, invaded 
the kingdom of Judah with a 
million of footmen, and 300 cha- 
riots ; but being seized with a 
panic, most of them were cut 
off, 2 Chron. xxv. 9—15. 

ZEREDATHAH. See Zare- 
tan. 

ZET^ESH. See Raman. 

ZERUBBABEL, the son of 
Shealtiel or Salathiel, and of the 
royal family of David. As Sala- 
thiel, who is called the son of 
Jehoiachin, might yet be the son 
of Neri, a descendant of Nathan 
the son of David, being begot by 
Jehoiachin on the widow of 
Neri, whom he had married; or 
he might be adopted by Neri; or 
might marry the only daughter 
of Neri, 1 Chron. iii. 17. Luke 
iii. 27; so Zerubbabel might, at 
once, be the immediate son of 
Pedaiah, and the grandson of 
Salathiel ; or, Pedaiah, a younger 
brother, might have married 
Shealticl's widow, and Zerub- 
babel be the son he raised up to 
his brother, 1 Chr. iii. 19. Matt. 
i. 12. As Sheshbazzar is said to 
build the second temple, and 
was prince of the Jews, it seems 
he is the very same with Zerub- 
babel, and the one is his Jewish, 
and the other his Chaldean 
name, Ezta v. 6. i. 8. 14. Zech. 
iv. 5. Cyrus delivered into his 
hands the sacred vessels, which 
had been carried to Babylon, to 
the number of 5400, and ap- 
pointed him governor of the re- 
turning captives of Judah. After 
conducting 42,360 of them, to- 
gether with 7337 servants, from 
Babylon to Judea, he laid the 



ZIK 

foundation of the second temple, 
and restored the worship of God 
by sacrifice. Notwithstanding of 
manifold obstructions to the 
work by the Samaritans, whom 
the Jews refused to allow to con- 
cur with them ; he and Joshua 
the high-priest, encouraged by 
Haggai and Zechariah the pro- 
phets, at last finished the tem- 
ple, about 20 years after it was 
begun, Ezra i — vi. Hag. i. iu 
Zech. iv. He left behind him 
seven sons, Meshullam, Hanani- 
ah, Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, 
Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, and a 
daughter called Shelomith.-— 
Some two of these sons, other- 
wise named, are the Rhesa, from 
whom the Virgin Mary descend- 
ed, and the Abiud, from whom 
Joseph her husband sprung, 1 
Chr. iii. 19. Luke iii. 27. Matt 
i. ]3. 
Z1BA. See 2 Sam. ix. 2. 
ZIDON. See Phenicia. 
ZIF, or Jair, the second 
month of the sacred, and eighth 
of the Jewish civil year. It con- 
sisted of 29 days, and answered 
in part to our April. On the 
14th day of it, such as had been 
unclean, or on a journey, that 
they could not observe the pass- 
over in the preceding month, ob- 
; served it now; and on it the pass- 
! over-festival was kept in the first 
'year of Hezekiah's reformation, 
Numb. ix. 2 Chron. xxx. 15. 26. 



On the 10th of it the Jews ob- 
serve a fast for the death of Eli, 
and another on the 28th, for the 
death of Samuel. 

ZIKLAG, a town situate fn 
the extreme parts of the tribe of 
Judah southwards, not farfrom 
Koiam, where the Israelites re* 
ceived a defeat while they so- 
journed in the wilderness. In 
the division of Canaan, it was 
first given to the tribe of Judah, 
Josh. xv. 31 ; and afterwards to 
that of Simeon, Josh. xix. 5. It 
was, however, in possession of 
the Philistines, when Achish, 
king of Gath, allotted it to Da 
544 



ZIO 

vid and his men to dwell in. 
While David was absent, the 
Amalekites took Ziklag and 
burnt it, and carried off Da- 
vid's wives and children arid 
goods ; but learning from a ser- 
vant left behind sick which 
way they had gone, David pur- 
sued them and came unexpect- 
edly on them, and recovered 
every thing which had been ta- 
ken, 1 Sain, xxvii. 5. 6. xxx. 1.' 

ZILPAH. See Jacob. 

ZLMR AN, the eldest of Abra- 
ham's six sons by Keturah He 
was the father of the Zimri, or 
Zamarenes, in Arabia Felix, 
where we find the city Zebram 
or Zimram, Gen. xxv. 2. Jer. 
xxv. 25. 

ZIMRI, a general to Elah, the 
eon o^Baasha king of Israel. As 
his master drunk heartily atTir- 
zah, he murdered him, and 
mounted the throne. He imme- 
diaiely murdered the whole roy- 
al family, as had been predicted 
to Baasha. Hearing of this ca- 
tastiophe, the royal army broke 
up the siege of Gibbethon, and 
hasted to dethrone Zimri. Find- 
ing himself incapable to defend 
it, he set the palace on fire, and 
burnt himself and family to 
death, after a short reign of se- 
ven days, 1 Kings xvi. 9—20. 
See Cozbi. 

ZIN, the name of a place 
about the south-west of Idumea : 
but whether it was the name of 
a city, or if it was the name of 
a part or of the whole of the 
wilderness of Paran, we know 
not, Numb. xiii. 21. xx. 1. Josh. 
xv. 3. 

ZION, or Sion; (1.) A top or 
part of Mount Hermon, or an 



ZIZ 

lem stood on Mount Zion, and 
that the king's palace stood on 
the north side of it, and the tem- 
ple on Mount Moriah, to the 
north-east of it, 2 Sam. v. 1. 1 
Kings viii. 1. Psal. lxviii. 2; but 
as Mount Moriah was but at the 
end of it, it was sometimes call 
ed Zion; and even the temple 
and its courts are so called, PsaL 
Ixv. l. lxxxiv. 7; and the woi- 
shippers at the temple, if not the 
whole inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
are called Zion, Psalm xcvii. 8. 
In allusion hereto, the church, 
whether Jewish or Christian, or 
heaven, is called Zion : how 
graciously was she chosen of 
God for his residence ! how firm 
is her foundation, and how de- 
lightful her prospect! how so- 
lemn and sweet the fellowship 
with and worship of God there- 
in ! Psal. cii. 13. Isa. ii. 3. Heb. 
xii. 22. Rev. xiv. 1. Isa. Ii. 11. 

ZIPH, two cities of the tribe 
of Judah,oneof which layabout 
eight miles eastward fiom He- 
bron, which is perhaps that be- 
side Maon and south Carmel, 
and whose inhabitants, though 
of the same tribe, were so eager 
to have David cut ofT, that they 
informed Saul of his hiding- 
places, and instigated him to 
come and apprehend him ; and 
the other was somewhere about 
the borders of Edom, Josh, xv 
24. 55. 1 Samuel xxiii. 14—26. 
xxvi. 1. Psal. hv. title. 

ZIPPORAH, the daughter of 
Jethro or Reuel. Her marriage 
with Moses, and bearing him 
two sons; her accompanying 
him part of his way to Egypt; 
her ang:y circumcision of her 
child ; her return to her father^ 
house; her coming with her fa- 



arrangement of hills near to it, 
Psal. exxxiii. 3. (2.) Cellarius, ther some months after to Moses r 
Lightfoot, and others, think the and Aaron and Miriam's jeal- 
other famed Mount Zion was to ousy of her influence over him, 
the north of the ancient Jebus ; , have been related in the article 
but Reland has offered a variety Moses, Exod. ii. iv. xviii. Num. 
of arguments to prove that it xii. 

was on the south of it. We ZIZ, or Ziza, a hill in the 

think the south part of Jerusa- 1 south of Canaan, near the val- 

z2 46* 545 



ZOB 

'ey of Berachah. We suppose 
»t was north of Engedi, 2 Chron. 
xx. 16. 

ZOAN, or Tanis, a very an- 
cient city of Egypt, Numb. xiii. 
7; and somewhere in the lower 
part of that country, not very 
far from the Mediterranean Sea. 
It was probably the capital for 
many ages, Isa. xix. 11. xsx. 4. 

ZOAR, or Bela, was one of 
the five cities that rebelled a- 
gainst and was reduced by Clie- 
dorlaomer, Gen. xiv. It 'seems 
to have been in the utmost dan- 
ger of destruction, along with 
Sodom and the other three ; but 
Lot begged, that as it was but 
small, it might be preserved as a 
residence for him. His request 
was granted, and the place was 
afterwards called Zoar, the lit- 
tle one, Gen. xix. 20, 21, 22. It 
seems to have stood somewhere 
about the south end of the Dead 
Sea. Probably numbers of the 
Moabites fled hither from the 
ravages of the Assyrian and 
Chaldean troops, Isa. xv. 5. Jer. 
xlviii. 34. 

ZOBAH, was a kingdom of 
Syria, near about where Da- 
mascus stands, and had Rehob 
and Hadadczer for its kings, 2 
Sara. viii. 



zuz 

ZOHELETH, a noted storm 
near Enrogel, at which Adoni- 
jah held his usurpation-feast. 

ZOPHAR, the Naamathite, 
one of Job's three uncharitable 
friends, and who spoke twice 
against him, Job ii. 11. xi. 20; and 
was pardoned by means of Job's 
prayer, Job xiii." 7 — 9. Whether 
Naamath was the name of his 
ancestor, or of his city, we can- 
not determine: nor whether he 
was king of the Mineans, or of 
the Noraades or wandering A 
rabs. 

ZORAH, a city of the Danites, 
near the border of Judah. Here 
Samson was born, Judg. xiii. 2. 
Its inhabitants are called Zorites 
and Zorathites, 1 Chr. ii. 54. iv. 
2. Probably this was one of the 
cities which Rehoboam fortified 
for the security of his kingdom, 
2 Chron. xi. 10. 

ZUPH, a Levite, one of Sa 
mud's ancestors. As he was 
the chief of the Zuphites, he 
probably occasioned their terri- 
tory to be called the land of 
Zuph, and their city Ramath- 
zophim, or Ramath of the Zu- 
phites, 1 Chron. vi. 35. 1 Sam. 
ix. 5. i. 1. 

ZUZDIS. See Zamiwrs. 
mims. 

546 



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